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Young Players Impacting the Pride’s Early Success

Summer Yates and Amanda Allen have been key contributors for the Pride early in the 2024 season.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride are off to a decent start to the 2024 NWSL season, claiming points in each of their first three games. The results can largely be attributed to the veteran Brazilian duo of Angelina and Marta. However, some younger players have shown development during the off-season and are playing key roles in the team’s successes.

The Pride depended on proven talent during the first six years of the team’s existence. But all they had to show for their marquee signings was a single playoff appearance in which they were dominated by the Portland Thorns. Instead, they spent most seasons near or at the bottom of the standings, leaving many to wonder why such big names couldn’t bring success to the club.

Following the 2021 NWSL season, the Pride made the unpopular decision to go through a full rebuild, parting with players like Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris. They traded these assets for Allocation Money and draft picks. Despite some missteps, the club has used most of those assets wisely, building a young and promising team that nearly made the playoffs last year.

There were undoubtedly going to be growing pains with such a young team. Rookies were always going to have to be thrown into the deep end to see if they would sink or swim. It was something that Pride Head Coach Seb Hines expected when he accepted the permanent head coaching position prior to the 2023 campaign.

“Last year we had a lot of young players,” Hines said of the group. “And we had to rely on a lot of young players and guide them and make sure they were ready for this next step.”

The next step Hines refers to is bringing them on to make a difference. The only second-year player starting regularly this year will likely be defender Emily Sams, but others have made a difference as substitutes. In two of the first three games this year, 23-year-old midfielder Summer Yates and 19-year-old forward Amanda Allen have been an essential part of goals.

Both players joined the Pride last season, but in different ways. Yates went into the 2023 NWSL Draft as one of the top prospects, but the University of Washington product inexplicably fell to the fourth round where the Pride grabbed her. It was widely seen as possibly the steal of the draft and might very well be so.

A Canadian international, Allen was signed in April of last season. Despite her talent, the 19-year-old was seen as a project with a high ceiling if she developed properly. The two players saw little time on the field during their first NWSL season, combining for 13 appearances and 117 minutes.

While they didn’t have much experience, Hines and Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter were bullish about the pair heading into the season. They felt both had progressed during the off-season and were ready to contribute significantly more than they did in 2023. It didn’t take Hines long to back up those words.

In the first game of the season against Racing Louisville FC and down a goal, Hines replaced Morgan Gautrat with Yates in the 70th minute and Julie Doyle with Allen in the 83rd minute. It didn’t take long for the pair to combine, helping the Pride to their first point of the season. In the 86th minute, Angelina’s free kick was flicked on by Allen, enabling Yates to get the final touch and put away the equalizing goal.

“Summer has put the effort in in the off-season,” Hines said about Yates after that game. “She’s had moments in the preseason where she’s had to come in and make a difference and today, she did exactly what we asked of her. Her effort and even her tenacity defending, which is probably not something she’s comfortable with, but to get the goal, the equalizing goal late in the game shows her worth and what we need for us to move forward.”

The following game at home against Angel City FC, it was Allen again making a difference. Down a goal late, the second-year Pride forward dribbled the ball with power into the Angel City box with time winding down. Madison Curry tipped it away, but Allen stayed with it and won a corner. Angelina’s ensuing set piece found Marta, who volleyed the ball inside the near post for the equalizing goal. While Marta got credit for the point, Allen’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed.

“She (Allen) wins the corner because of the qualities of trying to take players on and also never giving up,” Hines said about the play. “She could’ve easily given up, but she goes, wins it, goes again, and goes again, and wins the corner that ultimately gets us the point.”

Even when the duo aren’t directly involved in goals, they’re making a difference in games. Yates came on in the 72nd minute Friday night against the Chicago Red Stars in a 1-1 match, looking to find a winner. While the team had to settle for another draw, the midfielder made an immediate impact on the game, causing problems for the Chicago defense.

In the 76th minute, the midfielder beat her defender to get a hard shot off that was blocked by Alyssa Naeher. It was hit too well for the USWNT number one to catch it, enabling the Pride to shoot twice more. The play might’ve resulted in a second goal if not for a pair of sliding blocks by defender Natalia Kuikka.

A minute later, Yates was sent behind the Red Stars defense by Marta. She beat Kuikka to the ball and the veteran was forced to attempt a risky challenge. The controversial shoulder challenge saw Yates go to the ground. The video assistant referee called down for a review, which took over six minutes, before it was determined there wasn’t a foul. However, the speed and well-timed run by Yates caused the play that could’ve easily gone either way.

