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Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 3-2 as Pride’s Late Comeback Falls Short

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4 years ago

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An early first-half goal and two early second-half strikes doomed the Orlando Pride (7-7-7, 28 points) as they fell 3-2 to NJ/NY Gotham FC (7-6-8, 29 points) at Exploria Stadium. After falling behind 3-0, the Pride climbed back into the game on goals by Erika Tymrak and Marta, but it wasn’t enough as they fell by a goal.

The Pride had placed themselves in a difficult position after a strong start to the season. Sitting in the final playoff spot, they were just one point ahead of the Washington Spirit and two points ahead of Gotham FC heading into this key match-up. The loss was a crucial one in the race for a playoff spot.

Pride interim head coach Becky Burleigh made two changes from the team that lost 3-0 to OL Reign two weeks ago. Marisa Viggiano, who replaced Meggie Dougherty Howard at halftime of that game, entered the starting lineup. Additionally, Marta re-entered the lineup after starting on the bench in Tacoma.

It was yet another poor start by the Pride, something that has become a trend with this team. Despite kicking off, the Pride soon gave the ball away in their own third when Ashlyn Harris sent a clearance straight out of play.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to take advantage of the slow start. In the third minute, Ifeoma Onumonu was able to turn Ali Riley, sending the ball across the top of the box. Caprice Dydasco’s first touch was a layoff to Gaetane Thiney, who quickly fired on goal. The long-distance shot appeared to deflect slightly off the head of Amy Turner — just enough to avoid the outstretched hand of Harris.

The game paused in the sixth minute as all players met in a circle at midfield in a show of solidarity after the recent events plaguing the league. In addition to the sixth-minute display, Pride players refused to answer any questions not directly related to the recent events or changes within the NWSL.

“That’s really a great show of solidarity,” Burleigh said about the midfield moment. “And you’ve seen it, not just in this league, but now even some of the European teams have also followed suit. And I think that’s so impressive to see such unanimous support for something that’s happening in this league, it’s amazing.”

When the game restarted, Onumonu immediately created a chance on goal, but missed the target.

The Pride had their first and best first-half chance in the 12th minute. Receiving the ball in the box, Alex Morgan created enough space to get a shot off. It was on target, but Gotham goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was able to palm it away.

Two minutes later, Riley sent a long cross toward the back post, aimed for Sydney Leroux, who was charging in. However, Sheridan did well again, getting her hand to the ball and knocking it away from the oncoming Leroux.

Gotham nearly doubled its lead in the 18th minute. Carli Lloyd sent Midge Purce in behind the Pride defense and into the box. As Purce set up to shoot, Harris did well to cut down her angle. The shot was at the body of the Pride goalkeeper, who made herself big, and the ball was eventually deflected out of play for a corner kick.

The Pride nearly had a similar chance in the 20th minute. An excellent ball into the box looked like it would get through for Jodie Taylor, giving the striker a chance at her first goal since Aug. 14. But Gina Lewandwoski made a last-ditch diving header to clear it out of play and avoid a one-on-one between Taylor and Sheridan.

As the game drew closer toward halftime, both teams had a few chances. In the 30th minute, a long ball was searching for Morgan, but it was headed away. Three minutes later, Gotham played a dangerous ball into the box. It reached Onumonu, who had gotten behind Turner, but her shot was nowhere near the target.

In the 42nd minute, Purce created another opportunity, sending a dangerous ball across the six-yard box. No Pride players were able to clear it, but there weren’t any Gotham players in the box to get on the end of it. It ended up with Dydasco at the top of the box and the defender sent it well over the target.

The Pride had their chances, but the visitors led in most important categories. Gotham led in shots (9-3), corners (3-2), passing accuracy (84.5%-83.2%), and possession (50.6%-49.4%). The game was only close because Gotham only put two of their nine shots on target.

While the Pride had a tough start to the first half, it was even worse in the second. Just two minutes into the second period, a foul set up a Gotham free kick just outside the box. Thiney stepped up to take the kick, which went directly on target. Harris got a hand to it, but a bit too late and she didn’t get enough on it, as the ball bounced off her hand and into the corner of the goal.

