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Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave FC: Final Score 2-2 as Pride Blow Two-Goal Lead in Home Finale

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4 years ago

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The Orlando Pride (5-9-7, 22 points) took a 2-0 lead over San Diego Wave FC (10-6-5, 35 points) but two late goals saw the teams draw 2-2. Meggie Dougherty Howard and Gunny Jonsdottir scored first two goals for the hosts while Makenzy Doniak and Taylor Kornieck scored for the visitors.

Pride Interim Head Coach Seb Hines made four changes from the team that lost 3-0 to the North Carolina Courage Wednesday night. Toni Pressley, Courtney Petersen, Dougherty Howard, and Thais Reiss entered the lineup for Ally Watt, Kylie Strom, Jordyn Listro, and Kerry Abello.

The back four in front of Erin McLeod consisted of Celia, Pressley, Carrie Lawrence, and Petersen. For the first time, the Pride lineup had two sixes in Montefusco and Haley Hanson. Dougherty Howard, Jonsdottir, and Reiss were in the attacking midfield with Leah Pruitt up top.

With a unique lineup and a unique formation for this team, it was expected that San Diego would jump all over the Pride. However, Orlando played well for most of the game, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime. They got a second in the second half and looked to be on their way to all three points. But a common problem occurred as they conceded two late goals to claim only one point.

The Pride jumped out to a fast start in this game, creating a pair of corners inside the first three minutes. After the first corner was cleared, the Pride had the game’s first chance when quick passing between Dougherty Howard and Hanson allowed the latter to play Reiss in behind the Wave defense. Reiss got inside the six but Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan closed her down and blocked the shot out of play with her leg. The ensuing corner was quickly cleared by San Diego.

The visitors’ first chance came in the eighth minute when former Pride midfielder Emily van Egmond won control of the ball on the Pride half of the field. The Australian international played it forward for Sofia Jakobsson, who found enough space for a shot at the top of the box. Jakobsson was looking to sneak the ball inside the far post but it rolled just wide.

The Pride had another good opportunity in the 17th minute off a Wave mistake. Naomi Girma attempted to play the ball outside for Christen Westphal but it was a weak pass and easily intercepted by Dougherty Howard. The Pride midfielder got into the box and took a shot on goal but it was right at Sheridan.

In the 25th minute, Kornieck almost made it through the Pride’s back line to get a chance on goal. After receiving the ball from Girma, Jodie Taylor’s first touch sent Kornieck through. She had a step on Montefusco but the defensive midfielder caught up to the former Pride attacker, tipping the ball and allowing Lawrence to clear it out of play.

The Wave had another good chance in the 31st minute when Petersen got caught too far inside. Jakobsson was left with plenty of space on the right and Jaedyn Shaw found her. Jakobsson carried the ball into the box and tried to chip McLeod, but it was over the crossbar.

The visitors paid for those misses in the 33rd minute. After receiving the ball from Hanson near the corner of the box, Pruitt sent a low cross to the top of the six. Sheridan came out in an attempt to clear the ball, but Dougherty Howard beat her to it. The Pride midfielder tapped it past the Wave goalkeeper to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.

“Obviously a goal helps to have a little bit of a cushion,” Dougherty Howard said about her goal. “But I think it was the work that led up to that goal that produced the opportunity for us to just build off that.”

In addition to being Dougherty Howard’s third goal of the season, the goal broke Orlando’s 356-minute scoring drought dating back to Aug. 26 against OL Reign. Coincidentally, Dougherty Howard scored that goal as well, which came in the 37th minute of a 2-1 loss. The midfielder also scored the only goal in the Pride’s 1-0 win over the Wave in San Diego on Aug. 13, with that goal coming via penalty.

The Wave nearly got that goal back in the 36th minute when Taylor found Kaitlyn Johnson at the top of the box. The midfielder had enough space to shoot from the top of the box and the ball was headed for the far corner but McLeod made a diving stop.

That was the last good chance of the first half as the Pride took a 1-0 lead into the break. After 45 minutes of play, San Diego had more possession (55.5%-44.5%) and shots (6-4). However, the Pride had more shots on target (3-1), crosses (8-4), and, most importantly, scored the half’s lone goal.

“To be honest, I think we kind of let our foot off the gas last bit of the first half. So that was something we touched on in the second half,” Dougherty Howard about the team’s halftime thoughts. “In the past, we have been complacent once we score and that was something we talked about going into the start the second half, that we wanted to get back to the way we started the game, kind of clean slate, not dwell on the fact that we were up 1-0 because that’s dangerous to just get comfortable in that league.”

The Wave got off to the better attacking start in the second half. The visitors won the first corner of the second period of play when Carrie Lawrence cleared a ball out of play. The ensuing corner ended up with Westphal at the top of the box but her weak shot was easily cleared. They had another chance in the 54th minute when Westphal sent a cross into the six-yard box for a charging Kornieck. The attacker went up for the ball, but McLeod beat her to it and the Pride were able to clear.

The Wave made three changes before the hour mark, but the Pride soon followed. Instead of making defensive changes to hold onto the 1-0 lead, Hines brought on Ally Watt and Haley Bugeja in the 62nd minute for Pruitt and Reiss. The team’s third change came in the 67th minute when Kylie Strom entered for Celia.

Despite the attacking moves, San Diego continued to pressure. In the 64th minute, a van Egmond cross found the head of Kornieck. The forward redirected the ball towards goal but it was right at McLeod.

A minute later, a turnover by Celia in her own end created another chance for San Diego. Doniak took control of the poor pass and dribbled towards the end line. The midfielder sent a cross to the top of the box that found Kelsey Turnbow, but the shot was blocked by Pressley.

Once again, the missed opportunities by San Diego cost the visitors as the Pride doubled their lead. In the 68th minute, Petersen sent a cross into the San Diego box. Jonsdottir got her head to the ball, sending it low and towards goal. Sheridan got down in an attempt to block it but was too late and the Pride increased their lead to 2-0.

“We were able to, in the second half, get the ball down, play, get into a really good spot for Courtney Petersen to deliver a really good ball,” Hines said about the second Pride goal. “And a commitment from Gunny to get there and get a good head on it.”

Following the goal, San Diego continued to attack, looking to get back into the game. Jakobsson’s shot in the 71st minute was blocked and Kristen McNabb missed the target in the 75th minute. But the Wave finally got one in the 76th minute.

Turnbow sent a cross from the right into the box where Doniak was charging in. The second-half substitute barely got her head to the ball, but enough to send it just over the fingertips of McLeod and into the far corner, cutting the Pride lead to 2-1.

Until that goal, the Pride had attempted to keep their foot on the pedal. The substitutions were more like-for-like and attacking. However, with only a one-goal lead, a change in shape was necessary.

“Once we were 2-1, we felt like we had to change shape so we went to a five back,” Hines said about the move. “We dropped Megan (Montefusco) in. We had 5-4-1. Anytime a team is down and you play a direct team, they’re gonna even be more direct.”

In the 78th minute, Bugeja switched the ball to Petersen on the left side, allowing the defender to get a shot off. However, it was from distance and a poor angle, allowing Sheridan to easily catch it.

A minute later, a Jakobsson cross reached McNabb on the far side. The defender fired on goal but got under the ball and it sailed over the crossbar.

The Wave found their long-awaited equalizer in the 87th minute. It started with a free kick after Jonsdottir fouled Doniak. McNabb sent the free kick to the top of the six where it was softly cleared out to Kornieck in the middle of the box. The former Pride player didn’t miss this opportunity, slamming it past McLeod to make it 2-2.

“It’s the second phase and it lands to her feet,” Hines said about San Diego’s second goal. “You know, if it’s a foot away from Kornieck, Abello gets it. It’s just one of the things that happens.”

“I think we just, in these games, can’t lose focus, even if we’re 2-0 up,” Jonsdottir said about conceding the two late goals. “We need to just be turned on and then we switched off for a second there and they’re a good team. So they punish us and that’s how it is.”

The Pride tried to find a late winner in the 90th minute when Lawrence received the ball from about 40 yards out off a clearance. The center back took her chance and fired on goal. It looked as though it might’ve been dipping under the crossbar, so Sheridan tipped it over.

The Pride had one more chance in the final minute of injury time when Watt chipped a ball towards the far post. Madison Pogarch got the final touch, providing the Pride with a corner kick. The ensuing corner by Jonsdottir was the final ball into either team’s box but it was cleared away by San Diego.

San Diego finished the game with more possession (58.1%-41.9%), shots (15-6), and crosses (21-20). The Pride did end the game with more shots on target (5-4) but it wasn’t enough as they blew a two-goal lead in their final home game of the season.

“I’m really proud of the players,” Hines said about the game. “It’s been tough the last four games — injuries, three-game week. And you can see today they went above and beyond to try and get results and the effort and the commitment and players coming into the lineup and playing their part and players coming off the bench and playing their part and we took it all the way to the final whistle. So, I’m really proud of the players and everything that they’ve put into this week to get a result today.”

“We’ve been through a bit of a rough patch. So today’s game was all about character,” Jonsdottir added. “That’s what the team showed today. And I’m so proud of them. It kind of feels like a loss because I thought we were good in this game. That’s a tough one to take. But as I said, I’m so proud of the team.”

