Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Sign Defender Carrie Lawrence
The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed defender Carrie Lawrence to a one-year deal with an option for an additional season. Lawrence was one of seven players who signed a short-term contract to play with the Pride in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series and she evidently impressed enough during that stint at right back to earn a spot with her hometown team.
“We’re really pleased to sign Carrie back to the Pride. She has a heartbeat made here in Florida, which allows her to connect with the club in a unique way,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner said in a club press release. “She has the physical and technical skills to perform in the NWSL coupled with the character to manage challenges while continuing to improve. Carrie possesses a lot of potential and we are excited to keep working together to turn that potential into high performance.”
The Orlando native rejoins the Pride after appearing for the Pride in all four matches of the Fall Series, starting three. The UCF product made her professional debut Sept. 19 in a 0-0 road draw against North Carolina. She played the full 90 minutes and had a goal-line clearance that kept the score level in that match.
Lawrence played 233 of the team’s 360 minutes in the Fall Series and was one of the team’s more pleasant surprises. Defensively, she contributed 14 clearances, a block, and four interceptions. She had a 66.7% tackle success rate and won 55.2% of her duels, including 100% of her aerial duels. Her passing rate of 67.5% was decent on an average of 32 attempts per 90 minutes, and she was successful on 40% of her long pass attempts. Lawrence didn’t score a goal but did register an assist on a Kristen Edmonds goal in the 3-3 comeback draw at home against the Courage in the Fall Series finale. She attempted one shot in her four games, which wasn’t on target, and created two scoring chances.
Before playing the bulk of her collegiate soccer with the Knights, Lawrence played her freshman season with the University of South Carolina, appearing in all 20 matches (two starts), scoring her first college goal against Kennesaw State on Sept. 14, 2015, and was voted the Gamecocks’ Rookie of the Year by her teammates and coaches.
After transferring to UCF ahead of her sophomore season, Lawrence was a three-year letter winner from 2016-2018, making 49 appearances, scoring four goals and adding 11 assists. She was a second team All-American Athletic Conference selection for her senior season. Following her collegiate career, Lawrence joined the Pride as a training player for the 2019 season, before joining on a short-term contract for the Fall Series and subsequently earning her one-year contract.
What it Means for Orlando
This is a positive move for the Pride. Right back was an area of need for the team after the departure of Emily Sonnett in the recent trade with the Washington Spirit. While Ali Krieger can still play that position, indications are that Skinner would like to play Krieger at center back. Even if Krieger were to play right back, there was little quality depth in the position. Lawrence showed during the Fall Series that she’s far less prone to turnovers than predecessor Erin Greening, she seems to have a good grasp of Skinner’s system, and she can provide some width in the attack.
There will be less pressure for Skinner to address the position in next week’s NWSL Draft — an uncertain one with the NCAA allowing players up to a week after the draft to decide whether or not to participate in their spring collegiate season. Edmonds has played the position for the Pride in the past, but she is currently not under contract, although a new deal has been offered to her. Likewise, Camila has played in that spot in the past but the Brazilian international too has yet to officially sign her new contract offer.
Orlando was explicit in stating the club was going to use the Fall Series to get a look at young and/or unproven players to see if anyone stepped up and showed they could play in the league. Lawrence did just that and, as a result, the hometown player has a job in professional soccer for at least the 2021 season, if not longer.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Sign Goalkeeper Kat Asman
The Pride have signed goalkeeper Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 NWSL season.
The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that the club has signed Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 season. The Portland Thorns selected Asman in the 2024 NWSL Draft.
“Kat is a phenomenal addition to our goalkeeping corps and is someone we expect to provide competition and push this group to be even better than they have been,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “We are so excited for what she brings to the group both on and off the pitch and are confident she will play an important role in our upcoming season. Kat is a great fit for our club, and we look forward to providing her the atmosphere and tools to grow her game and make an impact in Orlando.”
