The Orlando Pride needed to win their match against the Houston Dash on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes afloat.
The 2024 NWSL Shield winners and champions did that, earning three needed points with a gritty 2-1 road victory. Rookie forward Solai Washington scored her first professional goal, the eventual game-winner after midfielder Luana converted a penalty following a foul Washington drew. The Pride accomplished this without their top goalscorer, Barbra Banda, who is among the Zambian players missing multiple NWSL matches due to the Centre for Disease Control’s (CDC) travel restrictions for the Ebola virus.
Forward Haley McCutcheon said after the game that the team had done all they could, but the Pride knew it still might not be enough to secure a spot in the playoffs. Their testing season has included the firing of Seb Hines, the head coach who led them to a double, and the promotion of then-assistant head coach Yolanda Thomas on Aug. 31.
A string of injuries and absences prevented them from finding a flow on the pitch, and skill set gaps in their roster further stalled their cohesion. Even as they wilted into 11th place, there were glimpses of the foundation they built that won them two trophies just two years ago. The win in Houston was evidence of that, but they needed Chicago, who had also already been eliminated from playoff contention, to upset the Seattle Reign later that day in Evanston to survive another week.
That didn’t happen. Seattle beat the Stars 3-1, keeping their own postseason dreams alive and ending the Pride’s.
No team can ever be fully counted out if Banda is on the roster, and on Sept. 14 the Pride signed the 26-year-old to a contract extension that will run through 2029. Orlando will need to do a thorough roster evaluation to make the best use of the talent it has, even if it means letting some players go in order to move forward.
How it started
After opening their season with a loss to the Reign, the Pride reestablished themselves with a four-game unbeaten streak that nearly took them through April. Then the slump: three wins and four losses through the spring, including to both expansion teams, the Boston Legacy and Denver Summit. Many aspects of the Pride’s performances appeared as outlines of what they accomplished last season; Banda remained a dependable goalscorer, as did McCutcheon. The 30-year-old evolved from a playoff sparkplug in 2024 to a reliable, regular-season workhorse, scoring six goals and providing two assists across the 27 matches played so far.
The Pride entered the summer break in eighth place, claiming what would have been the last playoff spot if the season had ended then.
What went wrong
The Pride’s defensive depth struggles began last season when Kylie Nadaner went on maternity leave. The 34-year-old veteran was replaced by 23-year-old Zara Chavoshi, who often played alongside Brazilian center back Rafaelle, with fullbacks Hailie Mace and Cori Dyke occupying the width and Anna Moorhouse stationed in goal.
That back line often looked disjointed, conceding an average of 1.6 goals per match, the 12th-most in the league. Kerry Abello was another costly absence; the left wingback has been managing her minutes for most of the season as she dealt with an injury, further thinning Orlando’s bench. The Pride got as high in the table as seventh place in late July but soon sank down to 11th and have struggled to climb their way out since.
In the weeks following Hines’ departure, an emphasis from the team on the clarity of a player’s role offered a possible glimpse into what wasn’t working with the English manager. Thomas, who became the first Black female head coach in NWSL history when she stepped into the interim head coach role, won her first match in her new position against the Dash, and then earned a point against the Kansas City Current at home. It was always going to be a steep hill to climb, and for all the individual quality the team has, without a clear direction, they faltered against tougher opposition too many times earlier in the season.
Where do they go from here?
With Banda’s contract secured, the Pride can now spend the offseason figuring out a plan to build around her. They will also need to make a decision about whether Mexican winger Lizbeth Ovalle fits into the club’s plans. Orlando signed the Tigres star last August for what was then a world-record transfer fee worth $1.5million, but Ovalle has struggled to get a foothold in the league.
She scored two goals and had an assist after joining Orlando, but her output hasn’t improved this season with just three goals and three assists. Ovalle’s contract runs through 2027, and with Banda clearly central to the Pride’s long-term plans but enough other high-caliber players to flesh out a strong starting XI, it might be time to reevaluate.
Thomas’ future is also unclear, but her record as interim head coach and history with the team should be enough to earn her consideration for a permanent role. She has a specialized understanding of the players on the roster and what the team needs to find more success next season, and could make a considerable dent if given a full season to implement her plans.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Orlando Pride, NWSL, Women's Soccer
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