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Orlando Pride vs. Reign FC: Final Score 2-2 as Marta Equalizes Late

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6 years ago

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Marta’s late goal lifted the Orlando Pride (4-16-4, 16 points) to a 2-2 draw in the 2019 NWSL season finale against Reign FC (10-6-8, 38 points) in front of 8,103 fans at Exploria Stadium. Rachel Hill put the Pride up first, then the Reign scored two unanswered to take the lead before halftime. Marta scored a potential Goal of the Week in the dying minutes to allow the Pride to come away with a point.

“I'm really proud of them tonight,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner said after the game. “We were woeful against Washington. Tonight we were aggressive, we were front foot. We conceded two goals which we were not happy with, of course. But I think for the first time the stats represent what I felt the game was like.

“Tonight absolutely belongs to Toni [Pressley] — the amazing woman that she is — and I’m so glad that the girls fought hard for her, and anyone else that has suffered or will suffer from breast cancer. I think that it is tremendous that we have super women in terms that they have the ability to face that, come back, and aggressively take on the challenge. I haven’t got the words to express just how I feel about Toni because she’s Wonder Woman.”

It was Breast Cancer Awareness Night, and before the match, a group of survivors made a pink ribbon at the center of the field. There was a video on the jumbotron of the Pride players talking about their reactions to Pressley’s diagnosis.

“Of course it meant a lot to all of us [having Pressley back],” Marta said through an interpreter. “She went through this difficult time and she overcame everything so strong. And that was a great example to all of us — showing how strong she is and how she was determined and never gave up through all this. So whenever she came in I was super happy and very emotional because it just shows to all of us overcoming a challenge. So it was a great example to all of us working hard, determination, and being strong.”

Skinner made several changes to his starting XI. He changed the back line for the fourth straight match, giving Julie King her first action since her red card in her Pride debut. Claire Emslie started up top, but she only lasted 43 minutes before a head injury forced out of her game. She finished with a team-high three chances created and an assist.

The Pride started the game out playing some of the best soccer that they’ve shown all year. Orlando had eight shots (five on target) before the half-hour mark. Camila had three of those shots, all on target.

This led to the first goal, 24 minutes in. Marta found Emslie up top. The Scot used one touch to feed Hill behind the defense. Hill dribbled around Reign goalkeeper Casey Murphy and passed the ball into the back of the net. 

The lead lasted just 10 minutes. In the 34th minute, Kristen Edmonds had the ball inside Orlando’s final third. Megan Rapinoe was chasing her down, and Edmonds passed back to Ashlyn Harris. With a Reign attacker running down at her, Harris barely got her foot on it. The ball fell to former Pride fullback Steph Catley, who sent in a perfect cross to Darian Jenkins. Jenkins volleyed it past Harris, and the game was tied at one.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 41st minute. From the left wing, Rumi Utsugi sent a fantastic ball forward. Jodie Taylor used speed to run by Alanna Kennedy, then used some nifty footwork to create space, and powered the ball into the back of the net.

Marta nearly tied the game in first-half stoppage time. She got the ball and dribbled around a hopeful defender, but shot it directly into Murphy’s chest.

The Reign took the 2-1 lead into halftime. Orlando was the better team for the majority of the half, but the visitors took the momentum after scoring their first goal and took the lead. Orlando took nine shots in the first half, and six found the target. The Reign only had five shots, four shots on goal. Possession was fairly even with Orlando holding 49%. The Pride got into great positions, but the shots were poor and right at Murphy, who finished with five saves.  

“I think it’s great to end on a positive and get a draw from the game,” said Pressley. “I think the girls did so well tonight. From the moment the first whistle blew, so exciting to watch. Rachel’s goal was unbelievable and then to finish with Marta’s was so fantastic and it’s amazing to be back out there.”

The second half had significantly less action. Both teams had chances, but they were mostly snuffed out before reaching dangerous areas.

Pressley came into the match in the 72nd minute. It was her first game action since being diagnosed with breast cancer. The center back got a standing ovation as she came on, and Harris gave the captain’s armband to her.