It got worse for the Pride in the 49th minute, when Onumonu found Purce wide open in front of goal. It was an easy finish for the attacker, with no Pride defenders anywhere near her. The defenders lifted their arms to claim offside, but the referee determined that she was at least even with the last defender.

The third Gotham goal seemed to wake the Pride up, but by that point it was too late. Finally, the Pride played with a sense of urgency, realizing that the game had gotten out of reach. In the 53rd minute, Leroux brought a long ball down in the box and created enough space to get a shot on target. However, it was right at Sheridan who made the stop.

Two minutes later, Marta took a low, hard shot on goal. It was a better chance than Leroux’s, but Sheridan did well to get low and make the save.

The best chance for the Pride came in the 61st minute. Marta lost the ball near the end line, but won it right back with no other defenders near her. Carrying the ball into the six, she attempted to beat Sheridan high, but the ball bounced off the crossbar. The ball landed at the feet of Morgan, who was all alone at the back post. She quickly fired on goal, but was slightly off balance and the shot sailed high of the target.

Three of the four primary Pride scorers had good opportunities early in the second half and Taylor got hers in the 64th minute. Diagonal runs by teammates distracted defenders, creating a lane to the top of the box. Taylor sent a low, curling shot toward the far post that was beyond the reach of Sheridan. Unfortunately, the ball wrapped around the outside of the far post, and the Pride just missed getting one back.

The Pride finally got their first goal of the game in the 85th minute, with some help from Gotham’s usually dependable goalkeeper. It started with a poor goal kick taken by Sheridan that went directly to Erika Tymrak. The Pride’s second-half substitute quickly found enough space to take a shot, which was right at the Canadian international. Fortunately for Tymrak and the Pride, the ball bounced awkwardly off Sheridan’s hands and rolled into the corner.

A game that appeared to be over got much more interesting two minutes later when Estelle Johnson took down Morgan in the box and referee Brad Jensen pointed to the spot. Marta stepped up and sent Sheridan the wrong way, cutting the deficit to one.

As the game entered injury time, both teams had chances. Four minutes into the added time, great individual skill by Lloyd set up Brianna Pinto, who took a shot that appeared to be headed to the corner. But Harris got down and blocked it wide.

The Pride desperately went to the other end, trying to find the equalizer. They nearly did with the last kick of the game. A long ball into the box by Harris landed at the foot of Toni Pressley, who fired on goal. The deflected shot hit the post and bounced right to Harris, who had continued forward after the set piece, but her shot was blocked. Petersen had a third chance, but was heading away from goal and wasn’t able to get much on it.

The late flurry was the final chance for the Pride to equalize as the referee blew the final whistle once the ball was cleared.

“As far as the match tonight, I felt like it was tough giving up the deflection early,” Burleigh said after the game. “It sort of is difficult to give up a goal that early, but I thought our team bounced back well. I think the things to take from this game were that we really had a lot of fight in the end of the game. I thought the people who came into the match really did a good job of sustaining pressure and creating pressure and were game changers. And I think the big thing is we’ve got to figure out, is our defensive identity to mid block and then counter out of it? Is our defensive identity to press? And, obviously, you give up something different with each of those. And that’s I think where we are right now is figuring out what is the best solution for this particular group.”

After the third Gotham goal, the Pride had a much better second half. In the end, the Pride led in shots (18-16) and shots on target (9-5). However, in addition to goals, Gotham led in most statistical categories, including corners (5-4), duels won (59-52), total passes (461-425), passing accuracy (79.8%-79.3%), and possession (52.3%-47.7%).

The result, combined with a Spirit win over Racing Louisville at the same time, moved the Pride from sixth to eighth, two spots below the red line. In addition to taking maximum points from the final three games, the Pride will need some help if they have any hope of qualifying for the NWSL playoffs for the second time in team history.

The Pride will take the field again on Wednesday night in Bridgeview, IL as they take on the Chicago Red Stars at 8 p.m.. The game was recently rescheduled after last weekend’s league games were postponed.

