PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club have acquired the rights to Australian forward Caitlin Foordand a 2020 conditional natural second-round NWSL draft pick from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for midfielder Allie Long.
“We are very appreciative of Allie’s contributions to the club over the past five seasons,” said Thorns FC general manager and president of soccer Gavin Wilkinson. “She accomplished a great deal during her time in Portland, winning two NWSL Championships and achieving her goal of making it to the national team, and we wish her all the best.”
Foord, 23, played three seasons with Sky Blue FC (2013-15), tallying three assists in 46 appearances for the club and earning NWSL Second XI recognition in 2013. The Australian international began her professional career in 2009 in the W-League, featuring for both Sydney FC (2010-14, 2017-18) and Perth Glory (2014-16). Foord recently rejoined Sydney FC during the 2017-18 W-League campaign after a season in Japan. With Sydney FC, Foord has made 59 appearances, recording 14 goals and helping the Sky Blues win a W-League Premiership (2010-11) and W-League Championship (2012-13).
“Caitlin is one of the most explosive and exciting players in the world,” said Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons. “She has the ability to create and finish in various ways. Her enthusiasm and tireless work rate on both sides of the ball will bring a new dimension to our team.”
As a member of the Australia Women’s National Team, Foord has earned 57 caps, tallying 10 goals. She has appeared in two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2011, 2015) as well as the 2016 Rio Olympics and was named Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2016. In addition, Foord became the youngest Australian player to ever play in a World Cup match, featuring at the age of 16 at the 2011 FIFA World Cup in Germany. She was named Best Young Player of the tournament along with Asian Women’s Young Footballer of the Year and Football Federation Australia U20 Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2011.
Long, 30, appeared in 100 matches with Thorns FC during her career, tallying 30 goals and 13 assists after signing with Portland ahead of the club’s inaugural NWSL season in 2013. In five seasons, Long made six postseason appearances, registering the game-winning goal in the semifinal round of the 2013 NWSL playoffs, while helping Thorns FC win two NWSL Championships (2013, 2017) and an NWSL Shield (2016). Additionally, Long was a NWSL Best XI selection in 2015 and 2016 and was named to the NWSL Second XI in 2014.
Caitlin Foord
Position: Forward
Height: 5-5
Born: Nov. 11, 1994
Hometown: Lake Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia
Last Club: Sydney FC (Australia)
College: n/a
Citizenship: Australia