Asman was selected by the Thorns with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. The Thorns needed a goalkeeper due to starter Bella Bixby’s pregnancy, which would cause her to miss significant time. While the rookie was on the roster, she was behind Shelby Hogan, Mackenzie Arnold, and Lauren Kozal. As a result, she didn’t make any NWSL or NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup appearances in 2024.
The Roswell, GA, native was already fourth-choice goalkeeper and Bixby will likely return to her starting position in 2025, leaving the rookie with no place in the squad. The Pride came to her rescue by signing the 24-year-old to a two-year contract.
“I am extremely excited to join the reigning NWSL champions,” Asman said in the club’s release. “A big reason I felt so drawn to joining the Pride is their drive to creating a connected team culture that thrives on building relationships off the field in order to cultivate results on the field. Over the last season, I’ve been able to watch Orlando have an unforgettable season, and I feel very blessed that I get to be a part of everything this team will continue to build in the future.”
Prior to being drafted by the Thorns, Asman spent four years starting for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where she was a teammate of Pride defenders Kerry Abello and Cori Dyke. She played 87 games in State College with 323 saves and 27 clean sheets. Additionally, she became one of four women in Penn State history to win 50 games.
Internationally, Asman has participated in training camps for the USWNT U-14 through U-18 youth teams.
What It Means for Orlando
This signing may not have much of an impact on the Pride in 2025, although the addition may bring into question Sofia Manner’s future with Orlando. Anna Moorhouse started all 26 regular-season games and all three playoff games in 2024, while McKinley Crone was the backup in all of those games. Manner was only on the team sheet for the Summer Cup matches, playing the second game and being an unused sub in the other two.
The Pride will likely have three goalkeepers on the roster for 2025, meaning one of the four currently under contract is likely on their way out. The club signed Crone to a new contract through 2026 on Sept. 6, indicating she’s part of the Pride’s future plans. With Moorhouse under contract next season, it might mean Manner is departing. The Finnish shot-stopper signed a two-year deal on Dec. 1, 2023, with an option for 2026. But with her lack of ability to lock down even the primary backup role this year, we could see a corresponding move in the coming days.
Regardless of who makes way for Asman, it’s likely she’ll be third string. The club seems content with Moorhouse and Crone as the top two goalkeepers and Asman has yet to make a professional appearance. There isn’t much for Carter to do this off-season to beef up the team, but determining who will be the third goalkeeper next season will be something to watch.
Orlando Pride
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Haley McCutcheon
The veteran midfielder spent her third year in purple and contributed to the team’s run to glory.
Haley McCutcheon was still known as Haley Hanson when she joined the Orlando Pride on Aug. 18, 2022 in a midseason trade with the Houston Dash. The Pride gave up $75,000 in Allocation Money and a second-round draft selection. She joined Orlando for the stretch run, making her debut with the Pride on Aug. 20 in a 2-1 win over Gotham FC. Following the 2022 season, the Nebraska product signed a new contract through 2024 on Oct. 26 of last year. The Pride extended McCutcheon’s stay in Orlando on Dec. 20, 2023 by inking her to a deal through 2026.
Once again, the versatile veteran contributed in a number of different roles on the pitch, but she saved her best for last, scoring her first goals of the season in the Pride’s playoff run, helping Orlando get past Chicago and Kansas City and into the NWSL Championship against Washington.
Let’s look back at McCutcheon’s third year with the Pride.
Statistical Breakdown
McCutcheon appeared in 22 games during the regular season, starting 18 and logging 1,700 minutes, which was the sixth-most playing time among all outfield players behind three of the team’s defenders (Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, and Emily Sams), and attackers Marta and Barbra Banda. Of her 18 starts, the first two games of the season saw her at left back, while she was in the midfield for her last 16 starts, although there were a few moments here and there where she moved around as needed when subs were made.
She did not score a goal or provide an assist in the regular season, largely due to a lack of clinical finishing, as she put only two of her 18 shot attempts on frame. She completed 80.4% of her passes, but tallied no key passes and completed just three crosses and 12 long balls on the season. Defensively, however, she shone brightly with 31 tackles and 23 interceptions, winning 69 headed duels. She committed 16 fouls, drew eight, and was booked twice.
