Caiya Hanks Scores Winning Goal in Return After 14-Month Injury Layoff
Portland Thorns forward Caiya Hanks scored the winning goal eight minutes after entering the game in the 88th minute, marking her return to play after a 14-month recovery from a torn ACL.
Portland, OR, August 15, 2026 —
Portland Thorns forward Caiya Hanks made a significant return to the field, scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute of the match. The goal came just eight minutes after Hanks entered the game as a substitute.
This marked Hanks’ first appearance in a game following a lengthy 14-month recovery period. She had been sidelined due to a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
The successful return and subsequent goal highlight Hanks’ perseverance through a challenging rehabilitation process. The specific match details, including the opponent and the final score, were not provided in the summary.
Further details regarding the circumstances of the match or Hanks’ performance beyond the winning goal were not available.
Story summarized from the original created by Scott Sepich on www.oregonlive.com, see more information here.
