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Orlando Pride Acquire Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir, Rights to Midfielder Erika Tymrak from Kansas City

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The Orlando Pride announced today that the team has acquired Icelandic international midfielder Gunnhildur “Gunny” Jónsdóttir and the rights to midfielder Erika Tymrak from Kansas City in exchange for Kristen Edmonds and Orlando’s natural second-round selection in the 2022 NWSL Draft. 

“We’re extremely pleased to add Gunny to our squad,” Orlando Pride General Manager Ian Fleming said in a club press release. “Her experience, both within this league and at the international level, paired with her skill and versatility will add a dimension to how we play. Her ability will not only bring the best out of her, but will raise our level of play as a team,

“I was also very excited to find that Erika wanted to return to the sport and, specifically, to be a part of the Pride family. She is a proven competitor at this level, reflected by her accolades in this league and past experience with the U.S. Women’s National Team. I look forward to seeing her back at her best as a member of our club.”

Jónsdóttir, 32, joined Utah Royals FC — which became the new Kansas City NWSL franchise this off-season — during the team’s inaugural campaign in 2018. During her three years with Utah, she made 52 appearances, scoring two goals and adding six assists. One of her goals was the first ever goal in Royals franchise history and it came in Orlando in the third minute on March 24, 2018 in a 1-1 draw

Prior to joining the NWSL, Jónsdóttir began her club career in Iceland with Stjarnan, debuting at just 14 years of age. She played in 119 matches from 2003-2012, scoring 25 goals and earning club MVP honors in 2011.

A member of the Icelandic Women’s National Team player pool since 2013, Jónsdóttir helped her side qualify for the 2017 UEFA Women’s Championship, scoring two goals. The Garðabær, Iceland native has 74 caps and 10 goals at the international level. 

Tymrak, 29, announced her retirement in January 2020. The 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year spent two seasons with Utah, scoring one goal and adding two assists in 30 matches. Prior to joining the Royals, Tymrak played five seasons with FC Kansas City, winning back-to-back NWSL championships in 2014 and 2015. In seven NWSL seasons, Tymrak has made 125 appearances, scoring 19 goals. She has also played abroad with Bayern Munich (2013) and Melbourne City (2016-2017). 

On the international stage, Tymrak has represented the United States at the U-17, U-20, U-23, and senior levels. She earned her first call-up to the USWNT in August of 2013 and made her debut on Sept. 3 of that year. She has three total caps and scored her first senior international goal in the 76th minute against Brazil in a friendly at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Nov. 10, 2013 in a 4-1 U.S. victory. Unsigned Pride forward Sydney Leroux scored two goals in that match.

Tymrak grew up in Lakewood Ranch, FL, and attended the University of Florida. In Gainesville, she was a multi-time NSCAA All-America honoree and was named to the 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team. Tymrak finished her college career third on Florida’s all-time assists list, with 40, and was sixth in points (104). 

Edmonds, 33, is an original member of the Pride. Orlando acquired her rights, along with midfielder Becky Edwards, from the Western New York Flash on Dec. 17, 2015 in exchange for a 2016 second-round draft pick and the Pride’s first-round pick in 2017.

The New Jersey native made 72 appearances in her five seasons with Orlando, scoring 10 goals and adding two assists. She was the team’s Golden Boot winner in the Pride’s inaugural season, scoring six goals in 2016. She was also the team’s co-leader in assists that year, tying Sarah Hagen with two.

“While we’re sad to see Kristen moving on, I’m very happy that she is going to have a fantastic opportunity to be a part of an exciting project in Kansas City,” Fleming said. “Kristen has been with the Pride since the club’s inception, and we are indebted to her time spent helping to build it to where we stand today. We wish her nothing but the best moving forward and thank her for everything she has done for both our Club and the Orlando community.”