“We’re seeing the rewards of that off-season. She may have scored another goal today, who knows?” Hines said after Friday night’s draw. “But massive compliments to Summer and not just being a substitute, but being a game changer and coming on and making a difference.”

After narrowly missing out on a playoff appearance last year, the Pride are looking to qualify for the first time since 2017 and the second time in team history. They’re going to need quality play from substitutes to achieve that goal and Yates and Allen so far have brought that necessary quality.

In addition to what they provide this year, the duo provide even more reasons for Pride fans to be optimistic about the future. Marta might be in her last professional season, so the Pride could need an attacking replacement next season. While the club could sign a big name to replace the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, they might have her replacement in Yates right now.

As for Allen, it’s difficult to tell where she’ll fit in in the future. The club recently signed Barbra Banda with the second-largest transfer fee in league history. But the Zambian international will spend time away on international duty and they Pride will need others to step up. The forward position is the last one Carter and Hines were looking to focus on and Allen’s performances can make improving the position easier.

The Pride’s rebuild hasn’t been easy with the team losing young talent and a high draft pick. Sams had an excellent season last year, showing a bright future, and this young attacking duo have shown more promise in their second seasons. If they continue to play as they have in their early appearances, they might lift the Pride to unforeseen heights.

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Sign Goalkeeper Kat Asman

The Pride have signed goalkeeper Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 NWSL season.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that the club has signed Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 season. The Portland Thorns selected Asman in the 2024 NWSL Draft.

“Kat is a phenomenal addition to our goalkeeping corps and is someone we expect to provide competition and push this group to be even better than they have been,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “We are so excited for what she brings to the group both on and off the pitch and are confident she will play an important role in our upcoming season. Kat is a great fit for our club, and we look forward to providing her the atmosphere and tools to grow her game and make an impact in Orlando.” 

Asman was selected by the Thorns with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. The Thorns needed a goalkeeper due to starter Bella Bixby’s pregnancy, which would cause her to miss significant time. While the rookie was on the roster, she was behind Shelby Hogan, Mackenzie Arnold, and Lauren Kozal. As a result, she didn’t make any NWSL or NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup appearances in 2024.

The Roswell, GA, native was already fourth-choice goalkeeper and Bixby will likely return to her starting position in 2025, leaving the rookie with no place in the squad. The Pride came to her rescue by signing the 24-year-old to a two-year contract.

“I am extremely excited to join the reigning NWSL champions,” Asman said in the club’s release. “A big reason I felt so drawn to joining the Pride is their drive to creating a connected team culture that thrives on building relationships off the field in order to cultivate results on the field. Over the last season, I’ve been able to watch Orlando have an unforgettable season, and I feel very blessed that I get to be a part of everything this team will continue to build in the future.”

Prior to being drafted by the Thorns, Asman spent four years starting for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where she was a teammate of Pride defenders Kerry Abello and Cori Dyke. She played 87 games in State College with 323 saves and 27 clean sheets. Additionally, she became one of four women in Penn State history to win 50 games.

Internationally, Asman has participated in training camps for the USWNT U-14 through U-18 youth teams.

What It Means for Orlando

This signing may not have much of an impact on the Pride in 2025, although the addition may bring into question Sofia Manner’s future with Orlando. Anna Moorhouse started all 26 regular-season games and all three playoff games in 2024, while McKinley Crone was the backup in all of those games. Manner was only on the team sheet for the Summer Cup matches, playing the second game and being an unused sub in the other two.

The Pride will likely have three goalkeepers on the roster for 2025, meaning one of the four currently under contract is likely on their way out. The club signed Crone to a new contract through 2026 on Sept. 6, indicating she’s part of the Pride’s future plans. With Moorhouse under contract next season, it might mean Manner is departing. The Finnish shot-stopper signed a two-year deal on Dec. 1, 2023, with an option for 2026. But with her lack of ability to lock down even the primary backup role this year, we could see a corresponding move in the coming days.

Regardless of who makes way for Asman, it’s likely she’ll be third string. The club seems content with Moorhouse and Crone as the top two goalkeepers and Asman has yet to make a professional appearance. There isn’t much for Carter to do this off-season to beef up the team, but determining who will be the third goalkeeper next season will be something to watch.

