Orlando Pride
Challenge Cup Shows Orlando Pride’s Need for Adriana and Marta
The Pride have had trouble with their shooting accuracy, but that should change when Marta and Adriana return.

The Pride lost fewer players to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup than most NWSL sides, only losing two players that were with the team prior to the tournament. However, after winning two consecutive league games, the team has struggled to find the target during the past three Challenge Cup matches. The recent performances have shown that the two Brazilians can’t return soon enough.
The best example of how much the Pride have missed Adriana and Marta was on display Saturday night in a 1-0 loss to the Washington Spirit. Using a heavily rotated lineup, the Pride dominated the 90 minutes with 56.3% possession and out-shot their opponents, 25-7. However, while the Spirit put two of their seven shots on target, the Pride only hit the frame seven times. The lack of finishing allowed Washington to remain in the game, eventually finding a winner in second-half injury time.
While the Pride had a rotated lineup, they used several players that have contributed to regular-season games. Julie Doyle started in the midfield, as she has been since returning from injury, and Ally Watt started up top. Messiah Bright, the usual starting striker, came on at halftime for Watt.
Spirit goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart had an excellent game, but the Pride weren’t anywhere close to clinical in front of goal. Only six of their 25 shots Saturday night were taken from outside of the box and seven were taken from closer than the penalty spot. And yet, only seven of their 25 shots were on frame. That’s not good enough in a game where you’re creating the majority of the chances.
“We had a good performance and we need to work on putting the ball in the back of the net,” midfielder Kerry Abello said after the game. “I think that’s where we focus because we’re creating chances.”
“I felt that there was goals on the table (Friday),” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines added. “You know, we’ve walked away with no goals. So that’s an area that we need to improve on. We need to score goals when we’re so dominant in the game.”
Part of the problem at the moment might be depending on young players. The team’s strikers include Bright, Watt, and Doyle. Bright is in her rookie season and Doyle is in her second professional campaign. Watt is the most experienced of the three, but has been injured during much of her career.
The Pride caught a break when Brazil had a disappointing World Cup, getting eliminated in the group stage for the first time since 1995. Two of the players on that team are Pride attackers Adriana and Marta. They’ve been the two most important offensive players for the Pride this season and can be back with the team before it restarts regular-season play on Aug. 20.
Adriana joined the Pride this past off-season from Corinthians and the 26-year-old immediately became a key part of the attack. She got off to a bit of a slow start to her Pride career, often looking too much for her teammates. That changed when the Pride took on the San Diego Wave on April 29 in California. It was the first win of the season, the first result of a four-game unbeaten run, and Adriana scored her first NWSL goal.
“We had spoke to her about being more selfish, taking on players, getting more shots off,” Hines said after that game. “She has a terrific shot. And it’s getting her to use it more often.”
The other returning Brazilian is the Pride’s all-time leading goal scorer. Despite playing primarily as a 10 rather than a striker, Marta has scored 29 goals in her Pride career, more than U.S. international Alex Morgan during her six years in Orlando.
This season, Adriana and Marta have been two of the leading attackers on the team. Bright leads the team with four goals, but Adriana is right behind her with three and Marta has two. The only other player with multiple regular-season goals this year is Doyle, who also has two.
Arguably more important is the number of shots these players have put on goal during regular season games. Bright has put nine of her 24 shots on target (37.5%) and Doyle has put five of her 11 shots on target (45.5%). Meanwhile, Adriana has put 15 of 28 shots on frame (53.5%) and Marta nine of 12 shots on goal (75%). These numbers show that the pair of Brazilians have been more efficient than the younger players.
There will be games when Bright and Doyle will rise to the occasion and lead the team to victory. In the first game after the departure of the Brazilians, Doyle scored a brace inside the first 16 minutes of a 3-0 win over the Spirit. She assisted Bright the next weekend, a 1-0 win over OL Reign. But there have been few of those moments.
The team has struggled since those back-to-back wins. In the three Challenge Cup games during the World Cup break, the Pride have only scored one goal, a Megan Montefusco header against NJ/NY Gotham FC on July 23. More concerning than their lack of goals is that only 11 of their 42 shots have been on target.
With Brazil’s 2023 World Cup campaign over, the Pride will welcome three of the participants back to the starting lineup. Arguably the most important players will be the attacking threats of Adriana and Marta. The lack of finishing during the past few games has been troubling, a fact the players and coaches have said needs to change. It should with the return of their experience attacking threats.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Sign Two Players to Short-Term Contracts
With a couple of active roster slots open, the Pride have signed two of their non-roster invitees to short-term contracts.

The Orlando Pride have signed goalkeeper DeAira Jackson and midfielder Aryssa Mahrt to short-term contracts. Both players were non-roster invitees to the club’s 2025 preseason camp and have obviously made an impression in a short time.
“We’re pleased to welcome both DeAira and Aryssa to Orlando. Both players bring unique qualities that will enhance our roster during this period,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “DeAira brings important depth to our goalkeeping unit with her strong shot-stopping ability and commanding presence in the box. Aryssa’s technical ability and vision give us additional options in the final third. These signings reflect our commitment to maintaining a competitive roster while providing opportunities for talented young players to showcase and develop their abilities at the professional level.”
Jackson joins the Pride out of Grand Canyon University, where she was the 2024 WAC Goalkeeper of the Year and a member of the All-WAC first team following her last collegiate season. After playing two seasons at Cal State Fullerton, she transferred to Grand Canyon University and became the school’s all-time shutout leader with 16 in just two seasons. Nine of those came in her senior campaign, which set the school record for most clean sheets in a season. She was also the Outrigger No Ka Oi Tournament MVP and a two-time WAC Player of the Week in 2024. The Fontana, CA native appeared in 43 matches for Grand Canyon across two seasons, compiling a record of 25-11-7, the aforementioned 16 shutouts, a 0.89 goals-against average and a save percentage of .781, facing 415 shots in 3,754 minutes.
Mahrt played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, appearing in 62 games (61 starts) and playing 4,503 minutes. The Milwaukee, WI native scored 21 goals and added 15 assists, putting 78 of her 114 shots on target. Eight of her goals were game winners. Mahrt started all 21 games in her senior season, leading the Badgers in goals (10) and assists (4). She has represented the United States at the youth level with both the U-14 and U-16 sides. Her soccer lineage includes a great grandfather who played for the Malaysian National Team.
What It Means for Orlando
Ultimately, these signings don’t mean much overall, aside from that the club rates these players as optional replacements. Grace Chanda, Simone Charley, and Rafaelle are still technically not part of the active roster, but may be reinstated whenever they are deemed healthy. Because there are available active roster spots available, why not use them? Additionally, Emily Sams and Anna Moorhouse have been called up to their national teams for upcoming competitions.
Orlando’s college scouting has been good, and no doubt the Pride would like to have these players stick around to push players in training and potentially fill in when players are forced out of the lineup by injury or international duty.
Orlando Pride
Seb Hines Has Decisions To Make For Orlando Pride’s Back Line
What will the Pride’s back line look like when everyone is healthy?

As the 2025 NWSL season approaches, the Orlando Pride’s roster is taking shape. While the lineup will mostly remain the same, the departure of Adriana and the addition of Prisca Chilufya will impact changes. Additionally, the team has a key previously injured player returning for next season, something that will force Head Coach Seb Hines to make some tough decisions.
One of the most interesting situations impacting the Pride is the back line. Last season, Rafaelle went down with an injury that forced Emily Sams back to her natural center back position, partnering with Kylie Strom. The duo were terrific down the stretch, lifting their team to 14 shutouts, including in the NWSL Championship.
The move forced rookie Cori Dyke to take a more significant role, starting at right back. It was a tough situation for the 24-year-old, but she handled it brilliantly. Dyke was excellent during the final stretch of the season and especially during the playoffs, helping the team win the league title.
When Rafaelle returns from her injury and is fit to play, Hines will have three center backs, all of which have proven to make strong pairings on the back line. So how will the Pride boss handle the situation? Let’s take a look at some of his options.
If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
While Rafaelle is a Brazilian international and a great center back, Sams and Strom were fantastic together for much of last season. Sams began the year at right back, while Rafaelle and Strom were the center back pairing. When Sams was forced to move to her natural position, Dyke took over as the starting right back.
Dyke had a strong rookie campaign, especially after taking over. Taking her out of the starting lineup with how she performed would be difficult for Hines. It would be surprising to see Rafaelle healthy and on the bench, but the back line of Kerry Abello, Strom, Sams, and Dyke was the best in the league last year and Hines might not want to rock the boat.
Go Back To The Start of 2024
Another option is to go back to how the back line looked at the start of 2024. While Sams was a regular at center back in 2023, Hines moved her to right back to begin last season. In a corresponding move, Strom — who had been the starting left back since 2022 — moved to center back alongside Rafaelle.
With everyone healthy, Hines could give that lineup another chance. After all, Strom was more solid at center back than left back and Sams proved she’s more than capable of playing right back. This is probably the most likely option and would ensure the team’s three best defenders are on the field.