“It was just so surreal,” Pressley said about getting the captain’s armband. “[Harris] is someone I love dearly and have so much respect for. She's such a great leader and for her to hand that over to me in that moment was so special and it is something that I will never forget.

“It felt amazing to have everyone be so supportive and be behind me and just give me that extra push to get on that field. I think that’s a testament to how wonderful our fans our. They stick it out with us every single game and just to have them it means the world.”

Minutes after Pressley came on, Pickett sent in a cross. Pressley nearly got on the end of it, on what would have been too perfect of a moment.

In the 86th minute, Marta scored a goal for the highlight reel. Off a corner, the ball slowly rolled to the top of the box. Marta sized up the goal, wound up, a powered the ball into the back of the net to level the game at two.

“I really thought, ‘Finally it went it!’ after so many chances,” said Marta. “For everything we did today, everything we tried, all the chances, and also for the cause, I really think we should have won.”

In the dying minutes of the game it looked like Marta would get a brace. She took a shot from distance and Murphy came up with yet another huge save to deny the Brazilian.

Orlando finished the match with the most shots and shots on target all season. The Pride had more shots (21-10), shots on target (10-7), and possession (52%). Marta led everyone in shots with nine, and Camila put all four of her shots on target.

Orlando finished the season in last place. Skinner has already been looking forward to next season and said that he has identified players that he wants to bring in — both in the NWSL and abroad. It will be a point of emphasis to bring in experienced players that are not on their national teams. With the Olympics next year, Skinner does not want to be in the same situation where he loses half the team during international games.

 

 

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Orlando Pride Sign Jamaican International Forward Solai Washington

The Pride add attacking depth by signing former Florida State forward Solai Washington.

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2 days ago

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January 19, 2026

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed Jamaican international forward Solai Washington. The former Florida State Seminole  through the 2027 season with a mutual option for the 2028 season.

“Solai is a player we’ve had an eye on for a while during her two years in college,” Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines said in a club press release. “Her composure on the ball, her ability to break lines, and the maturity she showed at Florida State make her a fantastic fit for what we’re building here. She brings energy, versatility, and a real competitive edge, which is what we look for in players. We’re excited to have her here in Orlando and to see the impact she can make in our environment both on and off the field.” 

The 20-year-old attacker from Atlanta made 35 appearances in her two years in Tallahassee, scoring eight goals and adding four assists while helping the Seminoles win the 2025 NCAA national championship and the 2024 ACC tournament. Washington was a member of the 2024 ACC All-Freshmen Team, the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team, and was named to TopDrawerSoccer’s postseason Top 100 Freshman list (at No. 42).

On the international stage, Washington has already represented Jamaica at the senior level on the biggest stage, making three appearances with the Reggae Girlz at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, debuting in a scoreless draw with France.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride’s need for depth in the attacking positions is well documented, and Washington is a young player with a ton of upside in an area of need. From that perspective alone, this is a signing that makes sense. While it would be nice for the club to sign some proven NWSL-level scorers to provide depth for Barbra Banda, Marta, and Jacquie Ovalle, it’s always good to develop young talent. Since the abolition of the NWSL Draft, teams must work harder to secure the services of players like Washington.

It will require some time to know whether Orlando’s faith in Washington will be rewarded, and she wasn’t the most prolific scorer at FSU, but it says something about a player that they can get minutes at age 17 in a World Cup. It will be up to Hines and his staff to develop Washington, who will have no shortage of great mentors as teammates.

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Orlando Pride Announce 2026 NWSL Schedule

We now know who, when, and where the Pride will play during the 2026 NWSL regular season.

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6 days ago

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January 15, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

The National Women’s Soccer League schedule was announced this morning, telling us who, where, and when the Orlando Pride will play this year. The 2026 season will once again feature a balanced schedule with all teams playing the other 15 teams once at home and once on the road. The addition of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC will see each team play 30 games, making it the longest regular season in league history.

