Connect with us

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Re-Sign Forward Marta Through 2024

Published

2 years ago

on

The Orlando Pride announced this morning that the club has re-signed free agent attacking midfielder/forward Marta to a new two-year contract that will keep her in purple through the 2024 NWSL season. The Pride used NWSL Allocation Money to sign the 36-year-old to what will be her seventh and eighth seasons with Orlando.

“I’ve been very happy during my time here in Orlando and I’m excited to continue as part of the Pride for the next two years,” Marta said in a club press release. “The club and community have become my family here in the United States, so it makes me smile knowing I will get to continue as part of that. I’m very excited for the future we are building for the Pride and can’t wait to return to the field next year, play alongside my teammates, and fight for a championship for our fans.”

The Brazilian originally joined the Orlando Pride back in 2017 and re-signed with the club on an Allocation Money deal on Feb. 17, 2021. That was a one-year contract with a club option year and the Pride exercised that option for 2022 last December. Declared a free agent by the NWSL after the 2022 season, the Pride prioritized bringing her back after she lost almost all of this past campaign with a knee injury she sustained in the pre-season NWSL Challenge Cup.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Marta back with the Pride,” Head Coach Seb Hines said in the club’s press release. “As we looked at building our roster, there was never any question that we wanted to have her continue as part of our project, not only for her abilities on the pitch, but her mentality, values and leadership embody the culture we want in our locker room. We know last season’s injury was a difficult one, but she has been working extremely hard toward her recovery and we know she will have a point to prove when she returns in 2023. We can’t wait for her to add to her historic career here, in Orlando, as a member of the Pride.”

Marta appeared in just two matches during the Challenge Cup, starting both, and playing 121 minutes. After going the distance in the scoreless opening draw against the Washington Spirit, she played 31 minutes in the road loss at North Carolina on March 26 before being forced out with a season-ending knee injury. In her 121 minutes, Marta did not score or assist on a goal, firing four shot attempts with one on target. Her passing was on point, connecting at an 84.9% rate and hit 80% of her long passes. Defensively, she had two clearances and two interceptions. She committed three fouls, getting booked once, and drew three fouls from the opposition.

That was a difficult blow for both the player and the team, as reports out of camp claimed Marta had been in top form. The six-time FIFA World Player of the Year has made 84 appearances in her time in Orlando, scoring a club-best 27 goals and adding 14 assists. Her form dipped each season with the Pride, but that has perhaps had as much to do with the quality of the squad overall as the inevitable incursion of time.

The Mane Land staff gave Marta a rating of 9 out of 10 for her first year with the Pride back in 2017, citing an NWSL MVP-like performance. That rating dropped to a 7 in 2018, a 6.5 in 2019, and a 6 in 2021 (there were no grades given out after the four-game 2020 pandemic season). She did not play enough minutes in 2022 to earn a season-ending score but she did look to have a burst in her legs and a slyness in her play that had been missing.

What It Means for Orlando

What this signing means for the Pride will ultimately be determined by how Marta bounces back from a difficult knee injury and whether she can return to at least her 2018 form. Allocation Money is a valuable commodity in NWSL roster building, so a two-year deal is a big investment in a player who will turn 37 in February and 38 prior to the last year on her contract. There were signs during her last few full seasons that returns on the player the club refers to as “the GOAT” were diminishing. Orlando is banking on that trend not continuing and must be right about this decision.

Even a 37-year-old Marta is better than many players in the league. The Pride have often played her in a more advanced role in recent years, possibly to cut down the distance she travels per game. Although her ability to finish makes it seem like a great idea to have her typically closer to the goal when she gets the ball, forward may not her best position at this stage. She might be better served to function in the way the Pride used Meggie Dougherty Howard and Gunny Jonsdottir at times in 2022 to facilitate the attack from the midfield, where she can best use her uncanny vision and passing ability and be that late runner into the box when players like Ally Watt are distracting the back line.

Even if time is catching up with her body, Marta’s mind is as sharp as ever, and she’ll provide experience, veteran leadership, and a role model to the Pride roster. At worst, she’ll be a two-year veteran mentor who makes plays here and there to help unlock the opposing defense. At best, however, re-signing Marta could provide an elite attacking player the club so desperately needed this past season. Time will tell which one fans see more of over the next two years.

The club still has several players to sign to a new contract. Defenders Celia and Courtney Petersen and midfielder Jordyn Listro hold new contract offers but have not yet signed. Orlando holds their NWSL rights but they could play elsewhere. Marta is the second of the Orlando free agents to re-sign with the Pride after Erika Tymrak inked a new deal on Dec. 9. Meggie Dougherty Howard, and Toni Pressley are the club’s two remaining unsigned free agents. The club, which is still searching for a new senior vice president and general manager, presumably will want to finalize as many of those players that the Pride are planning to have back as soon as possible, with the 2023 NWSL Draft looming on Jan. 12.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Rafaelle

The Brazilian’s season was plagued by injury problems but she played well when healthy.

