Orlando Pride Announce Inaugural Season Roster, Sign First Draft Pick Samantha Witteman

The Orlando Pride released its official roster for the club's inaugural NWSL season, using 18 of the allotted 20 spots. The team also announced the signing of first-round pick (No. 10 overall) Samantha Witteman out of the University of California. Terms of the deal with Witteman, the first draft choice in the team's history, were not released.

The club's other 2016 draft picks — forward Christina Burkenroad and midfielder Dani Weatherholt — have not been signed, but the Pride have roster flexibility with two open spots.

The Pride roster has four federation players — forward Alex Morgan, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defender Josée Bélanger, and midfielder Kaylyn Kyle. The club is using three international slots, all on the back line, for Australians Laura Alleway and Steph Catley and Brazilian Monica Hickmann Alves.

Here's how the complete initial roster shakes out:

Goalkeepers (2): Aubrey Bledsoe, Ashlyn Harris (FP-USA).

Defenders (7): Laura Alleway (INT'L-AUS), Josée Bélanger (FP-CAN), Steph Catley (INT'L-AUS), Kristen Edmonds, Monica Hickmann Alves (INT'L-BRA), Cami Levin, Toni Pressley .

Midfielders (5): Becky Edwards, Maddy Evans, Kaylyn Kyle (FP-CAN), Lianne Sanderson, Sam Witteman.

Forwards (4): Jamia Fields, Sarah Hagen, Alex Morgan (FP-USA), Jasmyne Spencer.

Tom Sermanni's team heads to Portland this weekend for a Sunday night showdown with the Thorns, who will likely be a strong challenger for the 2016 championship. The game kicks off at 10 p.m. ET.

The Pride will host its first ever home match on Saturday, April 23 against Carli Lloyd and the Houston Dash. Kickoff for that match at the Citrus Bowl will be at 7:30 p.m., as the club attempts to set a new NWSL single-match attendance record – which is just over 21,000 — with its #FilledWithPride campaign.