The Pride will begin the season at home, facing the Seattle Reign on March 15. This season begins with a two-game homestand, ending with the club’s first-ever match against the Summit and the return of Ally Watt. The first road game will occur on March 25 when the Pride face Chicago Stars FC in Evanston, IL.

The Pride’s home schedule will end on Oct. 25 when they face NJ/NY Gotham FC. They’ll then travel west to face Seattle on Decision Day in the return game on Nov. 1, concluding the team’s 11th season in existence.

Orlando’s games this year are well distributed among the league’s various broadcast partners. The Pride will play nine times on Victory+ — the league’s new free streaming partner. Additionally, they’ll play six times on Prime Video, five times on Ion, twice on CBS Sports Network, once on ESPN, and once on ESPN2. The remaining games will be available on NWSL+.

Should the Pride qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year, the quarterfinals will take play Nov. 6-8, followed by the semifinals on Nov. 14-15. The championship game will take place on Nov. 21 at a location yet to be determined.

The longest homestand this year is two games and will occur three times. As previously mentioned, the Pride begin with a pair of home games against Seattle and Denver on March 15 and March 20, respectively. They’ll host the Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage on May 2 and May 8, respectively; the Kansas City Current and Boston on July 10 and July 15, respectively; and Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash on Aug. 29 and Sept. 6, respectively.

The longest road trip this year is a three-game swing in May. Orlando will face Boston at Gillette Stadium on May 12, Denver on May 16, and San Diego Wave FC on May 24.

The league will take a month-long break during June as the country hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Pride’s final game before the break is on May 29 at home against Bay FC and they will return to action on July 3 against Angel City FC in Los Angeles.

The busiest months of the season will be May and July, when the Pride will play six times in each month. They’ll play four times in March, August, and September, three times in October, twice in April, and once in November.

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the regular season:

  • March — 4
  • April — 2
  • May — 6
  • June — 0
  • July — 6
  • August — 4
  • September — 4
  • October — 3
  • November — 1

The most common day the Pride will play this year will be Friday (11 times), the same as last year. They’ll play nine games on Sunday, seven on Saturday, two on Wednesday, and one rare Tuesday match.

Here’s the Pride’s breakdown by day for the regular season:

  • Monday — 0
  • Tuesday — 1
  • Wednesday — 2
  • Thursday — 0
  • Friday — 11
  • Saturday — 7
  • Sunday — 9

For fans that follow Orlando City and the Pride, the teams will play on the same day five times. However, two of the days won’t see the games overlap. On May 2, the Pride hosts the Spirit at 4 p.m. and the Lions face Inter Miami away at 7 p.m. On Sept. 19, the Pride host the Portland Thorns at 4 p.m while City plays at the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. 

The teams’ games will overlap on three occasions, but they never start at the same time. On May 16, Orlando City hosts Atlanta United at 7:30 p.m. before the Pride play in Denver at 8:45 p.m. On Aug. 15, Orlando City hosts FC Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride play in Portland at 8:45 p.m. On Aug. 29, the Pride host the Royals at 7 p.m. and Orlando City faces Minnesota United FC away at 8:30 p.m.

