Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Forward Leah Pruitt Announces Her Retirement
Pruitt leaves her playing career behind to pursue new career opportunities.
Orlando Pride forward Leah Pruitt announced her retirement from professional soccer this afternoon to pursue new career opportunities. The Pride acquired Pruitt in a trade with OL Reign during the 2022 NWSL Draft.
“Leah has been a wonderful part of our club and we are truly going to miss having her here, but we’re very excited for her and the new opportunities she has ahead. She will forever be a part of our Orlando Pride family,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in a club press release. “We’d like to thank her for everything she has done for both our club and community, and look forward to supporting her as she transitions in this next chapter of her life.”
“I am blessed and thankful for my soccer career and that I was able to play this game as long as I did,” Pruitt added. “I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime, but I’ve decided that the time is right for me to begin my next chapter, beyond soccer. Thank you to everyone who supported me and to all of my teammates along the way. From youth soccer, college, and into the pros, I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
The Pride acquired the 25-year-old attacker from OL Reign during the 2022 NWSL Draft in a trade that saw center back Phoebe McClernon go the other way. The trade also saw the Pride acquire the number 10 overall pick — used on defender Caitlin Cosme — and fullback Celia.
In her lone season with the Pride, Pruit made 16 appearances (11 starts) in all competitions for 890 total minutes, scoring one goal, and providing two assists. She had yet to appear in either of the Pride’s two games this season.
Pruitt was drafted with the fifth overall pick of the 2019 NWSL College Draft by the North Carolina Courage from the University of Southern California. After 11 appearances, two goals, and an assist, a knee injury sidelined her. She was waived during the 2020 Challenge Cup and picked up by OL Reign four days later.
The forward returned during the 2020 Fall Series for her new team and signed a new three-year contract prior to the 2021 NWSL season. She played in 15 games during the 2021 OL Reign campaign before being traded.
What It Means for Orlando
Pruitt made most of her appearances in 2022 early in the season. However, she fell out of favor when Seb Hines took over as interim head coach on June 7. Instead, the Pride used Julie Doyle and Darian Jenkins up top with one starting and the other coming on around the hour mark.
The team signed teenage forward Haley Bugeja during the season, traded for Ally Watt, and signed Adriana during the offseason. Additionally, the Pride drafted Messiah Bright in the 2023 NWSL Draft and signed Canadian international Amanda Allen on April 3. Despite Jenkins’ retirement prior to the season, Pruitt was likely to see her role reduced even more this year.
The retirement of Pruitt impacts the Pride’s depth chart up top, but likely won’t have much of an impact on the team unless they suffer several injuries to current players. It also provides an extra roster space if the team wants to add another player at a position of need.