Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (0-0-1, 1 point) continue their 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup campaign against the Washington Spirit (0-1-0, 0 points) tonight at Audi Field. This is the first of two Challenge Cup games the two teams will play, with the return game at Exploria Stadium taking place on Aug. 4.

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

History

The Pride and Spirit have faced off 19 times since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016. Orlando has a record of 5-7-7 (W-L-D) in all competitions against Washington. This includes a 1-1-1 record in Challenge Cup play and a 0-1-0 Challenge Cup record in Washington.

The most recent meeting was a regular season clash on July 17, 2022 at Audi Field. The Spirit dominated the game statistically with more possession, shots, and shots on target, but they couldn’t find the back of the net, resulting in a scoreless draw.

The previous game was on May 27 at Exploria Stadium. Trinity Rodman gave the Spirit the lead in the 19th minute and Ashley Hatch doubled the lead in the 66th minute. As the game entered second-half stoppage time, it appeared as though the Pride would fall for the second straight time, but a pair of late goals by Mikayla Cluff and Darian Jenkins stunned Washington with a 2-2 draw.

Prior to the draw in May, the Pride and Spirit played two games in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. The first was on March 19 in Orlando. The Pride had less possession and fewer shots, but a strong defensive effort allowed them to come away with a scoreless draw. The second Challenge Cup meeting came on April 3 at Audi Field. Gunny Jonsdottir got the Pride on the board with a 54th-minute goal, scoring the team’s first goal in four games. However, the Spirit already had a 3-0 lead. Rodman scored a late goal to put the game away as the Pride fell 4-1.

The two teams played four times during 2021. The first was on April 21 in the Challenge Cup. Sydney Leroux’s 11th-minute goal was the only scoring as the Pride won 1-0 for their first win of the year. Just two games later, the Pride opened their regular season by hosting the Spirit on May 16. Hatch gave Washington the lead in the 76th minute, but Alex Morgan equalized eight minutes later to claim a 1-1 draw. The second regular-season meeting last year was on June 6 in Washington. Hatch opened the scoring, but Taylor Kornieck equalized minutes later, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The final meeting of 2021 came Aug. 22 at Audi Field. Marta gave the Pride the lead in the 68th minute but Hatch equalized just two minutes later. It looked like it would be a third straight 1-1 draw but Ashley Sanchez won it for Washington late.

Due to the pandemic, the Pride and Spirit didn’t play in 2020 but faced off three times in 2019. The first was on July 6 in Orlando. Marta scored a brace in the second half, leading the Pride to a 4-3 win. They played again on Aug. 24 in Washington. Crystal Thomas gave the hosts a ninth-minute lead and Marta equalized. But Hatch’s 59th-minute goal lifted the Spirit to a 2-1 win. The final game was supposed to be the following weekend, but was postponed due to Hurricane Dorian. Instead, the game was played Oct. 9 in Orlando. The Spirit dominated the rubber match, beating the Pride 3-0.

The first of two meetings in 2018 was on March 31 at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Hatch scored a goal and added an assist in a 2-0 win for the Spirit. The Pride got their revenge in the second game in the same location. Alanna Kennedy’s 11th-minute goal was the difference as the Pride won 1-0. The final meeting that year was on July 7 in Orlando. Hatch gave the Spirit the lead in the 26th minute, but Leroux scored just before halftime and Marta gave Orlando the win in the 86th minute.

The 2017 season was the first time the teams played three times in a year. Their April 22 meeting was the Pride’s first home game that year. Line Sigvardsen-Jensen gave the visitors the lead in the 60th minute, but Danica Evans answered in the 86th minute, as the teams drew 1-1. They met for the second time that year in Maryland on July 8 when Marta and Mallory Pugh both scored braces in a 2-2 draw. The final game in 2018 was on Aug. 8 in Orlando. Marta, Camila, and Morgan all scored as the Pride ran away with a 3-0 win.