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2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Haley McCutcheon

The veteran midfielder spent her third year in purple and contributed to the team’s run to glory.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Haley McCutcheon was still known as Haley Hanson when she joined the Orlando Pride on Aug. 18, 2022 in a midseason trade with the Houston Dash. The Pride gave up $75,000 in Allocation Money and a second-round draft selection. She joined Orlando for the stretch run, making her debut with the Pride on Aug. 20 in a 2-1 win over Gotham FC. Following the 2022 season, the Nebraska product signed a new contract through 2024 on Oct. 26 of last year. The Pride extended McCutcheon’s stay in Orlando on Dec. 20, 2023 by inking her to a deal through 2026.

Once again, the versatile veteran contributed in a number of different roles on the pitch, but she saved her best for last, scoring her first goals of the season in the Pride’s playoff run, helping Orlando get past Chicago and Kansas City and into the NWSL Championship against Washington.

Let’s look back at McCutcheon’s third year with the Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

McCutcheon appeared in 22 games during the regular season, starting 18 and logging 1,700 minutes, which was the sixth-most playing time among all outfield players behind three of the team’s defenders (Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, and Emily Sams), and attackers Marta and Barbra Banda. Of her 18 starts, the first two games of the season saw her at left back, while she was in the midfield for her last 16 starts, although there were a few moments here and there where she moved around as needed when subs were made.

She did not score a goal or provide an assist in the regular season, largely due to a lack of clinical finishing, as she put only two of her 18 shot attempts on frame. She completed 80.4% of her passes, but tallied no key passes and completed just three crosses and 12 long balls on the season. Defensively, however, she shone brightly with 31 tackles and 23 interceptions, winning 69 headed duels. She committed 16 fouls, drew eight, and was booked twice.

In the NWSL playoffs, McCutcheon started in all three games, logging 270 minutes. She scored two goals, finishing the two of her three shots that hit the target, but did not record an assist or a key pass in the postseason. The midfielder connected on 62.8% of her 75 postseason passes. She contributed three tackles and three interceptions on the defensive end. She committed two fouls, did not draw one on the opposition, and was booked once.

McCutcheon made two appearances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup (both starts), playing 162 minutes. She did not have a goal contribution or attempt a shot, but she was successful on two of three dribble attempts and completed 84% of her 55 passes, albeit without a completed cross or key pass and only one successful long ball. Defensively, she won four of her five tackle attempts (80%), recorded no interceptions, and won a headed duel. She committed two fouls, drew none on the competition, and was not booked. She attempted one penalty shot but saw her potential winning effort saved against North Carolina.

Best Game

There were a few decent options for McCutcheon’s top match of the year, but the standout for me is the Pride’s 3-2 playoff semifinal win over the Kansas City Current on Nov. 17. Ironically, it was one of her poorest passing performances of the season at just a 49% completion rate, but she managed to contribute in important ways on both ends of the pitch.

Her most important contribution came in the 41st minute with Orlando trailing 1-0. Ally Watt took the ball to the end line up the right channel and cut a pass back into the middle of the penalty area. With Adriana and Barbra Banda occupying the defenders, McCutcheon made a smart late run into the box, splitting her two teammates to get into an open area just as the ball arrived. McCutcheon’s first touch was a hard shot close to the goalkeeper, but the movement was too quick for Almuth Schult to recover and keep it out. With her second goal of the postseason, McCutcheon pulled the Pride level and they kicked on to take a 3-1 lead, ultimately winning 3-2 and advancing to the NWSL Championship.

That wasn’t McCutcheon’s only contribution, although it was her only shot attempt of the match. Her 51 touches in the game showed how involved she was, and her two tackles and two interceptions illustrate her importance to the defensive effort as the Pride held off the Current’s desperation rally attempt. She picked up one foul in the game and was booked in the 12th minute of stoppage time after Danielle Chesky awarded Kansas City a penalty, perhaps trying to give Vanessa DiBernardo a little more time to think about it. Aside from her stats and her goal, McCutcheon showed leadership, often pointing out assignments like an extra coach on the field. She was solid throughout Orlando’s postseason run, but this match was probably her biggest contribution to the three-game postseason sweep.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gives McCutcheon a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for the 2024 season. This is an improvement over the 6 we gave her last year and the 5 out of 10 grade she received in 2022. She was in the lineup nearly every game, missing just four games from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11. She sat out two of those (officially) with a knock and the last of those was an extra day of rest after the Pride had clinched the NWSL Shield. Other than that, she was on the field.