The Pride will end the season with a home record of 1-5-5. The fans also showed up for this game as 6,466 were in attendance. That’s the second-highest home attendance of the year and the highest this season at Exploria Stadium. The team drew 7,573 when it faced Racing Louisville on July 3 at Daytona International Speedway.

“Great crowd tonight,” Dougherty Howard said about the support. “It makes a difference when we’re on the field, just giving that extra energy, and I felt like hopefully (we) made the fans proud and we put out a performance that represents who we want to be.”

The draw has an impact on both teams. While the Wave clinched a playoff spot, the Pride remain in ninth in the league with one game remaining in the season. The team can’t finish any lower than 10th and can only be caught by the Washington Spirit. It’s a situation that most people didn’t expect from the team during a rebuilding year.

The Pride will now travel to the Pacific Northwest to take on OL Reign next Saturday night in the season finale.

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Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Drop Final Game of 2026

The Pride ended the 2026 NWSL campaign with a meek 1-0 loss to the Reign in the Pacific Northwest.

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7 hours ago

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November 1, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

The Orlando Pride (11-16-3, 37 points) wrapped up the 2026 season today, falling 1-0 to Seattle Reign FC (14-11-5, 47 points) at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA. The hosts dominated the game, but Jordyn Bugg’s 68th-minute goal was the difference.

Pride interim head coach Yolanda Thomas made two changes to the team that lost 2-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC on Oct. 25. Hannah Anderson and Jacquie Ovalle entered the starting lineup, replacing Rafaelle and Kerry Abello.

Cosette Morche started in goal behind a back line of Hailie Mace, Anderson, Cori Dyke, and Oihane. Angelina and Ally Lemos were the defensive midfielders behind Solai Washington, Haley McCutcheon, and Jacquie Ovalle with Marta up top.

Seattle dominated this game from the kickoff and should have won by multiple goals. However, some quality saves by Morche and a pair of clearances off the line by Oihane kept the Pride in it. The goal was always going to come eventually, unless the Pride miraculously kept the hosts off the board. It was a fitting end to what was a very disappointing season.

The hosts went on the attack early and never let up. In the third minute, Maddie Mercado played the ball to an overlapping Sofia Huerta run on the left side. The cross toward the back post nearly met Nerilia Mondesir’s head, but Mace got her head to it first.

In her final NWSL regular-season game, Jess Fishlock made a run down the left in the seventh minute before sending a cross to the top of the box. It was out of Angelina’s reach, but Ainsley McCammon’s shot from distance rolled wide.

Sam Meza lifted the ball into the box in the 10th minute after Angelina failed to control it. The midfielder sent a dangerous ball toward the top of the six that went just over Fishlock’s head.

The Reign nearly took the lead in the 17th minute when Madison Curry lifted the ball down the right for Mondesir. The attacker was behind Mace and tapped the ball over Morche, who came darting off her line. Dyke was in position to win the header, but she didn’t jump, allowing Mondesir to put an attempt on target. Fortunately, Oihane got back to clear the ball off the line, keeping the game scoreless.

“Honestly, the first half it was a little bit easier,” Oihane said about her first goal-line clearance. “Because there was more space between me and the goal.”

It looked like the hosts might take the lead in the 23rd minute when Fishlock sent a beautiful ball into the box from the right that landed at Mia Fishel’s feet. The forward’s second touch was a shot that forced Morche into a good save. However, the flag went up for offside, so it wouldn’t have counted had she scored.

Curry sent another good ball down the right for Fishel in the 26th minute. The former Pride draft pick sent a short cross to Fishlock, but Oihane got in the way. The ball fell for Mercado, but Oihane blocked the shot, ending the threat.

The Pride immediately went the other way and created their first chance of the game. Washington received the ball on the left and lifted a cross toward the top of the six-yard box for a wide-open Marta. However, the Brazilian couldn’t get over the ball, sending her attempt wide.

Seattle nearly scored again in the 43rd minute when Mondesir beat Mace and lifted a cross to the top of the box for Fishlock. The attacker beat Oihane to the ball and put her header on target, but Morche batted it away with her right hand.

At halftime, Seattle had the advantage in possession (52%-48%), shots (7-3), shots on target (2-0), crosses (15-6), and corner kicks (5-2). Both teams completed 82% of their passes and the game was scoreless at the break.

The hosts started the second half the way they ended the first, creating a chance in the 48th minute. It started when Mace tripped Mondesir, giving the Reign a free kick on the right side. Phoebe McClernon flicked Huerta’s set piece to Oihane, who was unable to clear. Her soft ball landed McClernon’s feet, but the defender sent her shot over the crossbar.

A Marta corner kick in the 51st minute should have provided a chance for the Pride, but it instead created a chance on the other end for the Reign. Claudia Dickey caught the cross and threw it out to Meza, who sprinted with the ball into the Pride half. She had Curry and Mercado with her, opting to play the ball to Mercado at the top of the box. The attacker cut inside to create space from Anderson and fired to the near post. However, Morche was able to get down and make the stop.