The teams played for the first time during the 2016 NWSL season. The first game was on June 18 in Maryland. Estefania Banini and Francisca Ordega scored first-half goals as the Spirit won 2-0. The second game that year occurred on Aug. 26 at Camping World Stadium. Sarah Hagen scored for the Pride, but Cheyna Williams and Christine Nairn had already given the Spirit the lead, resulting in a 2-1 Washington win.

Overview

The Pride take a break from NWSL regular season action tonight for their second 2023 Challenge Cup match. The competition started on April 19 when they hosted the North Carolina Courage at Exploria Stadium. Ally Watt gave the Pride their first lead of the season in the 56th minute from Summer Yates’ first professional assist. But, as was common in the first three home games, the Pride conceded an equalizer nine minutes into second-half injury time and only came away with one point.

Tonight, the Pride look to claim their first win of the Challenge Cup and they’re coming in strong. Despite a poor start to the season, the Pride have won back-to-back games after beating the San Diego Wave 3-1 on April 29 and Racing Louisville 1-0 Saturday night. They’ll look to continue that winning streak in their first Challenge Cup game away from home.

While the Pride have won two consecutive games, you can expect some rotation in tonight’s lineup. The midweek contest comes between two regular season games as the Pride look to climb up the NWSL standings, so Pride Head Coach Seb Hines will likely provide some playing time for some of the younger players.

The Spirit lost their first Challenge Cup game against NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena, but played the game without some of their biggest stars. An inexperienced attack was without Rodman, Sanchez, and Hatch, largely contributing to their inability to find the back of the net.

However, they did keep their defensive unit intact, which included goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and the center back pairing of Sam Staab and Amber Brooks. The Spirit could have a similar lineup tonight as they rest their best players for their road trip out west this weekend.

Despite it being the Challenge Cup, Hines says his team’s prepared for whatever players start for the opposition.

“(This match) is about focusing on ourselves. They (Washington) may not rotate. They may want to build on what they’ve already achieved,” Hines said about tonight’s game. “We have to focus on ourselves and we have to focus on the bigger picture and that’s obviously the schedule as a whole and the league as a whole. The Challenge Cup is another opportunity to give players minutes on the field and another opportunity for us to stake our identity again.”

The Pride come into this game quite healthy, only missing Carrie Lawrence (knee) and Julie Doyle (ankle), who are absent long-term. Meanwhile, the Spirit are without Anna Heilfertry (knee), Tori Huster (lower leg), and Bayley Feist (lower leg). Heilferty and Huster aren’t a surprise as both are out with season-ending injuries.

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Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Kaylie Collins.

Defenders: Brianna Martinez, Tori Hansen, Caitlin Cosme, Celia.

Defensive Midfielders: Jordyn Listro, Thais Reiss.

Midfielders: Haley Bugeja, Kerry Abello, Ally Watt.

Forwards: Amanda Allen.

Bench: Carly Nelson, Mikayla Cluff, Summer Yates, Erika Tymrak, Megan Montefusco, Emily Madril, Maliah Morris, Haley McCutcheon, Messiah Bright.

Washington Spirit (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Aubrey Kingsbury.

Defenders: Camryn Biegalski, Sam Staab, Marissa Sheva, Amber Brooks.

Defensive Midfielders: Paige Metayer, Chloe Ricketts.

Midfielders: Lena Silano, Civana Kuhlmann, Maddie Elwell.

Forwards: Nicole Douglas.

Bench: Dorian Bailey, Nicole Barnhart, Lyza Bosselmann, Gabrielle Carle, Ashley Hatch, Ines Juarena, Tara McKeown, Ashley Sanchez, Riley Tanner.

Referees

REF: Joshua Encarnacion.

AR1: Tyler Wyrostek.

AR2: Sharon Gingrich.

4TH: Stephanie MacFarland.

VAR: Chris Penso.

AVAR: Robi Hullner.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Audi Field — Washington, D.C.

TV: CBS Sports Network.

Streaming: NWSLsoccer.com (International).

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).

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Enjoy the match. Go Pride!