Bella Bixby Bio
Annabella Madeleine Bixby (née Geist; born November 20, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall, Bixby has established herself as one of the league’s most reliable shot-stoppers since making her professional debut in 2020. She is also known for her willingness to speak publicly on player welfare, league coverage, and personal issues affecting the women’s game.
Born and raised in Oregon, Bixby developed her athletic foundation in youth soccer and high school football before starring at Oregon State University. After being selected by Portland Thorns FC in the 2018 NWSL College Draft, she spent time on loan in Germany and Israel before returning to the Thorns to build her NWSL career.
Early Life and Background
Bella Bixby was born on November 20, 1995, in Milwaukie, Oregon, and grew up in the same Portland-area community where she would later launch her professional career. She attended Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie, where she played varsity girls’ soccer and also stood out as a member of the school’s varsity gridiron football team, serving as the placekicker. As a senior in 2013, she connected on 89 of 96 extra-point attempts and two of three field goals, including a memorable 40-yard game-tying kick in the final seconds of a contest.
Her performances across two sports in 2013 and 2014 drew recognition from the Northwest Oregon Conference, which named her both the top girls’ soccer goalkeeper and the top gridiron football extra-point attempt kicker in the league. Beyond high school, Bixby played on Olympic Development Program teams in Oregon and helped her club sides capture Oregon Premier League State Cup titles in 2009, 2011, and 2012, representing Lake Oswego Soccer Club, OSSA, and Crossfire Oregon along the way.
On February 5, 2014, Bixby signed a letter of intent to play at Oregon State University, beginning the college chapter of her career while she continued to develop as a goalkeeper with a uniquely athletic background shaped by football, soccer, and strong regional coaching.
Path to Soccer
At Oregon State University, Bixby played four seasons for the Oregon State Beavers women’s soccer program from 2014 through 2017, appearing in 72 games. She recorded 18 clean sheets during her college career and set a university record for most career saves with 394, establishing herself as one of the Pac-12 Conference’s top goalkeepers.
Her college résumé caught the attention of Portland Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons, who encouraged Bixby to register for the 2018 NWSL College Draft. The Thorns then traded for the 29th overall pick and used it to select her, giving Bixby a direct path from Corvallis to the highest level of American women’s soccer.
Bella Bixby Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Bixby’s first professional months were disrupted by injuries and international loans. On August 31, 2018, Portland Thorns FC announced that Bixby had been loaned to Frauen-Bundesliga side 1. FFC Frankfurt, but she did not appear for the German club before suffering a right wrist injury. On October 16, 2018, Frankfurt announced that Bixby would return to Portland early to recover, and the wrist issue forced her to miss most of her rookie year with the Thorns.
In 2019, Bixby was sent on loan to ASA Tel Aviv University in Israel for part of the season, gaining additional senior experience abroad. She returned to Portland later that year and continued her rehabilitation, positioning herself for a first-team opportunity once the league resumed play.
Portland Thorns FC Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Bixby made her professional debut for the Thorns on June 27, 2020, in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, a 2–1 loss to the North Carolina Courage. She opened her career with two clean sheets in her first four appearances before an ACL injury ended her Challenge Cup campaign, an early setback that tested her patience but did not derail her progress.
The 2021 NWSL season marked her true arrival. Bixby set the NWSL record for most consecutive shutout minutes to start a regular-season career, opening the year with 269 consecutive shutout minutes across her first three matches. She became only the third goalkeeper in league history to post back-to-back clean sheets in her regular-season debuts, won the Save of the Week Award for the first week of August 2021, and was one of three finalists for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year.
Prior to the 2022 season, Portland Thorns FC signed Bixby to a three-year contract extension, and she delivered one of the strongest years of her career. She finished 2022 with 74 saves and 11 shutouts in 26 appearances across the NWSL Challenge Cup, regular season, and playoffs, including a 2–0 shutout victory against Kansas City Current in the 2022 NWSL Championship. Her 10 regular- and post-season shutouts led all NWSL goalkeepers, and her 0.96 goals-against average trailed only Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Portland Thorns FC Era (2023–Present)
On April 29, 2023, Bixby scored the game-tying goal in stoppage time of a home match against Angel City FC, securing a 3–3 draw. The strike was just the second goal ever scored by a goalkeeper in NWSL history, after fellow Thorns keeper Michelle Betos achieved the same feat in 2015, further cementing Bixby’s reputation for dramatic contributions.
Bixby did not play for the Thorns in 2024 while on maternity leave, but prior to the 2025 NWSL season, the club extended her contract through an additional season with an option, signaling its long-term commitment to her. On June 21, 2025, Bixby recorded her 27th career clean sheet for the Thorns, breaking the club record previously held by AD Franch.
On January 31, 2026, the club announced that Bixby had been placed on the season-ending injury list for the 2026 NWSL season after suffering an ACL tear during the Thorns’ preseason training in Santa Barbara, another major setback for the longtime starter.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bixby’s most memorable moments are her 2021 NWSL shutout-minute record, her role in the 2022 NWSL Championship clean sheet, and her rare goalkeeper goal against Angel City FC in 2023. The 2025 clean-sheet record against Franch’s previous mark added another line to her legacy with the Thorns, even as injuries have periodically interrupted her career trajectory.
Bella Bixby Career Wins
Bella Bixby’s competitive honors center on her time with Portland Thorns FC, where she has been a key part of one of the NWSL’s most decorated clubs. Her 2022 NWSL Championship clean sheet stands as the clearest team trophy of her senior career to date.
Portland Thorns FC Highlights
With the Thorns, Bixby has been a finalist for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, the 2022 NWSL Championship-winning goalkeeper, and the holder of the club’s all-time clean-sheet record. Her 27th career shutout for Portland in June 2025 passed the previous mark held by AD Franch, marking a signature individual milestone within the franchise.
Other Wins and Performances
Bixby also contributed to youth titles with Oregon clubs, including Oregon Premier League State Cup championships in 2009, 2011, and 2012, and set the Oregon State University career saves record during her four college seasons.
Bella Bixby Family
Family Background and Personal Life
In December 2018, Bella Bixby married her husband, Elliot, and began using her married surname. In January 2024, the couple announced that Bixby was pregnant, and she took maternity leave during the 2024 NWSL season. Five days before Portland’s November 14, 2021 playoff semifinal against the Chicago Red Stars, Bixby’s father, Dean, died by suicide, and she has spoken publicly about the loss to raise awareness around mental health.
Bixby is on the autism spectrum and has discussed sensory integration issues that affect her game-day environment. While continuing her playing career, she has worked toward a master’s degree in fish and wildlife administration at Oregon State University, reflecting her interests beyond soccer.
2025 Season Performance
Bixby returned to the field in 2025 following her 2024 maternity leave and the contract extension that kept her in Portland. Her campaign was headlined on June 21, 2025, when she recorded her 27th career clean sheet for the Thorns, surpassing AD Franch’s club record and reinforcing her status as the franchise’s all-time leader in shutouts.
Beyond the record, Bixby continued to serve as a veteran voice in the Thorns’ dressing room and a leader of the team’s defensive unit, drawing on her experience from the 2022 NWSL Championship run. Her advocacy work with the NWSL Players Association, including her role as one of Portland’s player representatives, also remained a defining part of her profile throughout the season.
Bixby’s 2025 momentum was halted when, on January 31, 2026, the club announced she had been placed on the season-ending injury list for the 2026 NWSL season after tearing her ACL in preseason training in Santa Barbara, raising questions about her recovery timeline while underscoring her importance to the Thorns’ long-term plans.