In the NWSL playoffs, McCutcheon started in all three games, logging 270 minutes. She scored two goals, finishing the two of her three shots that hit the target, but did not record an assist or a key pass in the postseason. The midfielder connected on 62.8% of her 75 postseason passes. She contributed three tackles and three interceptions on the defensive end. She committed two fouls, did not draw one on the opposition, and was booked once.
McCutcheon made two appearances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup (both starts), playing 162 minutes. She did not have a goal contribution or attempt a shot, but she was successful on two of three dribble attempts and completed 84% of her 55 passes, albeit without a completed cross or key pass and only one successful long ball. Defensively, she won four of her five tackle attempts (80%), recorded no interceptions, and won a headed duel. She committed two fouls, drew none on the competition, and was not booked. She attempted one penalty shot but saw her potential winning effort saved against North Carolina.
Best Game
There were a few decent options for McCutcheon’s top match of the year, but the standout for me is the Pride’s 3-2 playoff semifinal win over the Kansas City Current on Nov. 17. Ironically, it was one of her poorest passing performances of the season at just a 49% completion rate, but she managed to contribute in important ways on both ends of the pitch.
Her most important contribution came in the 41st minute with Orlando trailing 1-0. Ally Watt took the ball to the end line up the right channel and cut a pass back into the middle of the penalty area. With Adriana and Barbra Banda occupying the defenders, McCutcheon made a smart late run into the box, splitting her two teammates to get into an open area just as the ball arrived. McCutcheon’s first touch was a hard shot close to the goalkeeper, but the movement was too quick for Almuth Schult to recover and keep it out. With her second goal of the postseason, McCutcheon pulled the Pride level and they kicked on to take a 3-1 lead, ultimately winning 3-2 and advancing to the NWSL Championship.
That wasn’t McCutcheon’s only contribution, although it was her only shot attempt of the match. Her 51 touches in the game showed how involved she was, and her two tackles and two interceptions illustrate her importance to the defensive effort as the Pride held off the Current’s desperation rally attempt. She picked up one foul in the game and was booked in the 12th minute of stoppage time after Danielle Chesky awarded Kansas City a penalty, perhaps trying to give Vanessa DiBernardo a little more time to think about it. Aside from her stats and her goal, McCutcheon showed leadership, often pointing out assignments like an extra coach on the field. She was solid throughout Orlando’s postseason run, but this match was probably her biggest contribution to the three-game postseason sweep.
2024 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gives McCutcheon a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for the 2024 season. This is an improvement over the 6 we gave her last year and the 5 out of 10 grade she received in 2022. She was in the lineup nearly every game, missing just four games from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11. She sat out two of those (officially) with a knock and the last of those was an extra day of rest after the Pride had clinched the NWSL Shield. Other than that, she was on the field.
2025 Outlook
I don’t expect McCutcheon’s role to change much next season, although Seb Hines might like to get her more rest in 2025. With Luana’s illness and injuries to Angelina and Morgan Gautrat, McCutcheon ate up minutes in the Orlando midfield in 2024. Fewer injuries to that position group and/or adding depth in th off-season — and potentially the development of Ally Lemos — could help McCutcheon manage her minutes next year. Regardless of how much time she spends on the pitch, she will likely be one of the key, and vocal, veteran leaders pushing the Pride forward as they try to defend their NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Amanda Allen (11/28/24)
- McKinley Crone (11/29/24)
- Sofia Manner (11/30/24)
- Mariana Larroquette (12/1/24)
- Viviana Villacorta (12/2/24)
- Luana (12/3/24)
- Evelina Duljan (12/4/24)
- Cori Dyke (12/5/24)
- Carson Pickett (12/6/24)
- Brianna Martinez (12/7/24)
- Ally Watt (12/8/24)
- Summer Yates (12/9/24)
- Ally Lemos (12/10/24)
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Announce Roster Decisions Following 2024 NWSL Season
There aren’t many surprises in the Pride’s roster status update following the 2024 NWSL season.
