Welcome to the Portland Thorns Off-Season Updates page! Here we’re tracking all off-season moves made by the Portland Thorns as they prepare for the 2024 NWSL season.
As of the November 20th roster updates, 16 players are under contract with the Portland Thorns. Natalie Beckman and Rikke Sevecke will not be returning in 2024, while contract negotiations with Gabby Provenzano are ongoing.
Michele Vasconcelos declined her mutual option for the 2024 season to become an unrestricted free agent. Crystal Dunn is also an unrestricted free agent and has announced she will not be returning to Portland.
Free agents who were under contract with Portland in 2023 include:
- Michele Vasconcelos (unrestricted)
- Crystal Dunn (unrestricted)
- Meghan Klingenberg (unrestricted)
- Tegan McGrady (unrestricted)
- Becky Sauerbrunn (unrestricted)
- Christine Sinclair (unrestricted)
- Natalia Kuikka (restricted)
- Taylor Porter (restricted)
Current Roster as of November 20:
- Goalkeepers (3): Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan, Lauren Kozal
- Defenders (4): Kelli Hubly, Emily Menges, Meaghan Nally, Reyna Reyes
- Midfielders (5): Hannah Betfort, Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, Rocky Rodríguez, Hina Sugita
- Forwards (4): Janine Beckie, Izzy D’Aquila, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver
December 12
Portland acquired $75,000 in allocation money and protection from Bay FC in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft in exchange for defender Emily Menges.
Portland also received expansion draft protection from the Utah Royals, by trading forward Hannah Betfort, the 33rd overall pick in the NWSL Draft, and $10,000 in allocation money.
December 13
Hina Sugita is signed to a contract extension through 2026.
January 8
Danish centerback Isabella Obaze is acquired from FC Rosengård for an undisclosed amount, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC), per the Portland Thorns. Obaze is signed through 2026 with a mutual option for 2027.
January 10
Sarah Lowdon is announced to be joining the Thorns as an assistant coach, leaving Houston.
January 12 – NWSL Draft
The Thorns selected five players in the NWSL Draft. Their picks were as follows:
- No. 11 Payton Linnehan, Penn State (forward)
- No. 23 Olivia Wade-Katoa, Brigham Young University (midfielder)
- No. 25 Kelsey Kaufusi, Utah State (defender)
- No. 39 Katherine Asman, Penn State (goalkeeper)
- No. 52 Katie Duong, Stanford University (midfielder)
January 17
Contract negotiations with Gabby Provenzano result in a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season.
As of January 17:
Free agent Crystal Dunn signed with Gotham FC, free agent Michele Vasconcelos signed with Utah Royals FC, and restricted free agent Natalia Kuikka was announced to be leaving the club.
The following players remain free agents:
- Meghan Klingenberg (unrestricted)
- Tegan McGrady (unrestricted)
- Becky Sauerbrunn (unrestricted)
- Christine Sinclair (unrestricted)
- Taylor Porter (restricted)
Bella Bixby announced her pregnancy and is expected to be on maternity leave for the season.
Portland has 16 players under contract:
- Goalkeepers (3): Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan, Lauren Kozal
- Defenders (5): Kelli Hubly, Meaghan Nally, Isabella Obaze, Gabby Provenzano, Reyna Reyes
- Midfielders (4): Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, Rocky Rodríguez, Hina Sugita
- Forwards (4): Janine Beckie, Izzy D’Aquila, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver
January 18
Free agent defender Meghan Klingenberg is re-signed to a one-year contract.
She is the sixth defender under contract for the 2024 season in Portland, bringing the team’s current roster to 17 players.
January 22
Free agent Christine Sinclair will stay in Portland on a one-year contract.
Portland now has 18 players under contract.
January 23
Portland Thorns FC have received $275,000 in allocation money, with additional conditional funds to be paid against the transfer fee threshold, from Angel City FC in exchange for the rights to midfielder Rocky Rodríguez.
Today the Thorns also announced they have signed free agent defender Becky Sauerbrunn to a one-year contract.
January 24
Portland Thorns preseason roster:
- Goalkeepers (4): Kat Asman (DRAFT), Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan, Lauren Kozal
- Defenders (7): Kelli Hubly, Kelsey Kaufusi (DRAFT), Meghan Klingenberg, Meaghan Nally, Isabella Obaze (NYR, INTL), Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn
- Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Katie Duong (DRAFT), Olivia Moultrie, Gabby Provenzano, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa (DRAFT)
- Forwards (6): Janine Beckie, Izzy D’Aquila, Payton Linnehan (DRAFT), Christine Sinclair, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver
January 31
Portland Thorns FC have acquired Canadian international midfielder Jessie Fleming via transfer from Chelsea FC for an undisclosed fee, through the 2026 season, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate.
February 2
German defender Marie Müller has been acquired from SC Freiburg in the Frauen-Bundesliga for an undisclosed fee, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate. Müller has signed with the Thorns through the 2025 season, with a mutual option for the 2026 season. Portland shared that Müller will occupy an international roster spot.
February 13
Midfielder Oivlia Moultrie signs a contract extension through 2026.
February 18
Portland Thorns FC have acquired defender Nicole Payne, on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain of the Division 1 Féminine in France.
February 20
Portland has eight international players who will be absent from the Coachella Valley Invitational, where the team will face San Diego Wave FC on Saturday, February 24 at 11:00 am PT.
2024 Thorns FC Coachella Valley Invitational Roster
- Goalkeepers (4): Kat Asman (DRAFT), Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan, Lauren Kozal
- Defenders (6): Kelli Hubly, Kelsey Kaufusi (DRAFT), Meghan Klingenberg, Marie Müller (INTL), Meaghan Nally, Nicole Payne
- Midfielders (4): Taylor Aylmer (NRI), Katie Duong (DRAFT), Mallie McKenzie (NRI) Olivia Wade-Katoa (DRAFT)
- Forwards (6): Janine Beckie, Izzy D’Aquila, Payton Linnehan (DRAFT), Marissa Sheva (NRI), Christine Sinclair, Morgan Weaver
Portland has 19 players under contract:
- Goalkeepers (3): Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan, Lauren Kozal
- Defenders (7): Kelli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg, Marie Müller, Meaghan Nally, Isabella Obaze, Nicole Payne, Reyna Reyes
- Midfielders (5): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming, Olivia Moultrie, Gabby Provenzano, Hina Sugita
- Forwards (4): Janine Beckie, Izzy D’Aquila, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver