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Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars: Final Score 5-0 as Pride Dominate Chicago in Regular-Season Return

The Pride equaled the biggest win in team history with a 5-0 thumping of the Chicago Red Stars.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (7-8-1, 22 points) had their best performance of the year in their first game after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup break, crushing the Chicago Red Stars (5-10-1, 16 points) 5-0. Rafaelle and Mariana Larroquette both scored on their debuts for the team and Messiah Bright scored the first brace of her young career. The fifth goal was by midfielder Mikayla Cluff.

The return of the World Cup participants meant that Marta and Adriana rejoined the lineup. Rafaelle also entered the lineup at center back, replacing Megan Montefusco and making her Pride debut. The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was Kylie Strom, Emily Madril, Rafaelle, and Haley McCutcheon. Viviana Villacorta and Kerry Abello were in the defensive midfield behind Julie Doyle, Marta, and Adriana, with Bright up top.

Similar to their first meeting in Illinois on May 27, the Pride dominated this game from start to finish. Other than a brief flurry of blocked shots in the first half, Chicago couldn’t get anything going offensively. However, while the Pride were unable to hit the target in their first meeting, they put five behind Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in this one.

The Pride dominated possession in the opening minutes, creating all of the opportunities in the opposing end. In the 11th minute, Marta attempted to play Bright behind the Chicago defense, but the rookie striker wasn’t expecting it. Two minutes later, Rafaelle sent a terrific ball behind the back line for Bright. Unfortunately, her first touch was too heavy, allowing Naeher to collect it.

The first shot of the game came in the 13th minute, when Doyle, who the Pride were constantly playing to outside early, sent a low cross into the box. It looked like the defense would easily clear, but there was some miscommunication. Marta took advantage, reaching in to put the ball on goal. However, the close-range shot was right to Naeher.

The Pride finally took the lead in the 14th minute from a corner kick. Adriana and Marta stood over the ball, with Adriana stepping over it. Marta’s cross was outside of the six-yard box and beyond the back post, where Rafaelle got her head to it. The newly-signed Brazilian sent the ball towards the opposite post where it beat Naeher for the opening goal.

“Obviously, Rafa is a world class center half,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about the opening goal. “And you know, she’s been threatening in her career off set pieces, and it’s nice to get that early goal. Nice for her to get that goal early on as well.”

Less than a minute later, McCutcheon nearly doubled the Pride’s lead. She attempted to play the ball across for Bright, but it was blocked right back to her. The right back’s second ball was a shot towards the far post that sent Naeher diving, but it went just wide of the post.

Marta came close to scoring in her first game back with the team in the 19th minute, when Doyle’s low cross was cleared out by Kayla Sharples. The clearance went to Marta outside of the box and the Pride captain took an ambitious shot on goal. It was a good strike, but went just over the crossbar.

The Pride doubled their lead in the 24th minute when McCutcheon blocked a long-distance attempt by Penelope Hocking — Chicago’s first shot of the game. She played the ball forward for Doyle, who immediately sent Bright into the Red Stars half. Hocking slid in with a very late challenge on Doyle, but referee Anya Voigt waved play on. Taylor Malham was on the striker, but left her too much space. Bright took advantage of the room, sending the ball inside the far post to give the Pride a 2-0 lead.

“I think when you just think about it in the moment and think it’s just picking your moments, I’m usually more of an attacking player that looks to go in the box,” Bright said about her first goal of the night. “So I think just trusting myself with my shot and knowing that I do have the range to kick it outside of the 18 as well. So I just took a chance and just really just had a good technique on it.”

“I think we’ve had games before where we’ve had those chances in the first 15, 20 minutes and we haven’t put them away,” Madril said about scoring two goals early. “And then it just puts more pressure on us to try to get that goal and then we have to work harder to just get those goals. So I think it’s great to get those two goals early and kind of let things calm down and kind of play or composed soccer and keep the ball and have Chicago chase the whole time.”

Before the Red Stars could restart, Voigt went back to the challenge on Doyle, issuing Hocking a yellow card for the late challenge.

Bright had a chance for a first-half brace in the 29th minute when a quick give-and-go between the rookie and Marta sent Bright behind the Red Stars defense. She got herself in position to shoot as she entered the box with Malham closing in, but the attempt was right to Naeher.

After only taking one shot in the first 34 minutes, the Red Stars had two good chances in the 35th minute. Strom attempted to shield St-Georges from the ball near her own end line, but St-Georges was able to play it back for Ava Cook. The forward took a touch to create space from Rafaelle and shot. Fortunately, Madril was backing her fellow center back up and blocked it. The rebound went right back to Cook, who laid it off for Yuki Nagasato behind her. Nagasato’s shot beat Rafaelle, but was blocked by Strom.

