Orlando Pride Sign Bridget Callahan as National Team Replacement Player

With a pair of players on international duty, the Orlando Pride announced this afternoon the signing of former UCF Knights midfielder Bridget Callahan as a National Team Replacement player.

NWSL rules state that a club may sign a temporary replacement player to fill in for those on international duty, not counting against the team’s 20-player roster limit. Callahan, who was a non-roster invitee during preseason, comes in to face the Utah Royals Saturday night as Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond are with Australia for the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup.

During her four years at UCF, Callahan scored nine goals and accumulated two assists in 75 games. She scored three of those goals and added one of those two assists last year. Joining the Pride in time for this weekend, she’ll sport the number 22 jersey.

With Camila on injured reserve and the exemption of Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft defender Lotta Ökvist, the signing of Callahan puts the Pride at their roster maximum of 21 players for Saturday, though another player could be signed to replace the second Aussie who is away.

The Pride could sign further camp invitees as National Team Replacement Players after Brazilians Marta, Monica, and Poliana depart for World Cup qualifying following this weekend’s match. Forward Nádia Gomes, who was selected by the Pride with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft, has been training with the team but has yet to be signed. Another camp trialist is Abby Elinski, a University of North Carolina midfielder who was a Houston draft pick but was waived by the Dash earlier this month.