The Orlando Pride updated the team’s roster status today following the 2024 NWSL season and announced some off-season decisions. The team is well intact for the 2025 season with 25 players currently under contract and only four players officially departing.
The players under contract for 2025 or beyond include forwards Amanda Allen, Barbra Banda, Simone Charley, Julie Doyle, Mariana Larroquette, Adriana, and Ally Watt; midfielders Kerry Abello, Angelina, Luana, Grace Chanda, Morgan Gautrat, Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon, Viviana Villacorta, and Summer Yates; defenders Cori Dyke, Brianna Martinez, Carson Pickett, Emily Sams, Rafaelle, and Kylie Strom; and goalkeepers McKinley Crone, Sofia Manner, and Anna Moorhouse.
The long list of players under contract is largely due to the work done during the season to sign several players to new contracts. Yates, Doyle, Gautrat, Crone, Watt, Villacorta, Dyke, Martinez, and Abello all re-signed midseason before their contracts expired.
Celia, Carrie Lawrence, and Megan Montefusco announced their retirements from professional soccer during the season, effective at the end of the year. Additionally, Evelina Duljan is out of contract and the club has decided not to bring the young attacker back.
Probably the biggest news from the updates is that the club is in discussions for club captain Marta to return for the 2025 season. The Brazilian saw her two-year contract expire, but had a resurgence at 38 years old, resulting in being named an NWSL MVP finalist.
Just as important to re-signing players were the midseason contract extensions of Pride Head Coach Seb Hines and Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter. The pair that led the Pride to the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship signed new deals earlier this year through the 2026 season with options for 2027.
What It Means for Orlando
There weren’t going to be any major surprises because 25 of the 30 players were already under contract and three had announced their retirements. Duljan’s departure is a little surprising because she’s only 21 years old and was a highly-touted addition prior to the season. However, she only played in 11 games in all competitions and didn’t appear to be a major factor going forward with the young players in the squad.
The other big news is that the club is in discussions about a return for Marta. The captain has been with the Pride for eight seasons and lost a step after suffering a torn ACL two years ago. However, she was excellent this year, scoring 11 goals and leading the team to the double. The question was whether the club would want to re-sign the attacker — who will be 39 in February — or if she would want to ride off into the sunset with the most successful season in Pride history. The Brazilian sports icon has repeatedly said when asked that she would like to play one to two more years. That being the case, the most likely place for her to do that was in Orlando.
Regardless of the Marta decision, the Pride are in great shape moving forward. They have nearly all of their key players returning next season, setting them up for potentially another run at an NWSL Championship. However, Carter has vowed to continue trying to make the squad better, so having a lot of returning faces doesn’t mean there won’t be some activity this off-season.
Post-2024 Orlando Pride Player Contract Statuses
(Current club players in italics)
- Kerry Abello — Under Contract
- Amanda Allen — Under Contract
- Adriana — Under Contract
- Angelina — Under Contract
- Barbra Banda — Under Contract
- Grace Chanda — Under Contract
- Simone Charley — Under Contract
- McKinley Crone — Under Contract
- Celia — Retired
- Julie Doyle — Under Contract
- Evelina Duljan — Out of Contract
- Cori Dyke — Under Contract
- Morgan Gautrat — Under Contract
- Mariana Larroquette — Under Contract
- Carrie Lawrence — Retired
- Ally Lemos — Under Contract
- Luana — Under Contract
- Sofia Manner — Under Contract
- Brianna Martinez — Under Contract
- Haley McCutcheon — Under Contract
- Megan Montecusco — Retired
- Anna Moorhouse — Under Contract
- Marta — Out of Contract
- Carson Pickett — Under Contract
- Rafaelle — Under Contract
- Emily Sams — Under Contract
- Kylie Strom — Under Contract
- Viviana Villacorta — Under Contract
- Ally Watt — Under Contract
- Summer Yates — Under Contract
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