2026 Orlando Pride Schedule (All Times Eastern)

  • Sunday, March 15 — vs. Seattle Reign FC, 4 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Friday, March 20 — vs. Denver Summit FC, 8 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Wednesday, March 25 — at Chicago Stars FC 8 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Sunday, March 29 — at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 7 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Friday, April 3 — vs. Angel City FC, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Friday, April 24 — at Racing Louisville FC, 5:30 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Saturday, May 2 — vs. Washington Spirit, 4 p.m. (ION)
  • Friday, May 8 — vs. North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Tuesday, May 12 — at Boston Legacy FC, 8 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Saturday, May 16 — at Denver Summit FC, 8:45 p.m. (ION)
  • Sunday, May 24 — at San Diego Wave FC, 7 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Friday, May 29 — vs. Bay FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Friday, July 3 — at Angel City FC, 10 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Friday, July 10 — vs. Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Wednesday, July 15 — vs. Boston Legacy FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Saturday, July 18 — at Utah Royals FC, 8:45 p.m. (ION)
  • Friday, July 24 — vs. Chicago Stars FC, 8 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Friday, July 31 — at North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Saturday, Aug. 8 — vs. Racing Louisville FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Saturday, Aug. 15 — at Portland Thorns, 8:45 p.m. (ION)
  • Sunday, Aug. 23 — at Washington Spirit, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
  • Saturday, Aug. 29 — vs. Utah Royals FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Sunday, Sept. 6 — vs. Houston Dash, 7 p.m. (Victory+)
  • Friday, Sept. 11 — at Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Saturday, Sept. 19 — vs. Portland Thorns, 4 p.m. (ION)
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 — at Bay FC, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Friday, Oct. 2 — vs. San Diego Wave FC, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Sunday, Oct. 18 — at Houston Dash, 1 p.m. (CBSSN)
  • Sunday, Oct. 25 — vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 3 p.m. (CBSSN)
  • Sunday, Nov. 1 — at Seattle Reign FC, 5 p.m. (TBD)
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How the Orlando Pride Can Return to the Mountaintop

What needs to happen for the Pride to win hardware in 2026?

Published

6 days ago

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January 15, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

A fall-off after winning the double in 2024 was probably inevitable, yet the Orlando Pride still managed to come within minutes of playing in a second straight NWSL championship match. Many of the pieces are still there, and there are resources to get more. However, there have been some big changes in personnel on and off the pitch.

What needs to happen for the Pride to challenge for another double in 2026?

Reinvigorate the Attack

The return of Barbra Banda is the balm to soothe the worries of Orlando Pride fans. Even when the Pride struggled before she was injured, Banda scored plenty of goals. The biggest problem is she was left on an island as the team tried lobbing the ball up the field to her, hoping she’d do it all herself. Jacquie Ovalle didn’t take the NWSL by storm as we hoped, but it sometimes takes time for a player to adjust to a new league and club. If they had been able to work together, it’s likely the Orlando attack wouldn’t have faltered. Ovalle’s ability to deliver the ball into the box, combined with Banda’s ability to put the ball in the net, is a dangerous combo.

Of course, the Pride will need more than the two of them if the club is to win some trophies in 2026. I made this point several times last season, but Marta needs to find her form from 2024. With Banda and Ovalle in the attack, it should allow Marta the freedom she needs to be creative without having to carry the offense. Additionally, the Pride need other attackers to also find their 2024 form. I’m looking at Julie Doyle and Summer Yates in particular.

Fill the Roster

Haley Carter didn’t leave the cupboard bare when she departed for the wicked Washington Spirit. As such, Seb Hines and new Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Caitlin Carducci don’t have too much to do. But, the transfer of Emily Sams did create a need at center back. Fortunately, the Orlando Pride received $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds for Sams. That kind of cash can go a long way to filling the gaps in the roster.

With Kylie Nadaner on maternity leave and Rafaelle seemingly always on the verge of injury, finding a replacement for Sams is a priority. Some might point to Zara Chavoshi, but unless she levels up quickly, Carducci will need to look elsewhere. Offensively, as important as Banda is, adding another striker is necessary for quality depth. The departures of Ally Watt and Prisca Chilufya mean there’s a spot for an even better backup striker. I’m also not opposed to a quality left back.

Find the Grit

In 2024, the entire Pride team was personally offended if the opposition scored a goal. The level of defending up and down the pitch was a big factor in breaking records and winning hardware. The players need to pick up the chip and put it back on their metaphorical shoulders. I somewhat addressed this with the need to replace Sams, but there’s more to it than that. The Pride wore teams down over the course of a match, meaning it wasn’t necessary to score tons of goals. Of course, it’s not just the back line that needs to be better, but the entire team. Fortunately, Hines knows a thing or two about defenses. The Pride still have Marta to motivate them, and that — while not everything — is not a small advantage.

Those are the things I will be looking for in 2026. Let me know your thoughts or ideas in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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