A minute later, the Red Stars forced Moorhouse into her first stop of the game when Casey Krueger found Hocking to her left. Hocking had some space for a shot and tried to beat Moorhouse to her near post, but the Pride goalkeeper got down to block it out of play.

The Red Stars had one more first-half opportunity in the 36th minute, when Nagasato found Julia Bianchi outside of the Pride box. The midfielder took a shot from distance, but Madril stepped in front of it for the block. The small flurry of chances was the only Chicago threat in the first half and the Pride were able to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

After 45 minutes, the Red Stars had more possession (51.7%-48.3%), but the Pride had more shots (9-5), shots on target (4-1), and crosses (11-7), and better passing accuracy (85.5%-81.2%). Both teams had two corners in the first half.

It looked like the Red Stars might get back into the game in the 49th minute when Krueger sent a long ball for Jenna Bike, who came on at halftime for St-Georges. Bike got behind the Pride defense, but Strom slid in to take the ball away. Hocking and Bike, who went down on the play, threw their arms in the air, claiming it should’ve been a penalty. But Voigt decided it was a clean challenge.

The Pride quickly went the other way with Adriana playing it forward for Marta. The Brazilian used the outside of her left foot to send Bright behind the Red Stars defense. Naeher came out of the box to challenge the striker, but Bright remained calm, dribbling around her and putting it in for her second goal of the night.

“The main thing that was going through my mind was just making sure I stayed even with the back line so I wouldn’t be caught offside,” Bright said about the goal. “But also just having that separation as well to break off once she passed. It is quite amazing how she got the ball through there. It’s Marta, so I mean, couldn’t expect nothing less. But my main thing was once she played it, I saw Naeher coming out, so I just went around her and the goal was wide open. I was kind of getting off balance a little bit so my main thing was just placing it, putting a little heat on it, and just redirecting it in the goal.”

It was Bright’s sixth goal of the season, tying her for fifth in the league. It’s also her first career brace, something the rookie says she’s been aiming for.

“I’ve been searching for that career brace for a minute now,” Bright said. “So it was pretty, you know, good to just get that. And I was actually aiming for a hat trick but, you know, take it a game at a time.”

Chicago had a chance to get one back in the 59th minute when Bianchi’s long-distance shot was blocked out of play by Rafaelle. The ensuing corner kick got under the arm and Moorhouse, but, fortunately, the Pride were able to clear.

Hines made his first changes of the game in the 60th minute. Cluff, Larroquette, and Jordyn Listro entered the game for Doyle, Bright, and Villacorta.

It didn’t take long for Larroquette to make an impact as she scored 3:46 into her Pride debut. The new forward received the ball on the left side of the box from Cluff and cut inside to beat her defender. The Argentine placed her shot with her right foot past Naeher and into the top corner to give the Pride a 4-0 lead.

“For Larroquette, you know, coming in and, you know, you can see the hunger that she brings to try and score.”Hines said about the new striker. “Every moment she wants to score.”

Four minutes later, the Pride scored a fifth and it was another substitute. Cluff played Adriana down the right and the Brazilian used some good footwork to beat Amanda Kowalski. Cluff continued her run into the box and Adriana found her. Cluff’s first touch was a soft shot inside the far post to give the Pride a 5-0 lead.

With the game well under control, the Pride made two final changes. Megan Montefusco came on for Rafaelle in the 70th minute and Summer Yates replaced Adriana in the 73rd minute.

The Pride nearly had a sixth in the 82nd minute when Abello beat her defender and sent a cross towards the top of the six-yard box. Naeher tried to knock the ball away, but only put it in front for Larroquette. Unfortunately, the Argentinian couldn’t get her foot on the ball and the Red Stars cleared.

Chicago had a chance to get on the scoresheet in the 85th minute when Ella Stevens sent fellow substitute Ally Schlegel behind the Pride defense. Schlegel’s first touch should’ve been a shot on goal, but it was a heavy one instead. Moorhouse came out to challenge and the two collided, resulting in the ball rolling out of play. Moorhouse was down briefly and required medical attention, but was able to continue.

The fourth official put up six minutes of second-half stoppage time, but the Pride were content with their five-goal lead. The only chance in the dying minutes came in the first minute of added time when Krueger did well to keep possession in the Pride box and send the ball towards the penalty spot. Cari Roccaro met the ball and took a shot, but Madril got in front of the attempt, blocking it wide.