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Name Caitlin Carducci Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager

Caitlin Carducci leaves the Kansas City Current to become the Pride’s new vice president of soccer operations and general manager.

Published

1 day ago

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January 13, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride have found their replacement for Haley Carter, naming former Kansas City Current general manager Caitlin Carducci as the club’s new vice president of soccer operations and general manager. Carducci arrives in Orlando after helping assemble the Current squad that broke some of the Pride’s league records set in 2024, moving from the 2025 NWSL Shield winners to the 2024 NWSL Shield Winners.

“Caitlin is a proven leader whose experience across every level of women’s soccer and history of building championship-caliber rosters set her apart,” Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said in a club press release. “She emerged as the clear choice in our search with her deep expertise, strong reputation, and a vision that aligns with our culture. Caitlin is the ideal person to elevate the strong foundation we have established and position the Pride for sustained success.”

The Pride used Bloom Sports Partners to assist in the club’s search for Carter’s replacement. Carter left behind a team that won the double in 2024, capturing both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, and came tantalizingly close to a second straight appearance in the NWSL final last season. Carducci, who helped architect the team that won another trophy in 2024 — the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup — now inherits the club Carter left behind on Nov. 18 of last year to take a job with the Washington Spirit.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to take on this role and help elevate the strong foundation that the club’s players, staff, and supporters have already created,” Carducci said in the club’s release. “The chance to work with the Wilf family, whose leadership and investment reflect their commitment to a world-class organization, along with a championship-level roster and technical staff, made this an easy decision. I’m eager to begin this next chapter, strengthen the inclusive and ambitious culture that defines this club, and help push the Pride toward new heights.”

Carducci spent the last three seasons with Kansas City, serving multiple roles, most recently as the Current’s general manager. She joined Kansas City in 2023 as director of soccer operations, becoming interim general manager in May of 2024. Carducci became the club’s GM later that season. Her key accomplishments include bringing in the final piece of the Current’s puzzle — Brazilian international goalkeeper Lorena, who broke Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse’s short-lived NWSL single-season record for shutouts. Carducci also acquired Ally Sentnor during the 2025 season from the Utah Royals. She was also instrumental in the Current re-signing star players Debinha, Temwa Chawinga, Michelle Cooper, and Lo’eau Labonta.

That Current team set new league single-season records for most wins (21), points (65), and shutouts (16), and won the NWSL Shield faster than any previous winner in NWSL history.

During her playing days, Carducci played at Ashland University. The Central Ohio native later served as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University while completing her law degree.

Like Carter, Carducci has a varied background and numerous skillsets that will serve her well in her new position. She served as a compliance officer at Xavier University and as manager of member programs for U.S. Soccer, overseeing professional player registration and FIFA compliance and acting as the primary point of contact for organization members, including state associations and professional leagues. She returned to U.S. Soccer in 2022, where she became vice president of member programs and stakeholder engagement.

What It Means for Orlando

In the short term, hiring a general manager should help fill out a roster that came close to a second consecutive NWSL final, despite being without star striker Barbra Banda for the final weeks of the season and all of the postseason. That roster needs immediate help at center back after Emily Sams recently requested and received a trade to Angel City. There aren’t a lot of holes in the Pride roster, but the center back group needs help and more production and depth are needed in the attack.

Overall, this seems on the surface to be an addition that mirrors the Pride bringing Carter to Orlando in 2023. She brings a variety of experiences that will help the club in multiple ways. From her law degree to her compliance background to evaluating talent and luring those players to non-marquee market teams, Carducci seems to check all the boxes. It’s easy to understand how the club arrived at this decision. Ultimately, how Carducci’s tenure in Orlando goes will depend on what the club does on the field and how well it develops talent.

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Orlando Pride’s Biggest Strength Suddenly Has Glaring Holes

The Pride’s center back group has been a strength over the past three seasons, but now there are more questions than answers.