What it Means for Orlando

The Pride spent draft day bulking up the midfield for the future. But the club will have to wait for new midfielders Viviana Villacorta and Mikayla Colohan to finish out their spring seasons before joining the team. With today’s moves, the Pride have added talented veteran help to a midfield that Orlando is clearly intent on bolstering. Jónsdóttir holds a Green Card and will not occupy an international spot on the Pride’s roster, so that makes the deal even better from Orlando’s perspective.

Fleming’s quote indicates he’s confident a deal will be completed to sign Tymrak. When that happens, the Pride will have a solid group in the midfield that includes Jade Moore, Taylor Kornieck, newly signed Jordyn Listro, recently re-signed Marisa Viggiano, and recently acquired Meggie Dougherty Howard, along with young Chelsee Washington. Although few in this group have played a single game together yet, that’s a solid and deeper group that’s built to withstand international call-ups. If the club can re-sign Camila, that depth gets even better.

Edmonds is a versatile player and has played nearly every outfield position for the Pride, aside from center back. She’s been a capable fill-in at fullback and has played on the forward line and in the midfield. Losing a player like that is never ideal, but the team now seems to have more balance, particularly when the reinforcements arrive from college, and much more depth. Rather than having reserves at the level of National Team Replacement Players, the Pride will have experienced and talented players throughout the midfield.

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Sign Defender Emily Madril to New Contract

The center back signs a new three-year deal, keeping her in Orlando through 2026.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed starting center back Emily Madril to a new three-year contract. The defender originally signed a three-year deal with the NWSL, running through the 2025 season, but this new contract will keep her in Orlando through 2026.

“I had a great rookie year here and had so much fun and love everyone in the Orlando Pride organization,” Madril said in a club press release. “The chemistry that we have in the locker room between all the girls and the entire coaching staff is just amazing and played a big factor in me wanting to stay here in Orlando. I am so excited to be a part of the Pride for the future and continue to be a part of the special thing we are building here.” 

After leaving Florida State University following her junior season, Madril signed a three-year contract with the NWSL and went on loan to Swedish Damallsvenskan side BK Hacken. The Pride drafted the defender with the third overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft, immediately putting her into the starting lineup.

Madril initially started alongside Caitlin Cosme at center back, before being joined by Megan Montefusco and, eventually, Rafaelle. She showed her versatility on two occasions, starting at right back.

The Boise, ID native started all 22 regular-season games for the Pride, recording a rookie-leading 1,977 minutes, and she only came off late in the season finale against the Houston Dash when the Pride needed a goal. She completed 814 of her 953 passes (85.4%), 46 of her 103 long passes (44.7%), and took one off-target shot. Defensively, she added 19 blocks and 19 interceptions, won 17 of her 28 tackles (60.7%), and was successful on 76 of her 122 duels (62.3%).

Madril also played in five of the team’s six Challenge Cup games, recording 450 minutes. She completed 193 of 224 passes in those games (86.2%) and 13 of 25 long balls (52%). She continued to be a key defensive presence in those midseason cup matches, recording 10 blocks and four interceptions, as well as winning 10 of her 18 tackles (55.6%) and 32 of her 47 duels (68.1%).

“Emily came in and made an immediate impact, just as we expected she would when we drafted her,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in the club’s release. “She was a reliable presence in our back line throughout the entire season and showed her potential to be one of the best defenders in the league. Her maturity and professionalism shined throughout the entire year, and we are very happy to be able to have her with the Pride for the years to come. She is an important part of what we are building here, and she wants to be a part of it, which we are very excited about.” 

Madril has also had a presence for the United States at the international level, receiving call-ups for the U-19, U-20, and U-23 U.S. Women’s National Teams.

What It Means for Orlando

Madril was a key piece of the Pride’s team in 2023 and the club hopes she’ll be for a long time to come. She showed early on that she can become one of the best defenders in the NWSL and her time at right back indicated she has the versatility valued by Carter and Pride Head Coach Seb Hines.