The Red Stars finished the game with more possession (51.1%-48.9%) and corner kicks (6-4), but weren’t able to create much from them. The Pride had more shots (13-9), shots on target (7-1), and crosses (17-15), and better passing accuracy (85.6%-82.8%).

“The players were brilliant today,” Hines said about the performance. “From start to finish, the intensity of how they did everything, from attacking to defending. We talked heavily about taking our opportunities, end product in the final third. And, you know, they were brilliant. I can’t speak highly (enough) of them. You know, we’ve felt like that performance has been coming. But it’s nice to finally get a good score line at the end of it.”

The five goals are the most the Pride have scored in a game since May 26, 2018 when they beat the Red Stars in Illinois, 5-2. It’s their largest win since Aug. 12, 2017 when they won 5-0 over Sky Blue FC at Exploria Stadium. It’s also the first time that the Pride have beaten the Red Stars in Orlando, now with a record of 1-7-1 at home against tonight’s opposition.

In addition to team history, the Pride also set some league history tonight. They did that earlier this year by conceding the latest goals in league history, but this time it was positive. Brazilians Marta, Adriana, and Rafaelle all had a part in goals, the first time in NWSL history that three players from the same country other than the United States had goal contributions in the same game.

It was a clutch performance for the Pride as they attempt to qualify for the NWSL playoffs for the first time since 2017. Racing Louisville lost last night, so the Pride move in front of them into seventh place. The final playoff spot is currently held by San Diego Wave FC, which is three points ahead of the Pride after this weekend’s games.

The win makes the Pride’s next match even more essential as they welcome the Wave to Exploria Stadium Friday night with a chance to climb even on points for the sixth and final playoff spot.

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Orlando Pride Re-Sign Forward Barbra Banda through 2029

The Pride lock down the Zambian international striker through 2029 with a new deal.

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1 day ago

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September 14, 2026

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Image of Barbra Banda celebrating a goal against Louisville.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has re-signed forward Barbra Banda to a new contract through the 2029 season. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Banda’s new deal uses the NWSL’s High Impact Player (HIP) mechanism.

Per this recent league rule, enacted on July 1, HIP signings allow the club to exceed the salary cap and counts only part of the player’s salary against the cap limit. The Ballon d’Or candidate fits the requirements and is a signing worthy of spending that slot on.

“Barbra is a transformational player whose impact extends far beyond the goals she scores on the field,” Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said in a club press release. “She represents the ambition, excellence, and winning culture we’ve built and want to sustain long-term. Since arriving in Orlando, she has helped elevate our club to new heights and establish us among the world’s premier women’s football organizations. Securing Barbra’s future is a reflection of our commitment to competing for championships year after year and investing in the players who define our club. We are proud that Orlando will continue to be her home for
years to come.”

“Barbra is a cornerstone of everything we are building at the Pride,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Caitlin Carducci added in the club’s release. “She is one of the most dynamic players in world football and her impact on our club has been extraordinary from the moment she arrived in Orlando. As we continue to compete for championships, it is critical that we not only attract top talent but also create an environment where the world’s best players want to stay and build their careers. Barbra’s decision to
commit her future to Orlando is a reflection of the culture, ambition and standards that have been established throughout the club. We are excited to continue building around a player of her caliber as we pursue even greater success in the years ahead.”

The Pride signed the Zambian international for a then-record transfer fee of $740,000 from Chinese Women’s Super League side Shanghai Shengli FC on March 7, 2024. Her initial deal with Orlando was set to run through 2027, but her performances have warranted a new contract to extend her stay in the City Beautiful.

Banda, 26, led Orlando to the 2024 NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in her first year with the club, scoring in each of the Pride’s three playoff games en route to the title and won the NWSL Championship MVP Award. She scored 13 goals to lead the Pride during the 2024 season, adding six assists, becoming one of the league’s most dangerous attacking players. That year, she ended the Pride’s long wait for a hat trick, scoring the club’s first. At season’s end, she was named to the 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team and won BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year honors.

Banda added eight more goals in 16 games in an injury-shortened 2025 season as the Pride again reached the NWSL playoff semifinals and came within a goal of a second consecutive final appearance.

Now in her third season in Orlando, Banda has spent much of the 2026 season leading the league’s Golden Boot race before being jumped by North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez, who is having a career year. With six games still to play, Banda has scored a club single-season record 16 goals in 2026, besting the 13 she and Marta (2017) previously shared, and she’s chipped in three assists for 19 total goal contributions on the Pride’s 31 goals this season, despite missing four games due to injury/international duty and being limited in minutes in a few others. She sits three goals behind Sanchez in the Golden Boot race.