Published

3 hours ago

on

December 18, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride signed Rafaelle on July 3, 2023 to a contract running through the 2025 NWSL season. The Brazilian international joined the Pride after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, partnering with Emily Sams (then still known as Emily Madril) at center back and becoming a key member of the starting lineup, as the Pride fell just short of the NWSL playoffs on the goal differential tiebreaker.

Rafaelle’s second season was marred by injuries, including one she sustained while helping Brazil reach the Gold Medal game at the Summer Olympics that kept her out the rest of the 2024 NWSL season. She also missed the first four matches of the season and a couple of games in the early summer due to injury.

It’s time to look back at her injury-marred second season with the Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

Injuries limited Rafaelle to just nine appearances (six starts) for the Pride in 2024 — all in the regular season, in which she played a total of just 618 minutes. The Brazilian defender did not record a goal contribution in 2024, attempting three shots and putting one on target. She completed 86% of her 324 passes without a key pass or successful cross, however, she managed to connect on 30 long balls in her short season, which is impressive. Defensively, she contributed nine tackles, nine interceptions, and 23 headed duel wins. She committed four fouls, suffered one, and was booked once.

Due to injury, Rafaelle did not appear in Orlando’s playoff run, and because she was away at the Olympics, Rafaelle also did not participate in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenina Summer Cup.

Best Game

Rafaelle’s best match came in a 1-0 home win over Racing Louisville on May 5. The Brazilian started and went the full 90 minutes with an excellent two-way performance. She didn’t contribute directly to a goal, but she registered a shot, which was her only shot on target of the season, forcing Katie Lund into a save off a free kick about 40 minutes in. She also had a season-high 76 touches and passed at an impressive 93.75% rate on a season-high 63 attempts. Her passing accuracy in the match was her season high for any game in which she played more than 16 minutes. On the defensive end, Rafaelle helped her team keep a clean sheet and chipped in a tackle. She did not commit a foul or get booked in the match. Her strong tackle in the box in the 82nd minute on Reilyn Turner prevented a dangerous shot attempt, helping Anna Moorhouse preserve the shutout and keeping the Pride on top.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gives Rafaelle a composite score of 7 out of 10 for her 2024 season. This is a slight improvement over the 6.5 we gave her last year. As well as the back line played in her absence, it’s easy to forget just how formidable she was while she was on the pitch. The strong partnership between her and Kylie Strom allowed Seb Hines to move Sams to fullback for a time, and that’s a considerable compliment, given the fact that Sams won the 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year Award. The back line continuing to excel in Rafaelle’s absence speaks highly of the group’s performance and the coaching staff’s ability to get the most out of the players.

2025 Outlook

It’s easy to say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” in terms of the Pride’s defense. However, I expect Rafaelle to regain her starting center back spot when healthy. Rafaelle was considered the team’s best center back entering the season and early in 2024, although it’s fair to say Sams and Strom weren’t far behind. Rafaelle is under contract through the 2025 season, so she’ll want to perform well to earn her next deal. At 33 (she’ll turn 34 in June), it’s uncertain how much longer she’ll be able to play at such a high level, but prior to her injury in the Olympics, she was playing excellent soccer (it’s notable that the play she was injured on was a vital challenge for her national team). She is nearly impossible to leave out of the starting XI when fit.

What remains to be seen is how the team accommodates the Brazilian’s return. The most natural center back pairing would be Sams and Rafaelle. That would mean Strom would have to return to left back unless the team adopts a three-player back line. The ripple effect of staying in a traditional four-player back line would potentially mean displacing Kerry Abello, who “only” made the NWSL Best XI Second Team in 2024, or Cori Dyke, who handled some of the league’s best players in the stretch run to Orlando’s NWSL Championship drive. Having to reinsert Rafaelle into the lineup is a good problem for Hines to have, as it may allow him to rotate and rest his center backs more in 2025.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Continue Reading

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Emily Sams

A look at the season that finished with Sams as the 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year.

Published

1 day ago

on

December 17, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride selected former Florida State defender Emily Madril with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Sams, a two-time national champion (2018 and 2021), left FSU, signing a contract with the National Women’s Soccer League through 2025 and was loaned to Swedish side BK Hacken FF. 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.

All that Sams did with that new contract was win NWSL Defender of the Year and help the club win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. Let’s take a look at her award-winning second season with the Orlando Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

Sams appeared in 25 games during the regular season, starting 24 and logging 2,185 minutes, which was the most playing time among all outfield players and second only to goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse. The only match she didn’t start and play the entire match was against the Portland Thorns — the game after the Pride won the NWSL Shield.

She scored her first professional goal on two shots — both of which were on target —  and provided three assists in the regular season. Sams completed 1,159 of her 1,314 passes (88%), tallied three key passes, and completed one cross and 83 long balls. Defensively, she contributed 24 tackles and 26 interceptions, winning 31 headed duels. She committed 21 fouls, suffered 21, and was booked twice.