The 24-year-old was already signed to a three-year deal through the 2025 season, so this keeps her in Orlando for an additional year. Terms were not disclosed, but it’s likely she got a raise as well. If she continues to improve on how she played this season, the Pride will undoubtedly look to extend her even further into the future. For next year, she’ll likely continue starting alongside Rafaelle, making up a formidable center back pairing the club can count on.

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2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Anna Moorhouse

The 2023 NWSL season was Anna Moorhouse’s first as the Orlando Pride’s starting goalkeeper.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The 2023 NWSL season was Anna Moorhouse’s second with the Orlando Pride and her first as the team’s starting goalkeeper. She was originally signed prior to the 2022 season, backing up veteran Erin McLeod that year. However, the Canadian international left the team, resulting in Moorhouse taking over the starting role.

Let’s take a look at Moorhouse’s first season starting for the Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

Moorhouse started 19 of the team’s 22 regular-season games, playing 1,623 minutes. The team’s record in those games was 9-9-1, as she conceded 22 goals, saving 72 of her 94 shots faced (76.6%). She ended the year with seven clean sheets, 19 catches, six punches, and four drops. The Pride’s number one completed 387 of her 573 passes (67.5%) out of the back and 115 of her 292 long balls. The passing accuracy in her own half was 79.1% and 32.4% in the opposing half. She conceded one foul and won two, getting sent off in the third minute of the team’s 1-0 loss to OL Reign on Sept. 3.

The English shot stopper also played in four Challenge Cup games, recording 360 minutes. She conceded 10 goals in the competition with no clean sheets and saved 13 of her 23 shots faced (56.5%). Moorhouse had three catches, one punch, and no drops in the secondary competition. She successfully completed 69 of her 111 passes (62.2%) and 29 of her 68 long passes (42.6%). Similar to the regular season, her pass completion percentage was far higher in her own half (76.4%) than in the opposing half (35.9%). Additionally, she won a foul and didn’t concede any.

Best Game

Moorhouse’s most active game was the season opener against the Portland Thorns, where she faced 27 shots and made 12 saves. However she conceded four goals and one was her fault. Her best game of the year came on Oct. 2 in Los Angeles and it was a critical one. Adriana scored in the 22nd minute against Angel City FC to give the Pride a 1-0 lead and the visitors held on for dear life to claim three points that put them in the running for a playoff spot.

One of Moorhouse’s seven clean sheets, the goalkeeper made seven saves on the night, her second-most of the season. Most of Angel City’s shots were right at the goalkeeper, but she was sure-handed, something that plagued her earlier in the year. In the 57th minute, Claire Emslie beat Haley McCutcheon to the ball inside the six-yard box, but Moorhouse was decisive in coming out, forcing the forward to send her shot into the side netting. Her biggest moment of the game came in the 86th minute, when substitute Sydney Leroux got her head on the ball and put it on target. Moorhouse tipped the attempt over the crossbar, maintaining the Pride’s narrow 1-0 lead.

2023 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Moorhouse a composite grade of 6 out of 10 for the 2023 NWSL season. Shot stopping was her strength, but she struggled at other aspects, especially holding onto the ball. On multiple occasions this season, her inability to hold onto a catch resulted in second chances and goals for the opposition. She struggled in the team’s penultimate game against Racing Louisville, effectively ending the Pride’s season, and her third-minute red card against OL Reign was likely a determining factor in a crucial 1-0 loss. However, she had seven clean sheets on the season and was the team’s best goalkeeper.

2024 Outlook

Moorhouse’s initial contract was a two-year deal, running through the 2023 season. While there were questions about her dependability in goal this season, Seb Hines and Haley Carter were pleased with her performances, awarding her with a new contract on Oct. 5, keeping the goalkeeper in purple through at least the 2025 season. The Pride now have four goalkeepers under contract for next year, and Moorhouse will be challenged for her role as the starter by new signing Sofia Manner.


Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

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Orlando Pride Sign Finnish Goalkeeper Sofia Manner

The Pride have added a fourth goalkeeper and the second one from abroad ahead of the 2024 NWSL season.