The Zambian’s totals with Orlando are staggering: 41 goals and 11 assists in 62 appearances across all competitions in three years, while drawing several penalties that others have converted — something that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. Over that span, she has also been selected to the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 in 2024 and 2025, and she has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Fémenin three times in her career

“I am very happy to continue my journey with Pride,” Banda said in the club’s release. “I want to thank my teammates, coaches, staff, and the fans for believing in me and supporting me every day. Orlando has become a special place for me, and I am excited to keep fighting for this club and win more trophies together.”

What It Means for Orlando

Locking Banda down for another three seasons allows Carducci to rebuild the struggling club around her. The Pride have had an unexpectedly subpar 2026 season due to injuries, inconsistencies, and poor form. No secondary scorer has truly emerged behind Banda, which was costly during her time with the Zambian Women’s National Team for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The poor results eventually led to the club parting ways with 2024 NWSL Coach of the Year Seb Hines less than a year since he guided the Pride to the NWSL playoff semifinals for the second straight year.

Several Pride players will be out of contract or will have their option considered at season’s end. One of those players is Marta, whose availability has been less-than-reliable in 2026. If the 40-year-old retires, it will free up an important chunk of salary and a spot on the team Carducci can fill.

Banda’s presence in Orlando should also help the club attract interest from a number of coaches and players around the world. She is a prolific attacker and there are several pieces in place who can play with her, but upgrades to the attacking group are needed — and what defender wouldn’t want to have a target to hit over the top for an assist? And by using the HIP designation, this deal should ease fan concerns that a club in Europe will try to sign her away. That could happen anyway, but all Orlando can do is make one of the league’s top-tier talents one of the NWSL’s best-paid players.

Even if Carducci and whoever the next permanent coach is can’t get the Pride back to where they were in 2024, Banda will continue to be worth the price of admission. Her two goals Friday at Kansas City were magical moments in an eventual 2-2 draw in which the team was badly outplayed. Getting a point in that game comes down to having someone like Banda, who can make the difference between no points on the road and at least bringing home one. She is, in short, a difference maker.

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Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current: Final Score 2-2 as Pride Let Two-Goal Lead Slip Away

The Pride saw a two-goal lead evaporate in three minutes and draw in Kansas City.

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4 days ago

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September 11, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

The Orlando Pride (9-12-3, 30 points) squandered a 2-0 second-half lead tonight, drawing 2-2 with the Kansas City Current (11-8-5, 38 points) at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, MO. Barbra Banda gave the Pride that lead with goals in the 43rd and 50th minutes. But goals by Temwa Chawinga in the 53rd minute and Elizabeth Ball in the 56th minute saw the team share the points.

Pride interim head coach Yolanda Thomas deployed the same starting lineup that defeated the Houston Dash 3-1 Sunday night. The back line in front of goalkeeper Cosette Morche was Hailie Mace, Hannah Anderson, Cori Dyke, and Oihane. Angelina and Ally Lemos were the defensive midfielders behind Jacquie Ovalle, Haley McCutcheon, and Summer Yates with Banda up top.

It was the first time the Pride have had the same starting lineup in back-to-back games since May 2 and May 8.

Getting anything would’ve been a success coming into the game. But it looked like the Pride might take all three points when they went up 2-0 shortly after halftime. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as the Current responded with two quick goals. It then appeared as though it was only a matter of time before the Pride gave up a third, but they held on to get a point away from home.

The Current dominated play from the opening whistle, putting the Pride on their heels. However, the only early chance the hosts could muster was a Debinha shot from the top of the box with Anderson right in front of her.

The hosts nearly took the lead in the 17th minute when Kayla Sharples tried to flick on a throw-in in front of goal, but Oihane blocked it over the end line. Morche tipped but couldn’t punch away the ensuing corner kick, resulting in the goalkeeper being caught out of position. Ball played the ball to Sharples at the top of the box, but her shot was blocked. Ball then got a shot of her own, but Morche got back in time to block the attempt and fall on the loose ball.

The Pride got their first good look in the 24th minute when Michelle Cooper fouled Jacquie Ovalle in the Current third of the field. Lemos and Ovalle stood over the ball with Ovalle sending the set piece toward the penalty spot. McCutcheon made a diagonal run and attempted to head it inside the near post, but Current goalkeeper Lorena was there to make the stop.

