portland thorns have agreed with Macca Arnold to exercise the one-year option in her contract. The move keeps the Matildas’ No. 1 tied to Portland for another season as the club sorts through a matchweek eight availability report built around Saturday’s league games.
Arnold stays in Portland
Arnold’s option gives Portland a clear answer on a player who sits at the center of the club’s roster planning. For a team working through matchweek eight, locking in a goalkeeper for another year trims one piece of uncertainty before the schedule moves deeper into the season.
The report that carried the Arnold news also pointed to the league’s broader player status picture. Chicago Stars forward Mallory Swanson makes her return to the NWSL in the latest availability report, and the league has two matches on Saturday, including one major return.
Chicago Stars list absences
Chicago’s report was the longest, with multiple players ruled out. Payton Crawford is out with a knee injury listed as SEI, Maycee Bell is out with a knee injury, Natalie Jacobs is out with an ankle injury, Hannah Betfort is out with a lower leg injury, Feli Rauch is out due to suspension, Lauryn Thompson is out with an ankle injury, Michelle Alozie is out with a thigh injury, Katie Atkinson is out with a thigh injury, Tessa Dellarose is out with a thigh injury, Emma Egizii is out with a lower leg injury, Bea Franklin is out with a head injury, Natalia Kuikka is out with a knee injury listed as SEI, Taylor Wood is out with a knee injury, and Jasmine Ailey is out with a knee injury listed as SEI.
Denver Summit and Orlando Pride
Denver also enters the weekend short-handed. Jordan Baggett is out due to maternity leave, while Olivia Thomas is questionable because of illness.
Orlando’s list is similar in length and carries several different injury tags. Cosette Morche is out with an ankle injury listed as D45, Kylie Nadaner is out due to maternity leave, Jacquie Ovalle is out with a thigh injury, Rafaelle is out with a head injury, Viviana Villacorta is out with a knee injury, and Kerry Abello is questionable with a hip injury. Zara Chavoshi is questionable with a lower leg injury, and Solai Washington is questionable with a knee injury.
For Portland, the practical effect is simple: Arnold remains part of the club’s plans, and the Thorns can move into the next stretch with their goalkeeper situation settled. In a report dominated by absences and return status updates, that kind of roster continuity stands out.
