In a 4-1 victory over Gotham FC on April 22, two Portland Thorns rookies scored their first NWSL goals in a breakout moment for a young team in transition. Spring has sprung for a Thorns roster with 11 new faces, including rookie forward Caiya Hanks and rookie defender Jayden Perry. The Oregonian/OregonLive is spotlighting Hanks and Perry for a miniseries we’re calling “bud break.” We finish things off with Perry. The Portland Thorns see the vision with rookie center back Jayden Perry. They’ve been searching for a player like this for years, those around the club say. One whose competitive intensity and specific skillset can act as a bridge from one generation of central defenders to the next. There is no replacing a player like U.S. women’s national team legend Becky Sauerbrunn, who retired at the end of the 2024 season after five seasons with the Thorns. But Portland remains optimistic about Perry’s evident potential, which has been on full display over the past two games with two goals and an assist. “A left-footed central defender has been something we’ve been looking to eventually replace Becky with for three seasons, since I’ve been here,” Thorns coach Rob Gale said. “We found one we think has the potential, and she’s now on the U.S. national team radar. It is such a commodity to have in that balance, range of pass, and coolness beyond her years with the two penalties.” Perry took penalties in college at UCLA, inspiring the Thorns to give the rookie those responsibilities against both Gotham FC and Racing Louisville. She nailed both, including a first career goal against Gotham that her mom and sister were able to witness from the stands. But Perry is far more than a specialist from the spot: her ability to drop in long passes — like the one to former UCLA teammate Reilyn Turner that earned her NWSL assist of the week honors — can eliminate the need for a long build-up. And being left-footed, the balance is there from both a ball progression and defensive pressure perspective. Moments like the 4-1 blowout of Gotham are proof positive for the Thorns’ young players that this grind of a development process is worth it, Gale said. That there will be ups and downs, but persistence is key. That is especially true for a player like Perry, who as a center back is bound to make mistakes and take some lumps along the way. “Nights like the New York game give them that confidence and belief that, when they get it right, they are as good as anybody,” Gale said. “You need moments like that to make them believe. We can say we believe in them, and we do because we see it every day, but it’s nice when they get the reward.” Perry admits she is still learning the professional game, as any rookie would be six games into the season. There are veterans around the NWSL who would admit the same. But the opportunity is undoubtedly there for Perry and the rest of Portland’s young core, with five key players sidelined this season due to either injury or maternity leave. “For me, Caiya, all the other rookies, we’re just soaking everything in and learning,” Perry said. “There is so much to learn not only from our teammates but about the game itself. It’s so different from the college game. Putting extra time into film and my teammates, it has made it an easier transition. But I am so happy to be here. It has been a dream of mine to play at this level.” Turner has made the transition easier for Perry, she said. A close friend who went through the same growing pains just a year prior, and is now leading Portland in goals with three. Perry’s pair of penalties have her hot on Turner’s heels, though. “I love her, and I am so proud of her for how much she has grown as a player,” Perry said of Turner. “She just brings so much light and energy on the field.” Perry grew up with plenty of energy of her own, a California girl who took to soccer from an early age and played with emotion. She idolized players like Sauerbrunn and Julie Ertz, and spent her free time at the beach or on hikes. At UCLA, she started exploring her creative side, getting into painting in order to decorate her room. She would rather make it herself, she said, than buy something from the store. And painting can provide a soothing outlet. As a professional soccer player, Perry has just picked up the brush, so to speak. But the colors are all there, along with the inspiration. What ends up on the canvas is up to her. “It’s easier said than done to ignore the expectations, and the thoughts other people have about stepping into the spots that veterans had,” Perry said. “Becky, one of the best center backs of all time, I’ve obviously learned so much from her game and watched her since I was a little kid and idolized her. “It’s like, how can I separate wanting to follow in her footsteps while also not letting the perceptions of other people and their expectations get in the way of how I play?” -- Ryan Clarke covers college sports for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.