Kansas City quickly went the other way and created a chance of its own. Cooper dribbled into the Pride third before playing the ball wide right for Debinha. The Brazilian sent a beautiful ball to the far post, where Haley Hopkins was making a wide-open run. The attacker had time to settle the ball, but decided to one-time it instead. That was a mistake, as the ball got caught in her feet and went wide of the target.

Vanessa DiBernardo forced Morche into action in the 29th minute when the defensive midfielder sent a shot from outside the box to the far post. The ball was heading in until Morche dove to her right and tipped it wide. The Pride cleared the ensuing set piece to keep the game scoreless.

Lemos played the ball wide left for Mace in the 37th minute. It appeared as though the defender would cross, but she shot toward goal instead. Lorena backpedaled and tipped the ball over the crossbar. The Current headed the ensuing set piece out, where Mace collected it. This time she did cross the ball, but it was right into the Lorena’s hands.

After Dyke headed a Current 39th-minute corner kick over the end line, the hosts nearly took the lead. Sharples flicked the second set piece to the back post, where Ball was waiting. The center back put her first-touch shot inside the near post, where it bounced off Morche and Oihane before the Pride goalkeeper fell on it inches from the goal line.

Despite spending most of the first half defending, it was the Pride who took the lead in the 43rd minute. Lemos sent a hopeful ball down the field for Banda between two defenders. The striker was the first to reach it and sent her first-touch shot from long range over Lorena — who was off her line — to give the visitors a shocking 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, the Current went on the hunt for an equalizer and came close twice. As the game entered first-half stoppage time, Lo’eau LaBonta sent a long ball down the right for Cooper. Debinha, who played the initial ball to LaBonta, continued her run to the top of the box. Cooper spotted her teammate wide open and the Brazilian’s first touch was a shot. But she was leaning back, sending her attempt off the crossbar and out of play.

The final chance came in the third minute of stoppage time when DiBernardo found Izzy Rodriguez making a run down the left. Chawinga got her head to the cross, directing the ball wide of the far post. The halftime whistle blew immediately after the miss.

While the teams split possession in the first half, the Current doubled the Pride’s number of shots (12-6). However, both teams put three on target. Kansas City also had the advantage in crosses (20-9), corner kicks (6-4), and passing accuracy (86%-81%).

Thomas made one halftime change, replacing Yates with Solai Washington.

The Pride didn’t take long after the restart to double their advantage, doing so in the 50th minute. Mace played the ball down the left for Banda with Ball on her back. The striker made a lightning-quick turn, powered past her defender, and sent her shot under Lorena’s left arm to make it 2-0.

“When she’s on the field, we’re never out of the game,” Thomas said. “That’s just the reality. So that is another source of confidence and just comfort almost for her teammates to know that if they keep fighting, she’s going to find a way to create something. Whether that’s them serving it up or her just creating something out of nothing. So it also keeps opponents on their back foot because you can’t relax when she’s still on the field. So, really excited for her to get back to scoring multiple goals, and we’re ready to support her to continue chasing more.”

Unfortunately, the game turned following that goal. As the Pride looked to defend their lead, the Current went on the attack, looking to continue their season-long unbeaten run at home. And it didn’t take long for their response.

A poor header by Mace in the 53rd minute allowed Cooper to start a two-on-two counter attack with Chawinga to her left. Mace caught up with the attacker, but opted not to take a tactical foul. Cooper was then free to play the ball between Oihane and Cori Dyke for Chawinga. The striker’s initial touch held her up and it looked like the Pride defense might survive. But she dribbled through them before playing the ball past Morche to make it 2-1.

The Current then tied the game three minutes later when the Pride were unable to defend a set piece. Debinha couldn’t turn the near-post corner kick on goal and Morche blocked Rodriguez’s follow-up shot. Unfortunately, her save went to the top of the six-yard box. Hopkins couldn’t get a solid foot on the ball, but it went to Ball, who put it in to even the game at 2-2.

“They’re a team that’s going to take advantage and try to punish your mistakes, so mental lapses, being safe, and taking low risks, and then them punishing us,” Thomas said about the Kansas City goals. “And when you’ve got a player like Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper transitioning to your own goal, they’re likely to get something, right? So just not really managing those moments right after we’ve gotten scored on, which we know those are vulnerable moments for any team. So they’re learning points.”

“I just think it’s two lapses,” Lemos added. “Teams are always most vulnerable whenever you score. So I think really just focusing on the big five moments. The five minutes after you score, you’re the most vulnerable. So I think really just focusing in and honing in on all the little details and just staying fully locked in those next 5-10 minutes would have really helped us. And we had two unfortunate lapses.”