Mondesir intercepted a poor pass from Marta intended for Angelina in the 54th minute, creating another counterattack for Seattle. The attacker sent Meza forward, who sent her first touch into the box for Fishel. Fishlock was making a run into the six-yard box and they nearly connected, but Oihane stuck her foot in to save a goal for the second time in the game.

“The one in the second half, honestly, I just thought it was gonna go in,” Oihane said. “But I’d rather it be an own goal than let her score.”

Dickey found Curry out of the back in the 56th minute, but Ovalle knocked the ball off her foot. McCutcheon took possession and played through Marta for Washington entering the box. The attacker cut inside to create space from Bugg and unleashed a shot that was deflected wide.

Thomas made her first three changes in the 61st minute as Zara Chavoshi, Abello, and Summer Yates replaced Dyke, Mace, and Ovalle.

Mondesir got behind Yates in the 67th minute before sending a cross to Fishlock at the back post. Oihane was able to get in front of the attacker and chest the ball out of play for a corner kick. The Seattle players were adamant that it was off Oihane’s hand, with Fishlock making the VAR gesture to the referee, but it appeared to come off her chest first, whether it hit her arm below the sleeve or not and was deemed a fair clearance by the right back. However, Seattle scored seconds later anyway.

The ensuing set piece to the near post was flicked on by Fishlock and off Fishel, skipping through traffic in the box to Bugg. Oihane had been marking the much taller Seattle defender but drifted away from her mark just before the ball came through, leaving Bugg plenty of space to slot the ball past Morche to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.

It looked like Fishel might have been offside when Fishlock flicked the corner to her, but the video assistant referee determined no further review was necessary.

Fishel made a run into the box in the 72nd minute before taking a shot that Anderson blocked out for a corner kick. That was the last play for Anderson, who was replaced by Kylie Nadaner.

Less than a minute later, Nadaner made her first defensive play when Mondesir found Meza in the box. The attacker spun before taking a shot that Nadaner deflected over the end line. The ensuing corner kick bounced around before the Pride were able to clear.

Abello fought through Curry in the 77th minute and attempted a cross that Curry deflected out for a corner kick. The stoppage allowed Thomas to make one final substitution, replacing Marta with Julie Doyle. Out of contract at the end of the year, it could be the last appearance for the Pride’s all-time leader in games, starts, minutes, goals, and assists.

Abello played Yates into the Seattle box in the 80th minute, allowing the midfielder to make a strong run into the six. McClernon stuck out a foot to challenge any attempt on goal and the ball went over the top. Yates felt it was deflected by the center back, but the referee awarded a goal kick.

The fourth official showed four minutes of second-half stoppage time and the Pride created a couple of crosses. However, neither found a teammate and the Pride limped to the end of the season without so much as a shot on target to show for their final 90+ minutes.

While the Pride had more possession (56%-44%) and better passing accuracy (80%-77%) in the game, Seattle had more shots (18-8), shots on target (5-0), crosses (24-15), and corner kicks (9-6).

“They made it difficult for us. We didn’t quite find our rhythm at a level we normally do in possession, so that was frustrating,” Thomas said about the game. “But we did create in those moments. Obviously, we have to finish and get the shots off. They did a good job of blocking and whatnot, but it’s tough. You travel six hours across country, you rarely play your best football. And we talked about that. We talked about still finding ways to be dangerous. But, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough today.”

“It’s always hard to play here,” Oihane added. “They’re a really tough team, but I think the team did a really good job. We fought till the end, and I think we did everything we had. Like we gave everything.”

The Pride’s weaknesses were obvious heading into the season and the front office did little to address them. So, while the season was a disappointment after two excellent years, it’s unsurprising that they end in 11th in the NWSL standings.

Despite the disappointing results, Thomas says the season wasn’t all bad.

“What sticks with me is the resilience of the players to continue to show up every day. Staff and players,” Thomas said of the season. “We know we didn’t achieve the outcome that is expected of this club. We know we didn’t achieve the outcomes that we expect of each other. But there was no shortage of players choosing to dig deep and show up every day in the building and every day on game day.”

The team now heads into an off-season of uncertainty that will see some departures and require significant additions if the team hopes to get back into the playoffs. The Pride won’t have a great deal of time either as the 2027 NWSL season starts on Feb. 11.

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Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride wrap up their 2026 campaign as they face the Reign in Seattle.

Published

16 hours ago

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November 1, 2026

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (11-15-3, 36 points) end the season against Seattle Reign FC (13-11-5, 44 points) in the Pacific Northwest (5 p.m., ESPN). This is the second and — since the Pride won’t qualify for the postseason — final time these teams will meet this season.