Return to 2023
The Pride acquired Rafaelle on July 3, 2023, while the league was in the middle of the FIFA Women’s World Cup break. When the Brazilian joined the team, she started with Sams at center back and Strom was the starting left back. Strom has much more experience at left back than Sams does at right back, so Hines could send her back to her original position.
However, Strom had her best season as a member of the Pride in 2024 while playing center back. It’s hard to believe that Hines would send his vice captain back to left back after playing her in the middle all of last year. Rafaelle and Sams are the team’s only other experienced center backs, so this option is a possibility, even if it is unlikely.
Take Advantage of Versatility
When it comes to acquiring defenders, one of the primary things Hines and Haley Carter consider is versatility. Almost everyone on the back line can play center back and at least one of the outside back positions. This gives Hines an opportunity that few coaches have with their rosters.
Hines could move the players around, pairing all three center backs at times and moving Strom to the left and Sams to the right occasionally. Even Dyke can play center back, as she did in college. Moving players around would give them breaks during the season, keeping them fresh.
This decision could also backfire. Players get comfortable with their positions, so moving them around constantly could impact their quality. It would be a risky choice and is unlikely, but given the versatility of the players, it is an option for Hines. He could also take advantage of their versatility by playing a back line of three center backs, using Strom, Rafaelle, and Sams, while pushing Kerry Abello and Dyke up to wingback.
The Pride won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in 2024, one of the best seasons for any team in league history. They have most of the team returning, so they’ll be a favorite to repeat in 2025. While most of the lineup will be back, there are still some questions to be answered. One of those is who will start along the back line. We’ll find out soon enough, and it will be interesting to see what Hines decides.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Sign Zambian Forward Prisca Chilufya
Pride add to their attack by signing Zambian international Prisca Chilufya from FC Juarez.

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya to a three-year deal that runs through the 2027 season. She’s the third Zambian attacker to join the Pride in the last 10 months.
“We are thrilled to welcome Prisca to the Orlando Pride. Prisca is a dynamic forward who brings exceptional ability, speed, and a proven scoring record to our attack,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Her experience in both international competition with Zambia and her success in Liga MX Feminil demonstrates the kind of top-tier talent we’re committed to bringing to Orlando. She represents both immediate impact and long-term potential, and we believe she will thrive in our environment. Her three-year commitment reflects our shared vision for building something special. We can’t wait for our fans to see her take the pitch in purple.”
The 25-year-old attacker joins the Pride from FC Juarez in Mexico. Since joining the team in 2023, she’s made 48 appearances and scored 14 goals. She’s scored four goals this year in just over half a season.
“I am honored to be joining Orlando Pride, a club with such a strong vision and commitment to excellence in women’s soccer,” Chilufya said in the club’s release. “I’m excited to bring my experience and skills to the NWSL, which is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. The opportunity to play alongside such talented teammates and learn from the coaching staff here in Orlando is something I’ve dreamed about. I’ve watched as the Pride have been built something special, and I want to contribute to the team’s success both on and off the field.”
Before moving to Mexico, Chilufya played for Tomris Turan of the Kazakh Women’s Championship, making 14 appearances and scoring 18 goals during the 2022-2023 season. She moved to that club from fellow Kazakh club BIIK Kazygurt — which she helped win the championship in 2021.
On the international level, Chilufya has been a regular for Zambia since making her debut in the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics. She took part in all three of Zambia’s games in the 2024 Paris Olympics, serving as an alternate for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Most recently, she played in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
What It Means for Orlando
This signing comes on the heels of the Pride transferring Brazilian star Adriana to the Saudi Women’s Premier League. It’s not surprising the club made a move to bring in an attacker and that the player was Zambian.
Chilufya is the third Zambian international the Pride have signed in the last year. It started with the acquisition of striker Barbra Banda, who quickly became a focal point of the Pride’s attack. Then they signed Grace Chanda, whose injury during the Olympics has thus far kept her from making her Pride debut.
The impact Chilufya will make on the team is unknown, but it won’t be easy to break into the lineup. With Adriana gone, Chanda will likely move into the attacking midfield if she’s healthy. Meanwhile, the club re-signed club captain Marta to a new two-year deal, and she’ll obviously play the 10 role. Julie Doyle and Summer Yates both played on the left side in 2024 and are expected to continue sharing responsibility there in 2025. Such competition for a starting spot can only help the club, pushing all of these attackers to develp their game.
Regardless of which players seize a starting spot, the Pride have added depth, something Carter continually tries to do. Head Coach Seb Hines will have plenty of choices in an attacking midfield that can be devastating to NWSL defenses at times. It’s a good move for the Pride after losing a key piece in the attack.
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