The second goal completely changed the momentum of the game and it felt like only a matter of time before the hosts would take their first lead. In the 61st minute, Morche punched a corner kick away and, after Debinha’s sliding shot was blocked, the defense blocked LaBonta’s attempt over the target.

The Pride were again unable to clear a set piece, allowing the Current to keep the ball in the Pride box. The ball was touched off Hopkins’ foot, going to Cooper outside the 18. The attacker fired from distance, sending her attempt off target.

Rodriguez took Angelina down near midfield in the 70th minute, earning a yellow card and giving Thomas a chance for a second substitution. This time, Ovalle made way for Sanne Lekven. It was the second appearance for Lekven, who continues to acclimate herself to her new team.

“Step one is really get to know your teammates, get to know the league. In Florida, get acclimated to the weather. So, we’re doing what we can do to bring her along. And she’s a fun personality,” Thomas said about Lekven’s minutes these last two games. “Sanne speaks Norwegian. I speak Swedish. So, we understand each other quite well. So, it’s really just about getting her acclimated.”

LaBonta found Hopkins near the top of the six-yard box in the 76th minute, forcing Morche into a terrific save, tipping the ball over the crossbar. However, Hopkins was deemed offside anyway, so the save didn’t count. Thomas used the stoppage to make her third sub, replacing Lemos with Marta.

Chawinga tried to dribble through the Pride defense in the 80th minute, but Mace blocked her last move. The Pride went the other way, resulting in Banda carrying the ball into the Current third of the field. The striker unleashed a long-distance shot for the near post, but it sailed wide.

Banda played a square ball behind Lekven and Marta in the 86th minute, allowing Angelina to collect it on the left. The defensive midfielder dribbled inside before taking a shot that forced Lorena to block it wide. Marta’s ensuing corner kick found Anderson beyond the back post, but her header attempt was into Lorena’s arms.

Penelope Hocking tried to find Hopkins inside the six-yard box in the 88th minute, but Dyke got a foot in to block it out of play. Despite heading the ensuing corner kick out of the box, the Pride were unable to get it out of their own third. Cooper collected it and shot from distance, sending her attempt well off target.

Thomas used the stoppage to make her final change of the game, replacing Angelina with Luana.

In the 90th minute, Rodriguez chested a short clearance down and dribbled into the Pride box. Anderson initially stuck her leg out, but pulled it back just before Rodriguez went to the ground. The Current players wanted a penalty, but the referee rightfully allowed play to continue.

The hosts created a couple more chances as the game reached the final seconds. The first was a Rodriguez cross that Sharples headed wide. Then Hocking found Amelia White on the right side of the box, but her shot was over the target.

At full time, Kansas City had the edge in every category: possession (56%-44%), shots (24-12), shots on target (8-6), crosses (36-16), corner kicks (13-8), and passing accuracy (88%-80%). However, the Current had to erase a two-goal deficit at home just to get a point.

“It feels disappointing when you’re up 2-0 and you don’t come out with three points,” Thomas said. “But the fact that we are now feeling disappointed about not getting three points in a game like this is a testament to how far we’ve come in just a week and a half. So, still to go into this atmosphere, given what we’ve been through, and to get a point is still a good thing for us. And I’m proud of the effort put forth and the fact that we’ve come out of here with a point.”

“Hard environment to come away and play in. And, at the end of the day, we got a point,” Lemos added. “Still not fully satisfied, but it’s a step forward.”

Three points would’ve been crucial for the Pride’s chances of reaching the postseason for the third consecutive year. They would’ve moved into ninth, one point behind the Seattle Reign while playing two more games than the teams around them. Instead, they remain in 11th and a postseason appearance is an even longer shot than before the night began.

On the plus side, the point ensures the Pride remain the only NWSL team to be undefeated at CPKC Stadium, something that’s not lost on them.

“We talked about it. We talked about it yesterday and today,” Thomas said about their undefeated record in the stadium. “So I reminded them of listen, this is a tough environment. It’s going to be tough. But also I’m going to challenge you to actually thrive in it because we have a history of thriving here. A lot of us have really good memories in this place, and so can you channel that? But I also reminded them that each time we’ve actually gotten a result here, something crazy has happened. So, whether it’s a weather delay, a red card, an injury, we’ve found a way to overcome. So, those were reminders that we used throughout the week.”

They also have now claimed points in two consecutive games, something they haven’t done since they beat San Diego Wave FC 1-0 on May 24 and Bay FC 3-1 on May 29.

