Orlando Pride Sign 2024 Second-Round Draft Pick Cori Dyke

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed defender Cori Dyke to a one-year contract, running through the 2024 NWSL season. Dyke was selected by the Pride in the second round (22nd overall) in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She’s the second player from this past draft to sign a professional contract with the Pride after Ally Lemos was signed to a two-year deal on Jan. 26.

“When we drafted Cori, we knew we were getting a versatile player who knows what it takes to compete at this level. Her performance throughout preseason has confirmed this for us,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Cori fits into our system and the style we want to play. We are confident that with the help of the veterans on the team and her experience coming out of Penn State, she can make a smooth transition into the professional game and grow into a strong player within the league.”

The Littleton, CO, native played in 108 games (all starts) for the Penn State Nittany Lions in her college career, recording 9,069 minutes, nine goals, and nine assists. She played as a central midfielder for the first four years in college, but moved to center back for her final season. Despite moving to the back line, the 2023 season was her most productive offensively, as she recorded five goals and six assists.

Dyke received several accolades during her five collegiate seasons. As a freshman, she was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Freshman Best XI First Team by Top Drawer Soccer. During her final season in the midfield, she was named to the 2022 Big Ten Women’s All-Tournament Team. Dyke moved to center back for her senior season and was named Big Ten Defender of the Year. She was also named All-Big Ten First Team and the United Soccer Coaches named her a second-team All-American and first-team All-North Region.

“I feel incredibly blessed to have signed my first professional contract with the Pride and see my dreams become a reality,” Dyke said in the club’s press release. “This club is building something really special that I am so excited to be a part of. We have clear goals in mind heading into this season — we want to win championships — and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to help make that happen and contribute to the success of this team moving forward.”

The defender is the third former Penn State player to be drafted by the Pride and sign a professional contract with the team. Nickolette Driesse was drafted and signed in 2017, and Kerry Abello, who recently signed a new three-year contract, was drafted in 2021. Abello and Dyke were teammates for three seasons at Penn State and shared their excitement about playing with each other again during the draft.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride have had a tough off-season at the center back position. Megan Montefusco had surgery on her right foot to repair a long-term problem, placing her on the season-ending injury list. The club lost its second center back during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup when Brazilian international Rafaelle fractured her foot in the semifinal against Mexico. While Rafaelle will be back, she’ll likely miss the beginning of the season. The club also has Tori Hansen currently on loan in Australia.

Dyke’s signing provides much-needed depth at the position. Even if Rafaelle hadn’t suffered her injury, she’ll likely be gone for a period of time around the 2024 Olympics, when she’ll compete with Brazil. Carrie Lawrence will also be back this year after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. However, it’s unclear how she’ll return from such an injury, and Pride Head Coach Seb Hines would also like to have the option of using her at fullback.

While Carter says she’s confident that Dyke will fit in well with the Pride, the club isn’t displaying that with the signing. Most draft picks are signed to short deals with option years. This deal is only for one season and doesn’t include any option years. However, Dyke will likely have the opportunity to prove herself with the lack of bodies at the center back position early in the season.