PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club has signed midfielder Katy Byrne, defender Cheyenne Shorts and forward Jada Talley as National Team Replacement players.
Byrne was with Portland as a NTR player during the 2019 season and at the beginning of the 2020 campaign. In March 2021, Byrne signed with Hungarian club DVTK and has also played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) with AHFC Royals in Houston. In college, Byrne played four seasons (2015-18) at Pepperdine University.
Shorts arrives in Portland following the conclusion of her season with Celtic F.C. Women in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. Shorts was selected by the Orlando Pride in the 2020 NWSL Draft at No. 21 overall out of the University of Denver, but did not feature with the NWSL side. Shorts spent a brief period of time with French side Saint Etienne before signing with Celtic in July 2021.
Talley recently played with the Kansas City Current as a COVID Replacement Player, featuring as a substitute against Angel City FC on May 21. A native of Corona, Calif., Talley was the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride. Talley concluded her collegiate career at the University of Southern California after playing at the University of Arizona from 2017-20.
National Team Replacement players can be signed when a national team player is away on international duty and will not count against the team’s roster limit.
Katy Byrne
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Born: Oct. 21, 1996
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Previous Club: DVTK (Hungary)
College: Pepperdine
Cheyenne Shorts
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Born: Aug. 10, 1998
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
Previous Club: Celtic FC Women (Scotland)
College: University of Denver
Jada Talley
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Birthdate: Feb. 20, 1999
Hometown: Corona, Calif.
Previous Club: Kansas City Current (NWSL)
College: University of Southern California