The Pride will look to extend that point streak on Sept. 19 when they welcome the Portland Thorns to Orlando.

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Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride look to build on their win over the Houston Dash as the take on the Kansas City Current in Missouri.

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4 days ago

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September 11, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (9-12-2, 29 points) take on the Kansas City Current (11-8-4, 37 points) in Missouri (8 p.m., Prime Video). This is the second and final time the two teams will face off during the 2026 NWSL regular season.

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

History

The Current joined the NWSL in 2021 after the team’s ownership group bought the Utah Royals and relocated the club to Kansas City. It’s the second NWSL team in the city — FC Kansas City played there from 2013 to 2017 before moving to Utah — and the current team was known as NWSL Kansas City for its inaugural season.

The Pride and Current have played 11 games against each other in the regular season and once in the playoffs. Orlando has a 4-3-4 record in the regular-season series (2-1-2 away) and is 5-3-4 in all competitions.

The two teams last met on July 10 in Orlando. It was a dominant performance by the Pride, especially in the second half. After a scoreless opening half, Marta gave the hosts the lead early in the second half, and Hannah Anderson doubled the advantage a short time later. Barbra Banda came off the bench to add a late insurance goal, lifting the Pride to a 3-0 victory.

The first meeting of 2025 took place on May 16 in Orlando, Temwa Chawinga was the difference, scoring the game’s lone goal in a 1-0 win by the Current. On Aug. 16, 2025, in Kansas City, the Current outshot the Pride 16-5, but each team only put one on target in a scoreless draw.

The first game in 2024 happened on July 6 in Kansas City, Banda gave the Pride the lead, but the hosts responded two minutes later through Chawinga. Despite a second yellow card for Carrie Lawrence dropping the Pride to 10 players just before halftime, Marta converted a second-half penalty, lifting her team to a 2-1 win.

On Sept. 13, 2024, in Orlando, the teams combined for 27 shots, but neither converted as the game ended in a scoreless draw. The final meeting of the 2024 season came on Nov. 17 in the NWSL semifinals in Orlando. Debinha gave the Current the lead and Haley McCutcheon equalized just before halftime. Banda made it 2-1 in the second half and Marta doubled the advantage late in normal time. Vanessa DiBernardo got one back deep in stoppage time from the penalty spot, but the Pride won 3-2 to advance to the NWSL Championship in the Current’s home stadium.

The teams first met during the 2023 season on April 23 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. It was scoreless after an hour before the Current got a quick flurry of goals by Debinha and CeCe Kizer, lifting Kansas City to a 2-0 win. On June 23, 2023, in Orlando, the visitors took the lead through Debinha, and Kizer doubled the advantage just before halftime. Marta converted a penalty to pull one back, but the Pride fell 2-1.

The first meeting in 2022 took place May 14 at Exploria Stadium. The Pride took the lead early in the second half on a Gunny Jonsdottir goal. Elyse Bennett scored late in the second half, and the visitors appeared to win the game a minute into injury time through Kristen Hamilton. However, Kylie Strom was pulled down in the box five minutes later, resulting in a penalty. With Marta injured, center back Toni Pressley stepped up and drilled the ball into the roof of the net, pulling out a 2-2 draw.

Their second meeting in 2022 came on July 31 in Kansas City while the Pride were in the middle of a seven-game unbeaten run. The Pride opened the scoring when Erika Tymrak found Celia, whose header made it 1-0, and doubled the lead just after halftime through Julie Doyle. The Current stormed back with goals by Bennett and Kizer, pulling out a 2-2 draw.

The teams played twice during the 2021 NWSL season, with the first game held on May 30 at Exploria Stadium. Courtney Petersen found Alex Morgan just outside the six-yard box and the striker headed in the game’s lone goal as the Pride won 1-0.

The Pride and Current met again on June 23 at Legends Field in Kansas City. The Pride had a weakened squad as then-coach Marc Skinner left some key players at home, preparing to lose them to the Olympics. It looked to be costly when Mariana Larroquette gave the hosts the lead late in first-half injury time. But the Pride responded well. Two minutes after Larroquette’s goal, Sydney Leroux’s shot took a deflection off a defender and went in to make it 1-1. Shortly after halftime, Leroux scored on a great individual effort from just outside the box. Marta then scored the goal of the game, beating Kansas City goalkeeper Abby Smith from the top of the center circle, lifting the Pride to a 3-1 win.