In the NWSL playoffs, Sams started in all three games, logging 270 minutes. She did not score any goals or even take a shot, however she did record an assist. The defender connected on 144 of her 158 postseason passes (91%). Defensively, Sams contributed four tackles and three interceptions but did not commit any fouls, nor was she booked.

Sams did not make any appearances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup as she was with the USWNT at the 2024 Olympics.

Best Game

You might think that if a defender scores a goal in a match, that would be their best match — especially if it is that player’s first professional goal, and it’s an absolute banger like Sams scored in the Pride’s 3-2 victory over Seattle Reign FC on May 19.

However, that wasn’t her best match, though it was a good performance. Naturally, the defender of the year had plenty of great matches to choose from. Her performance in the title match earned her Player of the Match on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast, but her best match was actually the Pride’s first match of the season.

The Pride went down two goals and ultimately went down to 10 players when Kylie Strom received a second yellow. The team was able to come back thanks to an own goal before Strom was off and a goal from Summer Yates after. For 28 minutes of normal time, plus 12 minutes of stoppage time, the Pride defense held Louisville in check while down a player.

Sams was the leader of the defense in that match logging five tackles and two interceptions, while committing one foul. She was 48 of 52 (93%) passing, with 70 touches and played the entire match. Sams wasn’t culpable on either of Louisville’s goals.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gives Sams a composite rating of 9 out of 10 for the 2024 season. It’s a big jump from the 6.5 we gave her last season, but it’s easy to see why. The Pride made the decision to build the defense around Sams when they drafted her, and it paid dividends in 2024. The NWSL Defender of the Year wore a Pride uniform, and helped her club win two trophies as the number one defense in the league. It’s hard to ask for more than that.

2025 Outlook

It might be difficult for Sams to top her 2024 season, but I know that she will try in the second year of her current contract. As unlikely as it might seem, Sams might be able to improve in 2025. It’s amazing to think that it will only be her third professional season. As good as she’s been, there’s still room for her to grow her game. Depending on which players are available, Sams may play either center back or fullback. No matter which position she plays, she will be a leader and will anchor the back line that will try to defend the club’s first titles.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Continue Reading

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Angelina

Angelina was a key player during her first season with the Pride.

Published

2 days ago

on

December 16, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride signed defensive midfielder Angelina on Dec. 13, 2023 as a restricted free agent. It was a three-year deal through the 2026 season and the Brazilian international quickly became a key part of the starting lineup. A surgical procedure early in the season kept her out for five games and she played for Brazil at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but she was present for the final stretch of the season.

Let’s take a look at Angelina’s first season in Orlando.

Statistical Breakdown

Angelina was a key player in the Pride’s starting lineup, taking up her spot in the defensive midfield. She played most of the regular-season games, but missed the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup because she was with Brazil at the Olympics. 

The midfielder made 21 appearances in the NWSL regular season, starting 16 games and recording 1,487 minutes. Of her 11 shots, six were on target and she scored two goals. Additionally, she completed 82% of her 849 passes, including two assists, three key passes, and three crosses. Defensively, Angelina had 39 successful tackles, 21 headed duels won, and 14 interceptions on the year. She committed 19 fouls, suffered 22, and was booked once.

In the playoffs, Angelina started all three games, recording 266 minutes. She put one of her four shots on target and didn’t score, but completed 80% of her 116 passes and assisted Barbra Banda’s game-winning goal in the NWSL Championship. She was also active defensively in the postseason, completing 10 tackles and making seven interceptions. She committed two fouls in the playoffs, suffered one, and was booked once.

Best Game

Angelina had several games where she was a force going forward, assisting in the buildup to goals and completing a high percentage of her passes. However, her best game was in the NWSL semifinal against the Kansas City Current and it was because of her defensive play. The midfielder only completed 64% of her 41 passes — a low number for her — and took one off-target shot. However, she played a strong defensive game.

The Pride went down a goal in the 33rd minute, but equalized shortly before halftime. A Banda goal early in the second half gave the Pride the lead and they had to stand tall defensively. That’s when Angelina made her biggest impact, touching the ball 61 times while recording three tackles and a season-high six interceptions. Her play in the defensive midfield had a significant impact on the Pride holding on for the win and reaching the NWSL Championship for the first time in club history.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Angelina a composite grade of 8 out of 10 for her first season with the club. She helped the Pride control the midfield all season, a major reason why they were unbeaten in their first 23 regular-season games. Her contributions to the attack helped the Pride outscore opponents when needed, and her defensive prowess contributed to the best defense in the NWSL. She brought stability and a sense of calm to Orlando’s midfield all season. For these reasons, we considered her one of the best players on the team for 2024.

2025 Outlook

Angelina signed a three-year deal prior to the 2024 NWSL season, keeping her in purple through the 2026 NWSL season. She proved herself to be an essential part of the starting lineup, often serving as the team’s best defensive midfielder and a key link between the back line and the attackers. Provided she is healthy, the Brazilian will remain a regular starter and a key player in the team moving forward.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Continue Reading

Trending