Published

2 days ago

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January 12, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

As the 2026 NWSL season approaches, rosters are starting to take shape. For the Orlando Pride, one former position of strength for the team has quickly become one of the team’s primary concerns.

The Pride’s rebuild that led to their historic 2024 double-winning season went from back to front. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse joined in 2022 and was initially Erin McLeod’s backup, taking over the starting role for the 2023 campaign.

The next step was the center back pairing. The Pride drafted Emily Sams with the third overall pick in 2023. The center back was initially paired with Caitlin Cosme, before being joined by Megan Montefusco. The Pride signed Brazilian international Rafaelle on July 3, 2023, who joined Sams in the starting lineup for the rest of the season.

Rafaelle’s second season in Orlando was marred by injuries, resulting in the need for a shift. Left back Kylie Nadaner — who joined the club in 2021 — moved to center back, creating arguably the best center back pairing in the league.

The 2024 season saw the Pride flirt with conceding the fewest goals in NWSL history. It’s a record they might have broken had Head Coach Seb Hines kept his back line together for the final games instead of resting them. However, his plan worked, as Orlando won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship — the first trophies in team history.

As for individual honors, Sams was awarded 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year. It was just the second time a Pride player won a league end-of-season individual award after Ashlyn Harris was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2016.

The 2025 season began with Nadaner and Rafaelle in the middle of the back line and Sams on the right. However, when the oft-injured Brazilian ended up back on the injury list, it was Nadaner and Sams once again. They continued to be one of the best center back pairings in the league and a significant reason why the Pride finished fourth in the league despite the club’s lack of offensive production.

The Pride were in an envious position midway through the 2025 campaign. They had two excellent center backs starting and an international caliber defender on and off the injury list. When all three were healthy, few teams could compete, allowing the Pride to focus on other aspects of the roster.

Unfortunately, that’s all changed.

Nadaner’s final game of the 2025 season came on Aug. 29 against NJ/NY Gotham FC. For the remainder of the year, the club’s vice captain was listed as out with an “excused absence.” That typically means either problems with the club or pregnancy. Since Nadaner still joined the club on road trips, it was clearly the latter.

That suspicion was confirmed on Jan. 7 when the club shared a post from the center that she’s due in May.

Image of the Pride's Bluesky post congratulating Kylie Nadaner on her expecting a child in May.

While it’s happy days for the Nadaner clan, that meant the Pride were down a center back for a large portion of the 2026 season. Then, things got worse.

On Jan.9, the Pride traded Sams to Angel City FC for $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds. The reliable center back requested the move, leaving the team with just one of the three defenders available for the start of the 2026 season.

If you had to choose one of the three players to remain, Rafaelle would probably be last, but that’s not based on production. While the Brazilian plays at a high level when healthy, she’s been injured regularly. The center back started the 2024 season out of action and suffered an injury during the 2024 Olympics. That injury kept her out for the rest of the season.

Rafaelle lasted fewer than two games before she was back on the shelf. She would play sparingly the remainder of the season which will be largely remembered as another lost one for the Brazilian.

With Nadaner and Rafaelle unavailable, the other starting center back role went to rookie Zara Chavoshi. The Wake Forest product held her own for much of the season, though she was inconsistent and often assisted by excellent play by Sams.

As we near the 2026 season, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the center back position. It should be fine as is if Rafaelle can stay healthy, but that’s a big ask since she’s been injured in each of the last two seasons.

Another injury to the Brazilian would leave Chavoshi as the only natural center back on the roster. The other starting spot could go to Cori Dyke or Kerry Abello, both having played there briefly in college and once at the professional level. Hines could also insert Hailie Mace or Hannah Anderson into the role. But, like Dyke and Abello, that’s not their primary position.

The more preferable option is for the Pride to sign at least one new center back. While they’re unlikely to find someone as good as Sams or Nadaner, a starting-quality addition would provide comfort in case Rafaelle goes down with another injury. It would also sure up a position that has now become a problem.

