Orlando Pride Sign Goalkeeper McKinley Crone to One-Year Deal

The Orlando Pride have signed goalkeeper McKinley Crone to a one-year contract for the 2024 NWSL season. Crone was initially signed as a National Team Replacement Player, but earned a first-team contract last season. However, she was out of contract following the 2023 campaign.

“Mac returned this season at the top of her game, with a new level of competitiveness, and made it an easy decision to solidify her spot within our goalkeeping corps. We are happy to reward her hard work with a contract and to see where this season takes her,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in a club press release. “She has shown tremendous improvement since joining us last season and her commitment to the club and her teammates is unmatched. We look forward to playing a role in her continued development and growth, on and off the field.” 

The Maitland native initially joined the Pride during preseason last year as a training player. However, she signed as a National Team Replacement Player on June 27 when Marta and Adriana departed for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Brazil. After a second successful stint as a National Team Replacement Player, the 25-year-old signed through the end of the 2023 NWSL season on Sept. 13. While the club didn’t offer her a new contract after last season, she returned this preseason as a non-roster invitee and earned a one-year deal.

“Growing up in Orlando, I looked up to the players here. To now be able to wear the Pride crest is truly an honor and I am so grateful I have been given the chance to represent this amazing city I love to call home,” Crone said in the club’s press release. “I’m so excited to continue my professional journey here in purple (and orange) and can’t wait to continue to work hard and help grow this club and the beautiful game. Roll Pride!” 

Prior to joining the Pride, Crone played at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Alabama, where she set the NCAA record for goalkeeping minutes. In three seasons at Alabama, she made 66 starts, playing 9,519.77 minutes, conceding 70 goals and making 229 saves. She had a goals-against average of 1.10 and saved 76.6% of the shots she faced. She finished her collegiate career with Alabama’s record for single-season wins (10), career shutouts (23), and career wins (41).

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride already have three goalkeepers under contract for the 2024 NWSL season. Anna Moorhouse returns for her third season and the club signed Finnish shot stopper Sofia Manner to a two-year contract. The third goalkeeper on the roster is Kaylie Collins, who is currently on loan with Western Sydney Wanderers FC of the A-League Women’s in Australia.

The signing of Crone less than a week before the start of the season indicates that the club will allow Western Sydney to keep Collins through the end of their season, which runs through April 27. The club is currently in seventh and tied on points with the last playoff spot, so Collins could see her stay extended beyond the end of the Australian regular season.

Crone will likely start as the team’s third-choice goalkeeper and, with the Pride no longer taking part in the Challenge Cup, is unlikely to see the field. However, she could make the bench through her preseason performances or if Moorhouse or Manner get injured or suspended. The question is who will be the third-choice goalkeeper when Collins returns from her loan stint.