Orlando Pride Announce Updated Preseason Roster

The Orlando Pride announced updates to the team’s 2021 roster this afternoon, a month into preseason. In addition to changes already announced, four players have joined the team. The roster includes 26 players, all of which are currently with the team for preseason training.

The only player to leave the club since the initial preseason roster announcement is Carson Pickett. The former Pride starting left back was traded to the North Carolina Courage on Feb. 4 for the rights to forward Jodie Taylor.

Another previously announced change was the signing of former Washington Spirit forward Crystal Thomas. Having joined the team as a trialist at the start of preseason camp, Thomas was officially signed on February 23.

Abi Kim was a 2020 NWSL Draft selection of the Pride was officially signed earlier in the day. The third-round selection from the University of California becomes the sixth player from the 2020 Pride draft class to be signed, joining Taylor Kornieck, Courtney Petersen, Konya Plummer, Phoebe McClernon, and Chelsee Washington. The only player not signed from that draft class is defender Cheyenne Shorts.

Former Mississippi State goalkeeper Gabby English and former Houston Dash defender Lauren Silver have also joined the team as non-roster invitees. English had been with Portuguese club Boavista and Scottish club Hibernian earlier this year before returning to her native Florida. After playing at the University of Florida, Silver played in Sweden, France, Scotland, and Norway before signing a short-term deal with Houston in 2020.

The club remains training at their Sylvan Lake Park home in preparation for the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup and regular season. The new players will potentially see their first game action tomorrow, when the Pride take on Kansas City. The Challenge Cup will start on April 9 and the regular season is set to begin on May 15.

2021 Orlando Pride Updated Preseason Roster

Goalkeepers (4): Gabby English (NRI), Ashlyn Harris (ALL/USA), Erin McLeod (ALL/CAN), Brittany Wilson.

Defenders (9): Ally Haran (NRI), Ali Krieger (ALL/USA), Carrie Lawrence, Phoebe McClernon, Courtney Petersen, Konya Plummer (INTL/JAM), Toni Pressley, Ali Riley, Lauren Silver (NRI).

Midfielders (8): Meggie Dougherty Howard, Gunny Jónsdóttir, Taylor Kornieck, Jordyn Listro, Jade Moore (INTL/ENG), Erika Tymrak, Marisa Viggiano, Chelsee Washington.

Forwards (5): Abi Kim, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan (ALL/USA), Crystal Thomas, Marta Vieira da Silva (INTL/BRA).

Key:
ALL: 2021 Allocated Player
INTL: International Player”
NRI: Non-Roster Invitee