The Pride’s recent success is largely due to the team’s stingy defense, and that’s primarily because of the center back play. But one of the three has departed the club and another will be out for a large portion of the 2026 season. As a result, a former strength has quickly become a glaring weakness.

It’s something that has to be addressed if the Pride hope to build on the last few seasons and fight fro another trophy.

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Orlando Pride Trade Emily Sams to Angel City

The 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year is on her way to California after requesting a trade.

Published

5 days ago

on

January 9, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

In a surprising turn of events, the Orlando Pride have sent 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year to Angel City FC in a trade, as the Emily Sams era in the City Beautiful has come to a shock end. In exchange, the Pride receive $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds. She departs after three seasons in Orlando, during which she established herself as one of the league’s best defenders.

The Pride had just extended Sams’ stay in Orlando 11 months ago with a new contract that runs through 2027.

“Emily requested the opportunity to consider other options, and while she will be missed, we pride ourselves on being a club that supports players’ personal ambitions or choices, on and off the field,,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said in a club press release. “She leaves a lasting legacy in Orlando and we are grateful for all that she has done for the club and our community. We wish her nothing but success as she begins this next chapter of her career.”

Sams will now play out her contract in Los Angeles after asking out of Orlando — a painful reminder of a time in the Pride’s history when players regularly asked out before Haley Carter and Hines built a new, positive club culture from the ground up.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the Orlando Pride organization for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to grow as a player and a person over the last few years,” Sams said in the club’s release. “The support from the team, staff and fans has meant the world to me, and I’ll always have a huge appreciation for the city of Orlando and this club. I wish the Pride all the best moving forward and am looking forward to my next chapter of my career.”

Orlando selected the former Florida State star with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Sams, a two-time national champion (2018 and 2021) signed a contract with the National Women’s Soccer League through 2025 after leaving the Seminoles and was loaned to Swedish side BK Hacken FF prior to being drafted. After a stellar first year with Orlando, in which she played all but three minutes in the regular season, Sams was rewarded by the Pride with a new contract through 2026 before signing her extension last February.

During her stay in Orlando, the Pride set numerous club and league records in 2024 en route to winning both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship. In 86 appearances with the Pride across all competitions — seventh-most in club history —Sams scored one goal and added two assists. In 2024, Sams helped Orlando set the NWSL record for the most team clean sheets in a season (13) and most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal (554). 

The Pride returned to the playoffs in 2025 and came within a whisker of reaching their second straight final before falling on a last-gasp set piece goal against eventual champion Gotham FC. That success was due in no small part to the team’s defense, as the Pride struggled to score goals last season.

Orlando gave Sams the stage to play her way onto the United States Women’s National Team, and she’s earned seven caps so far, coming off the bench late on Nov. 28 in front of her club fans at Inter&Co Stadium in a 3-0 win over Italy.

“It was great, great to hear all the fans chanting my name, and just so fun to be able to represent Orlando for the national team,” Sams said after that game. “Great to see so many familiar faces that normally are in Pride gear, and today they’re in the U.S. gear. So, very cool to see all of them.”

What It Means for Orlando

Obviously, this isn’t news Orlando fans will want to hear. The Pride will be without Kylie Nadaner until she gives birth and has had time to get back into playing shape. Meanwhile, fellow starter Rafaelle has been injury prone since her arrival in Orlando. That puts a lot of pressure on others to perform, and it likely means Orlando will need to add another center back. Newly acquired Hannah Anderson and Cori Dyke can play the position, but that’s hardly a replacement and not an ideal situation, nor is relying on second-year player Zara Chavoshi, who has shown promise but has been inconsistent so far. The club does, however, have an influx of cash to spend on a replacement.

While the $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds is a club record, the second-highest total in league history, and a record sum for a defender, it still feels like an underwhelming return for a recent NWSL Defender of the Year winner when compared to some of the recent transfer fees for players who have signed in England. Still, the Pride surely shopped around to find the best deal they could while trying to respect the player’s wishes on a landing spot. How the club uses that return for Sams will ultimately determine how this transaction will be viewed in the future. For the short term, the team has a gaping hole on the back line.

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