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Image courtesy of the Orlando Pride and FC Honka

The Orlando Pride announced today the signing of goalkeeper Sofia Manner, who was acquired for an undisclosed transfer fee from FC Honka of Finland’s top flight, the Kansallinen Liiga. Manner has signed a two-year contract through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026. The signing is a bit curious as it comes less than two months after the Pride extended English goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse through the 2025 season, giving Orlando two international goalkeepers and four total netminders under contract.

“I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to join Orlando Pride, a team I have admired since my youth,” Manner said in a club press release. “It has been a lifelong dream of mine to contribute to such a renowned organization in women’s soccer. The prospect of starting this journey fills me with great enthusiasm, and I am eagerly looking forward to bringing my passion and dedication to the team. I’m ready to put in hard work and help write a new chapter for the Orlando Pride.” 

Manner, who turned 26 on Nov. 9, conceded the fewest goals in the Kansallinen Liiga this season and is a nominee for the league’s Best Player and Goalkeeper of the Year awards. She appeared in 23 matches and earned 10 clean sheets across all competitions, was twice named the league’s Goalkeeper of the Month this season, and was Player of the Month in April.

“Sofia is a tremendous addition to our goalkeeping corps and one we expect to challenge for the starting position,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said. “She brings an underdog mentality and gritty work ethic and fits every aspect of the profile we have built for our goalkeepers. Her size, aerial ability, shot-stopping prowess, and distribution are world class. She brings international experience and has led the Kansallinen Liiga in nearly every goalkeeping metric. Her nominations for Goalkeeper of the Year and Best Player are indicative of her winning mentality and drive to be the best. We are excited to bring her to Orlando and to give her an opportunity to prove herself in our environment and in the NWSL.” 

The shot stopper has experience playing in the United States, having played collegiately with Stony Brook University. She compiled a 1.14 career goals-against average across three seasons, which is fourth-best in Seawolves’ history. Her 20 shutouts ranks third in program history, and she compiled a .796 save percentage, which is ninth best all time.

While at Stony Brook, Manner was named America East Freshman of the Year in 2017, was a first-team all-conference selection in 2019, and was the conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2018 and 2019. She started in every match in her final two seasons at Stony Brook, backstopping the Seawolves to an America East conference championship in 2019 and a regular-season title in 2018.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride currently have four goalkeepers under contract: 2023 starter Anna Moorhouse (through 2025), backup Carly Nelson (through 2024), third keeper Kaylie Collins (through 2024), and now Manner (through 2025). Collins is on loan with Western Sydney Wanderers FC of the A-League Women in Australia. Four goalkeepers will provide spirited competition in preseason camp, to be sure, but it’s likely that one of these players will be on the move at some point.

If Manner wins the starting goalkeeper spot from Moorhouse, it may be for reasons other than stopping shots. Moorhouse did a good enough job of that, but often struggled with balls in from the wings, which was illustrated in the Pride’s penultimate game of the year — a must-win match at Racing Louisville — when a routine-looking corner kick cross appeared to be easily catchable, but Moorhouse went for a punch instead and knocked the winning goal for Louisville into her own net. That dropped point in the standings put Orlando in jeopardy on Decision Day and indeed the Pride beat Houston but missed the postseason on goal differential. It was a crucial point dropped.

That wasn’t Moorhouse’s only major error on the season, as she set an NWSL record with the earliest sending off in league history with her third-minute red card at OL Reign on Sept. 3 — a match the Pride lost 1-0 while playing one player short for 87 minutes plus stoppage. She has also frequently spilled crosses and shots from distance.

Orlando needed to upgrade the position. Whether Manner is an upgrade remains to be seen, but as Carter said, she is expected to compete for the starting spot. If nothing else, the competition should be good for the Pride. If Manner does take the starting position, it seems logical that the club will look to move either Moorhouse or Nelson.

The goalkeeper position will provide one of the Pride’s most intriging camp battles.

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