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game.

History

The Pride and Reign have met 21 times in the regular season since Orlando joined the NWSL in 2016. The Pride hold a 5-8-8 record in those meetings, with an all-time record of 2-5-3 in Seattle. Orlando is 6-8-8 against the Reign in all competitions, having added a home playoff win over Seattle in the 2025 postseason.

The most recent meeting of the teams took place in the 2026 season opener on March 15 in Orlando. Jess Fishlock broke up the celebration by giving the visitors the lead in the first half. However, the Pride kept the deficit at one and — after a lengthy halftime weather delay — Barbra Banda equalized shortly after halftime. Both teams were looking for a winner, but it was a late Brittany Ratcliffe conversion that saw the Reign walk away with the 2-1 win.

The first time the teams met in 2025 happened on April 12 in Seattle. Banda was the hero of that game, netting the game’s only goal in a 1-0 Orlando win just before halftime. It extended the team’s season-opening winning streak to four games. They ended the regular season against each other on Nov. 2 in Orlando. The two clubs were playing for the right to host a quarterfinal game and the Pride were the better team in the first 45 minutes. Substitute Carson Pickett gave the Pride the lead just eight minutes after coming on, but Jordyn Bugg equalized three minutes later. The 1-1 draw was enough for the Pride to finish fourth, pushing Seattle down to fifth and setting up a rematch five days later.

It was back-to-back meetings between the teams as they met in the NWSL quarterfinals on Nov. 7. Haley McCutcheon gave the hosts the lead early, a lead the Pride held until Marta made a magnificent run in stoppage time, drawing a foul in the Seattle box. Despite being the primary penalty taker, Marta handed the ball to her Brazilian teammate Luana. The midfielder converted her first Pride goal in an emotional moment after her return from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment, sending the Pride to the semifinals for the second consecutive season with a 2-0 win.

The first meeting of 2024 occurred on May 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Emily Sams opened the scoring early and Banda doubled the advantage minutes later. However, the Reign scored on either side of halftime through Angharad James-Turner and Bethany Balcer before Banda netted the deciding goal, lifting her team to a 3-2 win.

On Nov. 2, 2024 in Orlando, Ally Watt gave the Pride the lead early, but Jordyn Huitema equalized a minute later. Kerry Abello gave the Pride the lead before halftime, and Marta made it 3-1 in the second half. Maddie Mercado got one back late, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride came away with a 3-2 win. The win capped off a historic regular season.

The first game between the teams in 2023 occurred on July 7 at Exploria Stadium and featured one of the best performances of the year for the Pride. Julie Doyle beat her defenders and found Messiah Bright, who scored the game’s lone goal early in the match as the Pride won 1-0 for their second all-time win over the Reign. On Sept. 3 in Seattle, the Pride got off to a terrible start when goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was sent off in the third minute. Carly Nelson came in and did well in relief, but Huitema scored early in the second half as the Reign won 1-0. 

The teams played for the first time in 2022 on Aug. 26 in Orlando. Meggie Dougherty Howard gave the hosts the lead, and the Pride tried to hold onto that one-goal advantage, but Megan Rapinoe found Balcer for an equalizing header. The visitors pushed for a win and Rapinoe got a goal for herself two minutes into second-half injury time, lifting the Reign to a 2-1 win, snapping Orlando’s seven-match unbeaten run.

The return game took place Oct. 1, 2022 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Pride had already been eliminated from playoff contention and it looked like it, as the team then known as OL Reign dominated the game. Rapinoe opened the scoring early, Huitema doubled the hosts’ lead soon after, and Balcer made it 3-0 just past the half-hour mark. The Pride held the Reign scoreless in the second half but fell 3-0.

The teams played twice during the 2021 season and the first game took place July 24 in Orlando. The Reign scored a goal in each half, with Fishlock scoring early and Tziarra King doubling the lead just after the break in a 2-0 win. On Sept. 26 in Tacoma, WA, Balcer opened the scoring early and Eugenie Le Sommer scored a brace, giving the Reign a 3-0 lead at halftime, ultimately beating the Pride by that score.

COVID canceled the teams’ meetings in 2020, but they played three times in 2019. On April 21 in Tacoma, Alanna Kennedy gave the Pride an early lead. But Balcer equalized and the teams drew 1-1. They met again on Sept. 7 in the same location. This time, the Reign took the early lead as Darian Jenkins scored twice inside the first 12 minutes. Beverly Yanez made it 3-0 soon after, effectively putting the game away early. Camila converted a late penalty, but the Reign won 3-1. The final meeting that year came on Oct. 12 in Orlando. The Pride scored first through Rachel Hill, but Jenkins and Jodie Taylor gave the visitors a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Marta equalized late and the teams drew 2-2.