2025 Outlook

I don’t expect McCutcheon’s role to change much next season, although Seb Hines might like to get her more rest in 2025. With Luana’s illness and injuries to Angelina and Morgan Gautrat, McCutcheon ate up minutes in the Orlando midfield in 2024. Fewer injuries to that position group and/or adding depth in th off-season — and potentially the development of Ally Lemos — could help McCutcheon manage her minutes next year. Regardless of how much time she spends on the pitch, she will likely be one of the key, and vocal, veteran leaders pushing the Pride forward as they try to defend their NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.


Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

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Orlando Pride Announce Roster Decisions Following 2024 NWSL Season

There aren’t many surprises in the Pride’s roster status update following the 2024 NWSL season.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride updated the team’s roster status today following the 2024 NWSL season and announced some off-season decisions. The team is well intact for the 2025 season with 25 players currently under contract and only four players officially departing.

The players under contract for 2025 or beyond include forwards Amanda Allen, Barbra Banda, Simone Charley, Julie Doyle, Mariana Larroquette, Adriana, and Ally Watt; midfielders Kerry Abello, Angelina, Luana, Grace Chanda, Morgan Gautrat, Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon, Viviana Villacorta, and Summer Yates; defenders Cori Dyke, Brianna Martinez, Carson Pickett, Emily Sams, Rafaelle, and Kylie Strom; and goalkeepers McKinley Crone, Sofia Manner, and Anna Moorhouse.

The long list of players under contract is largely due to the work done during the season to sign several players to new contracts. Yates, Doyle, Gautrat, Crone, Watt, Villacorta, Dyke, Martinez, and Abello all re-signed midseason before their contracts expired.

Celia, Carrie Lawrence, and Megan Montefusco announced their retirements from professional soccer during the season, effective at the end of the year. Additionally, Evelina Duljan is out of contract and the club has decided not to bring the young attacker back.

Probably the biggest news from the updates is that the club is in discussions for club captain Marta to return for the 2025 season. The Brazilian saw her two-year contract expire, but had a resurgence at 38 years old, resulting in being named an NWSL MVP finalist.

Just as important to re-signing players were the midseason contract extensions of Pride Head Coach Seb Hines and Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter. The pair that led the Pride to the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship signed new deals earlier this year through the 2026 season with options for 2027.

What It Means for Orlando

There weren’t going to be any major surprises because 25 of the 30 players were already under contract and three had announced their retirements. Duljan’s departure is a little surprising because she’s only 21 years old and was a highly-touted addition prior to the season. However, she only played in 11 games in all competitions and didn’t appear to be a major factor going forward with the young players in the squad.

The other big news is that the club is in discussions about a return for Marta. The captain has been with the Pride for eight seasons and lost a step after suffering a torn ACL two years ago. However, she was excellent this year, scoring 11 goals and leading the team to the double. The question was whether the club would want to re-sign the attacker — who will be 39 in February — or if she would want to ride off into the sunset with the most successful season in Pride history. The Brazilian sports icon has repeatedly said when asked that she would like to play one to two more years. That being the case, the most likely place for her to do that was in Orlando.

Regardless of the Marta decision, the Pride are in great shape moving forward. They have nearly all of their key players returning next season, setting them up for potentially another run at an NWSL Championship. However, Carter has vowed to continue trying to make the squad better, so having a lot of returning faces doesn’t mean there won’t be some activity this off-season.

Post-2024 Orlando Pride Player Contract Statuses

(Current club players in italics)

  • Kerry Abello — Under Contract
  • Amanda Allen — Under Contract
  • Adriana — Under Contract
  • Angelina — Under Contract
  • Barbra Banda — Under Contract
  • Grace Chanda — Under Contract
  • Simone Charley — Under Contract
  • McKinley Crone — Under Contract
  • Celia — Retired
  • Julie Doyle — Under Contract
  • Evelina Duljan — Out of Contract
  • Cori Dyke — Under Contract
  • Morgan Gautrat — Under Contract
  • Mariana Larroquette — Under Contract
  • Carrie Lawrence — Retired
  • Ally Lemos — Under Contract
  • Luana — Under Contract
  • Sofia Manner — Under Contract
  • Brianna Martinez — Under Contract
  • Haley McCutcheon — Under Contract
  • Megan Montecusco — Retired
  • Anna Moorhouse — Under Contract
  • Marta — Out of Contract
  • Carson Pickett — Under Contract
  • Rafaelle — Under Contract
  • Emily Sams — Under Contract
  • Kylie Strom — Under Contract
  • Viviana Villacorta — Under Contract
  • Ally Watt — Under Contract
  • Summer Yates — Under Contract

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