The Thorns re-sign five players

Ahead of the 2023 season, the Thorns have re-signed forwards Hannah Betfort and Michele Vasconcelos, defenders Tegan McGrady and Meaghan Nally, and goalkeeper Shelby Hogan.

McGrady and Vasconcelos are under contract for the 2023 season with an option to extend through the 2024 season. Both Betfort and Nally are signed through 2024 with an option to extend into the 2025 season. Hogan’s new contract is signed through 2025 with an option to extend into 2026.

Betfort, who is 24, is entering her third season as a Thorn after being selected by Portland in the 2021 NWSL College Draft — she was the 37th overall pick. While playing for the Thorns, she has made 12 appearances across all competitions in her two seasons with Thorns FC; two of those appearances were starts. Her first goal for Portland happened on July 16, 2022, in the Thorns’ 5-0 win over Gotham FC.

Vasconcelos started her run with the Thorns as a national team replacement, but then signed a contract for the remainder of the season in July 2022. This will be her seventh season in the NWSL; she was originally drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in 2017. For the Thorns, the 28-year-old has made three appearances.

McGrady also joined the Thorns partway through 2022 in a trade with San Diego Wave FC. She made six appearances for the club and started once. This will be her fifth season in the NSWL, after starting her career with the Washington Spirit in 2019.

Nally, 24, is beginning her fourth season as a Thorn. A fourth-round pick of the club in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, she has made 24 appearances and 19 starts. Nally played on loan in Germany with Turbine Potsdam for part of the 2020 season before returning to the Thorns FC ahead of the 2021 season.

Hogan’s 2023 season will mark her third in Portland. Hogan’s NWSL debut for the club was on the road against Angel City FC, where Portland held onto a 1-1 draw. She’s been known to save numerous PKs — one in the Angel City game — and she also saved three PK attempts for the Thorns in the Women’s International Champions Cup against the Houston Dash on August 18, 2021.