Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride look to break their two-game losing streak with a trip north to face the Washington Spirit.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (4-8-1, 13 points) travel to the nation’s capital to face the Washington Spirit (6-2-5, 23 points). The is the second and final regular season game between the two teams, though they’ll face each other in one more Challenge Cup game on Aug. 4.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The Pride and Spirit have faced off 21 times since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016. Orlando has a record of 6-8-7 in all competitions against Washington. This includes a 5-6-6 record in NWSL regular-season play and a 1-4-3 record in Orlando.
The two teams have already met twice this season, facing each other on May 10 at Audi Field in the NWSL Challenge Cup and May 20 at Exploria Stadium in regular season play. The most recent meeting capped off the Pride’s four-game unbeaten run. Marta converted a penalty to give Orlando the lead, but Sam Staab equalized five minutes later. Kylie Strom’s goal gave the Pride the surprising win over one of the top teams in the league.
The teams were heavily rotated in their Challenge Cup game 10 days prior. However, the Pride got off to a great start when Tori Hansen scored on a backheel in the 10th minute. But the hosts took over late in the first half with long-distance goals by Lena Silano, Staab, and Marissa Sheva. Ally Watt got one back early in the second half, but Ashley Sanchez put it away in second-half injury time, resulting in a 4-2 loss for the Pride.
The last regular-season clash was 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 early and Ashley Hatch doubled the lead after halftime. 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 scored 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 goal was the only scoring as the Pride won 1-0. Just two games later, the Pride opened their regular season by hosting the Spirit on May 16. Hatch gave Washington the lead, but Alex Morgan equalized 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 but Hatch equalized just two minutes later. It looked like it would be a third straight 1-1 draw but 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 the lead and Marta equalized. But Hatch’s 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 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, but Leroux scored just before halftime and Marta’s goal gave Orlando the win.
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, but Danica Evans answered 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 Spirit swept the first two meetings in 2016, winning 2-0 in Maryland and 2-1 in Orlando.
Overview
The Pride have been struggling lately, losing four of their last five. The only win in that period came on June 11 against the Portland Thorns. It looked like the team might be getting back on track, but they followed that up with a 3-0 loss in North Carolina and a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current at Exploria Stadium last weekend.
While the Pride have beaten the Spirit once already this season, that was at home. They’ve been in decent form at home, but have been bad in most games on the road. Their only win away from Exploria Stadium was a 3-1 win over the San Diego Wave on April 29 and they drew NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 14 in a game they probably should’ve won.
The key for tonight will be not shooting themselves in the foot. They’ve lost their three most recent games away from home, but it’s largely been their own doing. They dominated the Chicago Red Stars on May 27, but couldn’t hit the target and fell 1-0. The following game in Houston, they struggled handling the press, giving up possession in their own end on several occasions and losing 2-0. In North Carolina, they were constantly beaten by the long ball, despite Pride Head Coach Seb Hines saying after the game they prepared for such an attack.
Tonight, the Pride take on a Spirit team that sits fourth in the NWSL standings. They lost at Audi Field earlier this season, but it was in the Challenge Cup, so the lineups were much different than they’ll be tonight.
Following the Pride’s win over the Spirit on May 20, the Spirit went on a four-game unbeaten run. That streak ended last weekend with a 4-2 loss to the league-leading Portland Thorns in Oregon. Tonight’s hosts will be looking to get back on the right track as they welcome in the 10th-place Pride.
This is the first weekend that the NWSL teams will be without the players selected to represent their nations in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. As a result, both teams will be missing some key players. The Pride will be without Marta and Adriana, who will be representing Brazil. The Spirit losses might be more severe, as they lose four key starters to the U.S. National Team, including goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, Sanchez, Rodman, and Andi Sullivan.
On the attacking end, the Spirit will be depending on Hatch, who will be without her two attacking partners in Sanchez and Rodman. The Spirit back line, which has been decent this year, will remain intact, but without Kingsbury behind them. While the Brazilian duo will be missing for the Pride, they have more starters available, possibly enabling them to get something out of this game.
The Pride will be without three players for this game. In addition to Marta and Adriana being on international duty with Brazil, Carrie Lawrence (knee) remains out with a season-ending injury.
The Spirit are missing Anna Heilferty (knee), Tori Huster (lower leg), and Bayley Feist (lower leg) due to injury. Kingsbury (USA), Rodman (USA), Sanchez (USA), Marissa Sheva (Ireland), Sullivan (USA), and Riley Tanner (Panama) are on international duty.
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Kylie Strom, Emily Madril, Megan Montefusco, Haley McCutcheon.
Defensive Midfielders: Mikayla Cluff, Viviana Villacorta.
Midfielders: Julie Doyle, Erika Tymrak, Kerry Abello.
Forward: Messiah Bright.
Bench: Carly Nelson, Thais Reiss, Caitlin Cosme, Celia, Ally Watt, Jordyn Listro, Brianna Martinez, Summer Yates, Amanda Allen.
Washington Spirit (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Nicole Barnhart.
Defenders: Amber Brooks, Tara McKeown, Sam Staab, Gabrielle Carle.
Midfielders: Juarema, Dorian Bailey, Paige Metayer.
Forwards: Nicole Douglas, Lena Silano, Ashley Hatch.
Bench: Camryn Biegalski, Lyza Bosselmann, Madison Elwell, Civana Kuhlman, Chloe Ricketts, Mariana Speckmaier.
Referees
REF: Anya Voigt.
AR1: Zach McWhorter.
AR2: Laura Chambers Waliski.
4TH: Stephen Foster.
VAR: Robi Hullner.
AVAR: Kaili Terry.
How to Watch
Match Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Audi Field — Washington, DC.
TV: None.
Streaming: Paramount+ (U.S.), NWSLsoccer.com (International).
Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride). Due to simultaneous games, there won’t be live coverage by The Mane Land for this one but we will recap the match late Saturday night.
Enjoy the match. Go Pride!