The USWNT are set to take on top-ranked Spain in two 'friendlies' that could very well be a preview of the 2027 World Cup final. Emma Hayes' latest roster includes five debutants to the senior team and one of them is none other than Portland Thorns attacker Pietra Tordin.
In 2026, the rising star has quickly become one of the most improved players in the NWSL. Her versatility and ability to play all over the front four has been invaluable and it has paid off to the tune of 17 goal contributions.
However, those moments almost never happened. At just 16-years old, Tordin nearly stepped away from the game for good.
“I had a conversation with my parents and said, 'I don't think this is for me,' genuinely, not with the intention of taking a break, not with the intention of coming back. I said, 'Soccer is not for me.'"
After joining her high school team as a junior that reignited her love for soccer, the sport became something so much more meaningful and a way to bring everyone together.
“Once I started getting back into soccer, I realized that soccer can bring so much more than your own subjective perspective on the world. I learned that it brings people together. There's a huge community within soccer, and I bring that with me even now."
Ahead of international duty, I had to honor and privilege to speak with the USWNT forward. She expressed why this dream means so much to her and family, especially with the path that led her here.
Our heartwarming interview with the star covers it all:
- What her first USWNT call-up means to her
- Sharing the news with her family, friends, and loved ones
- The disbelief even after finding out
- Conversations with U23 head coach Heather Dyche and senior team head coach Emma Hayes
- Stepping away from soccer in high school and how she found her way back to the sport
- The support from her parents and family - she also shares a wonderful story about how they would go on Zoom with someone sharing their screen just to so everyone can see her play.
- Dreaming of her USWNT debut
- How the PTFC forward group has set her up for success
- On what advice she would tell the little kid or high school version of herself
- The versatility on hand
- Biggest influences on her career
- Her offseason vacation plans
The Portland Thorns have also shared the first few minutes of the interview:
Phuoc Nguyen/Stumptown Footy: What does this first USWNT call-up mean to you especially with all the hard work you've ever put in and your unique journey?
Pietra Tordin: “It's a moment for reflection, honestly, to look back on what my whole life has been like playing soccer and what it's taken to get to this point. It's definitely a lot of hard work, a lot of hours, a lot of hard situations. Soccer's been with me through my whole life, so a lot of my memories with soccer are attached to things that have happened in my life outside of soccer as well. It's a moment where you can put all of that together and be like, 'Wow, I've been through so much and I've been able to achieve this.' I wouldn't want to underplay it. It's such a huge achievement for me. I'm so proud of myself. I'm really excited, honestly, more than anything. I feel so grateful to be put in this position and given this opportunity and shown this belief. With this coaching staff, with the Thorns, they've shown nothing but belief in me, and they've shown that they want me to strive for the best. They want me to keep pushing for the highest, and I think that's really important. Being put in an environment where you are given freedom to express yourself and freedom to strive for the greatest, I'm striving to be great. I'm not striving to let it just be here. I want more. I always want more. And I feel like the Thorns have allowed me to have that mentality.”
PN/STF: What was it like sharing the news with your family who has supported you every step of the way?
Pietra Tordin: “When it all happened, the first thing I did was call my parents, call my family and tell them. Just hearing their reactions brings to light how much this means. Hearing my family get emotional when I told them was a surreal moment for me. When things happen to you, you take a second, but once you tell someone else, their reaction is like, 'Wow, this is really a big moment,' even for them, to see this for me. My teammates' reactions as well, the support they've shown and the congratulations I've gotten, it really means a lot to me. It's a big moment to be able to reflect and see this from a third-person perspective almost, to see how people are reacting and how I get to react to the situation. Honestly, I'm really grateful, I'm really happy, I'm excited.”
PN/STF: Has the news sunk in yet?
Pietra Tordin: “It's a moment of second-guessing if this is real. It took me a few days to realize, 'Wait, this is actually happening.' At first it was very surreal, kind of disbelief. Once it started becoming more public and people started to know, that's when I was like, 'Okay, this is actually real. It's not a drill.' My initial reaction was disbelief, genuinely. Then a week went by and I was like, 'Oh crap, this is happening.'”