Overview

Last week was a tough one for the Pride. Head Coach Seb Hines was fired on Monday with Yolanda Thomas taking over on an interim basis. Thomas did well to keep team spirits as high as possible, allowing the Pride to defeat the Houston Dash 3-1 Sunday night.

It was one of the team’s best performances since the FIFA World Cup break, which isn’t saying much. The team has only won four times in its last 11 games, including a 3-0 win over the Current, a 1-0 win over the Chicago Stars, and a 1-0 road win against the Washington Spirit. The latter saw the team concede the majority of possession and chances, but Orlando held onto its slim lead for 87 minutes.

While Sunday night’s win will provide some confidence, the team still finds itself in a tough spot. The Pride are currently in 11th place, three spots and five points behind the Seattle Reign for the eighth and final playoff spot. With only seven games to go in the season, it would take an impressive and unexpected run to make the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Banda leads the Pride attack and is second in the NWSL with 14 goals, four behind North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez. The Zambian led the league until recently, when Sanchez went on a tear to overtake Banda. However, Banda has played four fewer games. Outside of Banda, goals have been hard to come by. McCutcheon is second on the team with four goals, scoring her fourth Sunday night. Nobody else on the team has netted more than two.

Prior to the game against Houston, Thomas emphasized that a win could be a building block moving forward. It could provide the confidence to go ahead and get three points in the next game. Unfortunately, that next game is in Kansas City.

After dominating the regular season last year, the Current have had more of a struggle in 2026. They sit seventh with 37 points, but they’re just two points out of third. The Current team you see typically depends on where they’re playing. While Kansas City is 3-8-1 on the road, the Current have been literally unbeatable at home with an 8-0-3 record.

The Current are on a good run of form, gaining points in six of their last seven games. The only loss was a 2-1 defeat away to first-place NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Chawinga leads the Kansas City attack and has caused the rest of the league problems since joining in 2024. She’s only scored nine goals this year, but that’s largely due to her missing time at the beginning of the season with an adductor injury. Those nine goals have come in 12 games and 10 starts, making her one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the league.

Croix Bethune is another leader in the Kansas City attack. The 25-year-old attacker has 10 assists this year out of the midfield, tying her with Cloe Lacasse of the Utah Royals for the league lead.

However, both Bethune and Chawinga are listed as questionable for this game, so they might not play a role. That would improve the Pride’s chances of coming away with points, especially considering they played Sunday night and the Current have a full week’s rest.

“It’s a short week, so we want to build on the momentum of getting a win at home,” Thomas said ahead of tonight’s game. “But really, it’s about deciding how we are going to attack it quickly and then make the most of the sessions. The reality is we have about one full session to prepare, so it’s really about getting the message across clearly and quickly this week, and the players taking that on. I think the bigger picture is we’ve gone to Kansas City many times and have found a way to get a result. So, it’s embracing the difficulty and knowing that we can do hard things.”

The Pride are relatively healthy for this game with no new names on the injury report. They’ll be without Kerry Abello (thigh), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Rafaelle (head), and Viviana Villacorta (knee). The Current are without Ellie Bravo-Young (maternity leave), Alana Cook (knee), Claire Gagne (head), Mary Long (knee), Gianna Paul (excused absence), Gabrielle Robinson (knee), Kolo Suliafu (thigh), and Katie Scott (international duty). Additionally, Bethune (hip) and Chawinga (illness) are listed as questionable.

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Cosette Morche.

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

Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Angelina.

Attacking Midfielders: Jacquie Ovalle, Summer Yates, Haley McCutcheon.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: Cara Martin, Luana, Marta, Zara Chavoshi, Gabi Nunes, Julie Doyle, Sanne Lekven, Nicole Payne, Solai Washington.

Kansas City Current (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Lorena.

Defenders: Izzy Rodriguez, Kayla Sharples, Elizabeth Ball, Laney Rouse.

Defensive Midfielders: Vanessa DiBernardo, Lo’eau LaBonta.

Attacking Midfielders: Haley Hopkins, Debinha, Michelle Cooper.

Forward: Temwa Chawinga.

Bench: Marisa Jordan, Kaylin Williams-Mosier, Amelia White, Rocky Rodriguez, Bayley Feist, Itala Gemelli, Penelope Hocking.

Referees

REF: Gerald Flores.
AR1: Chris Schurfranz.
AR2: Nicholas Seymour.
4TH: Kaitlyn Trowbridge.
VAR: Amin Hadzic.
AVAR: Matthew Seem.

How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: CPKC Stadium — Kansas City, MO.

TV: None.

Streaming: Prime Video.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @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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