The first meeting in 2018 was played in Orlando on April 28. Allie Long gave the Reign a first-half lead, but Marta equalized for a 1-1 draw. On June 3, the teams met in Seattle but neither team could find the back of the net as the game ended in a scoreless draw. The final meeting that year took place July 21 in Orlando. Toni Pressley gave the Pride a first-half lead but Taylor equalized late and the teams drew for the third time that year.

The 2017 season saw the Pride and Reign play to a pair of 1-1 draws — first in Seattle on May 21 and later in Orlando on Sept. 7. The teams split their two games in 2016, with the Pride winning 2-0 in Orlando May 8 and Seattle winning 5-2 at home on July 23.

Overview

Today marks the end of possibly the most disappointing season in the Pride’s history. They won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in 2024 and reached the semifinals as the fourth seed last year despite a season-ending injury to Banda, so there were high expectations heading into this season. But poor roster building and no consistency saw the team eliminated from playoff contention with two games remaining.

The lack of consistency that put the Pride in the position of playing meaningless games has been on display the last few weeks. They’ve alternated between wins and losses in each of the last five games, with wins over Bay FC and the Houston Dash and losses to the Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave, and NJ/NY Gotham FC.

The most recent of these games was a 2-1 defeat to league-leading Gotham FC Oct. 25. The Pride had more shots and shots on target, but Abello and Solai Washington failed to convert on golden opportunities. Already down 2-0, Washington pulled one back in the 65th minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride ended their home slate with another negative result.

It doesn’t help that the Pride have been without Banda, whose 17 goals place her second in the league and are the most for a Pride player in a single season. But her appearance with Zambia in Uganda caused a delay in her re-entry into the United States due to Center for Disease Control (CDC) regulations. Her absence has been apparent in the missed chances the team has had the last couple of weeks.

This game will likely serve as the send-off for some key players. Rafaelle announced her retirement on Oct. 24, effective following this game. Additionally, Marta’s two-year deal expires at the end of the year. Given her age and drop in level this season, it could be the last time we see the Pride’s best-ever player in the club’s colors.

Apart from the emotional send-offs, the Pride will look to end a sad season on a positive note. Yolanda Thomas has been in charge for the last eight games of the season following Seb Hines’ dismissal. This could be her last game as part of the club as well.

Standing in the way of the Pride’s celebratory ending is a team with much more to play for. The Reign sit in the eighth and final playoff spot, but their postseason appearance is far from secure. They’re just two points ahead of the North Carolina Courage and three points ahead of Denver Summit FC, two teams that play each other today. Both have a superior goal difference to the Reign, so a loss to the Pride and either team winning would see Seattle’s season come to a devastating end.

Similar to the Pride’s last opponent, the Reign are a defensive-minded team. Their 36 goals scored are 14th in the league, behind only Bay FC and Chicago Stars FC, two teams well behind them in the standings. Maddie Mercado leads the attack with 10 goals, followed by Ratcliffe and Fishlock with four each.

The defense has been another story. Seattle has only conceded 33 goals this year, fifth-fewest in the NWSL this season. That’s largely due to a consistent back line of Sofia Huerta, Bugg, Phoebe McClernon, and Ryanne Brown in front of goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. They’ve all played at least 20 games and all but Brown have started at least 20 games. That’s consistency the Pride have sorely missed on the defensive side of the field.

“Seattle’s a well-coached team and they can change on a dime what they do. So, we talked a lot of being kind of being ready for different pictures,” Thomas said about today’s game. “So, how are they setting up defesnively? How are they attacking? Who’s moving where? It will be really important that we read that in the run of play, because they’ve done it a few different ways.”

The Pride will take the field today without Banda (excused absence), Sanne Lekven (ankle), Zoe Matthews (hip), and Nicole Payne (lower leg). The Reign are without Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave) and Maddie Dahlien (knee).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Cosette Morche.

Defenders: Hailie Mace, Hannah Anderson, Cori Dyke, Oihane.

Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfileders: Jacquie Ovalle, Haley McCutcheon, Solai Washington.

Forward: Marta.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Cara Martin, Rafaelle, Zara Chavoshi, Kylie Nadaner, Kerry Abello, Luana, Summer Yates, Julie Doyle.

Seattle Reign FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Claudia Dickey.

Defenders: Sofia Huerta, Jordyn Bugg, Phoebe McClernon, Madison Curry.

Defensive Midfileders: Samantha Meza, Ansley McCammon.

Attacking Midfielders: Jess Fishlock, Nerila Mondesir, Mia Fishel.

Forward: Maddie Mercado.

Bench: Cassie Miller, Emeri Adames, Angharad James-Turner, Holly Ward, Brittany Ratcliffe, Emily Mason, Sally Menti, Ryanne Brown, Shae Holmes.

Referees

REF: Calin Radosav.
AR1: Alicia Messer.
AR2: Ethan Buege.
4TH: Adorae Monroy.
VAR: Anya Voigt.
AVAR: Tom Felice.

How to Watch

Match Time: 5 p.m.

Venue: Lumen Field — Seattle, WA.

TV: None.

Streaming: ESPN app.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, following @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 2-1 as Poor Finishing Costly in Pride Loss

The Pride’s wastefulness in front of goal was costly in a loss that belied a great performance against the league leaders.

Published

1 week ago

on

October 25, 2026

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Marta tries to round Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride turned in one of the team’s best performances in some time but could not translate that performance into conversions in front of goal, falling 2-1 to Gotham FC at Inter.co Stadium in the club’s final home game of 2026. The Pride more than doubled Gotham’s shot total, created numerous breakaway opportunities, and put together a performance that would have been enough on most days, but poor Pride finishing helped first-place Gotham (17-5-7, 58 points) deny Orlando (11-15-3, 36 points) a final win in front of the home fans this season.

Midge Purce and Tierna Davidson built Gotham a 2-0 lead before Solai Washington’s strike spoiled the shutout on a second straight match day in which the Jamaican international could have scored numerous goals.

“The result is tough, but man, we do a lot of things really well, and their goalkeeper had a heck of a game,” Orlando Pride interim coach Yolanda Thomas said after the game. “So, really proud of how we came out and how we competed. And hats off to their goalkeeper.”

Thomas started Cosette Morche in goal behind a back line of Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Oihane. Angelina and Ally Lemos started in the defensive midfield behind an attacking line of Kerry Abello, Haley McCutcheon, and Washington with Marta up top.

Orlando started brightly, setting up two early chances for Washington, but the rookie struggled in the final third as she has so often during this 2026 season. On the first, Marta did well to get down the left side, using a stop-start run to lose her defender. The captain took the ball to the end line and sent a cross to Washington at the back post with an empty net in front of her, but the Jamaican’s volley attempt was poor and she missed the target from point-blank range in the second minute.

Two minutes later, Washington used her pace to get behind the defense down the right flank, but upon entering the box, she became indecisive and eventually lost control of the ball, allowing Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to collect it.

Gotham came close to getting players in behind the defense a few times, but the visitors’ first decent look at goal came in the 14th minute when Orlando allowed Davidson too much space outside the area. The USWNT defender blasted a shot that fizzed just over the crossbar.

Orlando had a nice attacking movement seconds later, but Marta dummied the pass to her between the centerbacks, allowing it to run through. The Pride recycled the attack on the left to Angelina outside the area but she fired well over the bar in the 15th minute.

Abello should have put the ball in the net in the 17th minute. A long ball sent the winger down the middle behind the defense. As she approached goal, she rounded Berger and with the entire net to shoot at, she missed wide of the left post. The flag came up after the play, but it appeared that video review may have overturned the offside. Either way, it was a huge missed opportunity and a costly one.

Denise O’Sullivan was sent behind the defense in the 20th minute but the Pride got away with it when she took a heavy touch that Morche was able to collect. Two minutes later, however, Gotham took the lead.

Guro Reiten wasn’t closed down outside the area on the left, sending in a perfect cross to an uncovered Purce on the right. Purce’s header found the inside of the left post, putting Gotham ahead 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

“The breakdown I was really unhappy with was actually earlier in the the play because we lost our defensive shape,” Thomas said. “So, just a lapse there in positioning and moving and shifting together more so than the final action.”

Orlando continued to get forward in the attack but do little with its chances. McCutcheon found herself in space outside the area in the 24th minute, but sent a shot at Berger that was so little trouble that the Gotham keeper chested it down rather than catching it. Two minutes later, Marta slipped Abello in behind the defense. This time Abello fired on target but right at Berger.

The Pride continued wasting promising chances after the first-half hydration break, starting with Washington firing well over the bar from the right in the 35th minute.

Gotham nearly doubled the lead a minute later. Another good cross in from the left found Sam Kerr in front. Kerr headed her shot on target, but Morche was there. Tess Boade was first to the rebound just a foot or so in front of the goal line, but again Morche got over to block it to keep it at 1-0.

The Pride immediately turned the ball over and Boade fired off target from the top of the box.

Marta sent Washington behind the defense in the 40th minute and the midfielder tried to round Berger but got too close and had the ball taken off her foot. The play was just offside anyway, and Berger needed a visit from the trainers after the play but was able to continue.

Washington, who was dangerous until the final moment all half long, did well to cut inside Davidson in first-half stoppage time, heading toward the box. Davidson pulled her down, earning a yellow card and setting up a Pride free kick just to the right of the area. Angelina touched the ball forward for Marta to drive a low ball in front of goal. Oihane reached it first but sent her shot just wide of the right post, wasting yet another great scoring chance.

Two more late crosses right at Berger — one by Washington and one by Oihane — and the half came to an end with the Pride looking up at a 1-0 deficit that easily could have been a multi-goal lead.

Gotham dominated first-half possession (62%-38%), won more corners (1-0), and passed more accurately (84%-74%). The Pride attempted more shots (8-6), while both teams put three attempts on target.

“It was a hard game, but I think we had very good moments, and if we had put the ball in the net in those moments, those situations that we created, especially in the first half — we had a couple in the second half too — the game probably should be like very different for us,” Marta said.

Orlando fashioned the first look at goal in the second half in the 51st minute. Mace intercepted a ball and bombed forward. She didn’t like her options and wasn’t closed down, so the fullback sent a weak shot at Berger that didn’t trouble the keeper.

A minute later, Kerr blasted a shot just over the crossbar from close range but the flag came up anyway.

Marta got into the box after a Pride takeaway in the 56th minute and went down in the box from contact she sustained while shooting a soft shot at Berger. The referee took a look but awarded nothing despite the Brazilian’s protests.

Reiten fired just wide of the left post from the right on a corner Gotham took short in the 58th minute.

The back-and-forth play continued at the other end with Marta getting into the area again and she again tried and failed to round Berger.

“Of course, she is a very good goalkeeper,” Marta said. “We just need to read a little bit faster the situation and do better. I think like she’s so confident in so many moments, and we need to be more confident in them.”

“A player like Berger is why they are where they are in the table and why they are teeing themselves up to not just win the shield but compete for a championship when you have performances like that,” Thomas said. “We were prepared and our forwards knew what they were facing, and (Berger) makes incredible plays, and that changes the momentum. If we score early on, it’s a different game, right?”

Gotham went back the other way and Morche did well to tap a shot onto her crossbar and out for a corner. But the Pride’s shoddy set piece defending throughout the season appeared again on the ensuing corner. The ball went right to left to a completely unmarked Jaelin Howell, who headed it on frame. Morche got a touch to it to keep it out but Davidson tapped in the rebound to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute.

“The second goal is a set piece, and they’re always going to be dangerous,” Thomas said. “But the way we reacted when the ball drops down is not good enough.”

Orlando pulled the goal back three minutes later. A poor back pass from Howell ended up on Washington’s foot, and the attacker used her pace to blaze behind the Gotham back line. This time, Washington picked out her spot before Berger could come out to challenge her and found the inside of the left post to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.

“She’s found a way to to figure out how to be an impactful player for 90 minutes now,” Thomas said of Washington’s emergence the last few games. “Earlier in the year, she had periods and then she she dropped off. So, she’s a young player with incredible potential and it bodes well for the Pride organization going forward.”

Gotham did its best to slow the game down from that point on but the Pride had their chances. Second-half sub Jacquie Ovalle made a nice switch of play in the 68th minute, picking out Lemos on the right. Lemos likely fired way too early in the amount of space she had, and the midfielder sent her shot well over the goal and up into The Wall.

Washington tried to beat Davidson right to left again in the 81st minute. She got a shot off but it took a deflection and was an easy collection for Berger.

Defender Kylie Nadaner and midfielder Viviana Villacorta made their 2026 season debuts down the stretch as the Pride looked for an equalizer.

The two best chances to equalize were sent off target on good crosses. On the first, Washington made her best cross of the day to pick out McCutcheon, who sent her header wide of the right post in the 88th minute. A minute later, Ovalle sent a gorgeous back-post ball from the left to Washington at the right post, but she made poor contact with it and sent it wide.

A final mad scramble in the box fell at McCutcheon’s feet but a defender on the ground blocked it. It fell to Luana, who couldn’t pull the trigger in traffic and Gotham eventually cleared, ending the final attack.

At full time, Gotham FC held the advantage in possession (60%-40%), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (82%-76%). Orlando fired far more shots (19-9) and put more on target (8-6).

“I feel like we played well. We just couldn’t like capitalize,” Rafalle said. “We had a few chances, but I think like the goalkeeper did a great job today, not letting us score more than one goal.”

Despite not having much left to play for, the Pride’s performance against the league’s best team was not lost on their coach.

“Where we are right now isn’t good enough for this club, but for us, the journey we’ve been on, I was just incredibly proud because not just of what they were able to produce footballing-wise, but I know what it took, energy and emotionally for them to put that together,” Thomas said. “And so,I’m happy for them because they can walk away feeling like this is who we are. We’re capable of playing and they needed that.”

The Pride will close out their 2026 season on the road at Seattle Reign FC a week from today.

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