Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Final Score 3-2 as Pride Win Third Straight
Despite a second-half goalkeeper error and a red card, the Pride held on to beat the Washington Spirit away from home.
The Orlando Pride (3-0-3, 12 points) won their third consecutive game and second away from home with a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Washington Spirit (4-2-0, 12 points) at Audi Field. Angelina, Barbra Banda, and Summer Yates scored for the Pride while the Spirit goals came from Ouleye Sarr and an Anna Moorhouse gaffe that was credited to Ashley Hatch.
Pride Head Coach Seb Hines had a weakened team for this game with Marta and Adriana both out injured. However, Rafaelle returned to the starting lineup and Banda got her first start for the team. The inclusion of Rafaelle saw Abello move to her natural attacking position and Kylie Strom back to her usual left back position.
The back line in front of Moorhouse was Strom, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Bri Martinez. Angelina and Haley McCutcheon were in the defensive midfield behind an attacking midfield of Julie Doyle, Yates, and Abello with Banda up top.
Washington dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and it appeared as though it would be a long night for the Pride. But Orlando held much more possession after Angelina’s goal and looked much more threatening in the attack. Up 3-1, a Moorhouse mistake got the Spirit back into the game and they struggled to hold onto a 3-2 lead when Martinez was sent off for a second yellow. But they withstood the constant attack by the opposition in second-half stoppage time, taking home all three points.
The hosts had the first decent attack in the second minute when Trinity Rodman received the ball from Sarr and carried it towards the end line. However, Martinez did well to keep up and knocked the ball out for a corner kick. Andi Sullivan’s ensuing set piece didn’t amount to anything and the Pride were able to clear.
In the ninth minute, Paige Metayer was sent down the right by Rodman. Cutting inside to beat Sams, Metayer passed it over for Sarr, but the striker slipped while attempting to shoot and sent the ball directly to Moorhouse.
Rodman was again involved in a chance for the Spirit in the 16th minute. However, this time it was an individual effort. Receiving the ball on the left, the midfielder cut inside for some space and fired a shot between two defenders from the top corner of the box. It was an ambitious attempt, but the attacker struck it well and forced Moorhouse into a diving stop.
The Pride had their first decent chance in the 19th minute when Angelina lifted the ball into the Spirit box looking for Doyle, who was making a run. Unfortunately, the cross was too close to Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, who easily collected it.
The Spirit dominated the first 20 minutes, but the visitors scored first against the run of play in the 22nd minute. It started on the right when Yates won the ball from Hal Hershfelt. The midfielder sent it down the right, where Banda beat her defender, retrieving the ball before it reached the end line. The Zambian international quickly sent a cross toward the penalty spot where Angelina was darting in. The Brazilian met the ball just as it hit the ground, striking it beyond the reach of Kingsbury and into the corner to give the Pride the 1-0 lead.
“It was a good play because I made an effort to make that play,” Banda said about her assist.
“And I think definitely my teammates were aware that maybe I ought to put a cross, which definitely I did and it was so amazing.”
“It’s a great ball from Barbara to Ang,” Hines added. “And it was a great finish.”
The Spirit immediately went forward after the restart, looking to take back control of the game. Sarr got a shot off in traffic, but it was blocked. The rebound went right to Sullivan and the defensive midfielder fired from long distance, sending it well over the target.
Rodman had been quiet after the Pride goal, but made a good run in the 36th minute that included a give-and-go with Croix Bethune. Rodman sent a cross for Bethune that was intercepted by Angelina. However, Hershfelt took possession and shot from outside of the box, sending the ball wide.
In the 38th minute, chaos in the Spirit box nearly resulted in a second goal for the Pride. It started when Annaig Butel beat Banda to the ball and knocked it out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece was just over the fingers of Kingsbury and landed at Abello with her back to goal. Unfortunately, she didn’t have room to turn, dropping it to McCutcheon at the top of the box instead. McCutcheon’s shot was blocked by Hershfelt, but Yates sent the ball back into the box and, after bouncing around some more, ended up with Banda, who got a shot off. However, her attempt was just over the crossbar.
Shortly after the Pride narrowly missed out on doubling their lead, Washington found its equalizer. Sams lost the ball near midfield to Bethune, who quickly played it forward for Sarr. Rafaelle slid in an attempt to intercept the pass, but missed and Sarr was in on goal. Moorhouse looked indecisive about coming out, enabling Sarr to chip the goalkeeper and even the game at 1-1.
A minute later, the Spirit had a chance to take the lead when Rodman sent Bethune behind the Pride defense on the right. The midfielder opened up her body in an attempt to curl the ball inside the far post, but it was too close to Moorhouse, who was able to catch the attempt.
In the 43rd minute, Sullivan sent the ball forward for Sarr, who was defended by McCutcheon. Entering the box, McCutcheon attempted a tackle that resulted in Sarr going to the ground as she sent the ball across the goal mouth. After a check by the video assistant referee, Rebecca Pagan went to the monitor to check for a potential penalty, but determined the play was offside.
That was the final chance for either team as the game went into halftime even at 1-1. After 45 minutes of play, Washington had more possession (56%-44%), shots (7-5), and shots on target (5-4), and better passing accuracy (79%-76%). The Pride had more crosses (5-4), and both teams took one corner kick.
“First half, it was real quiet and we kind of let the crowd take over. But in the locker room we were like, we’ve got to talk, we’ve got to demand more of each other,” Doyle said about the mood at halftime. “We’ve got to throw in some tackles. I think we’re just, including myself, being way too soft first half.”
It didn’t take long for the Pride to strike in the second half. In the 49th minute, Martinez sent a cross into the box that went just over the head of Yates. Abello recovered the ball on the far side and attempted a cross, but Gabby Carle blocked it out of play.
The ensuing corner kick by Yates was to the near post where it found Doyle. The midfielder flicked it on for Banda who headed the ball in for her first NWSL goal and gave the Pride a 2-1 lead.
“Actually, I didn’t expect it,” Banda said about her goal. “But I think it went according to the plan from training because I think I took the position I was told to pick and I definitely picked that spot and I put the ball in the back of the net.”
“It’s something we’ve been working on in practice and it was working,” Doyle said about the play designed on the training field. “Summer said she meant to play me the ball near post. She saw that I was wide open and I know I just got to flick it in into the squad and I was just so happy for Barbara to finish that because that wasn’t an easy finish and she made it look easy.”
Yates nearly had a goal of her own in the 53rd minute when Angelina sent a dangerous cross into the box. The second-year midfielder made a great run through three defenders, but the cross was too close to Kingsbury, who grabbed it.
A minute later, the Pride had an even better chance when they won a penalty. It started when a poor clearance was won by Yates in the box. Her first touch was controlled by Banda, who took a dribble to beat Butel. The center back attempted a clumsy challenge, taking the forward down. Pagan didn’t hesitate to point to the spot, giving the Pride an excellent chance to take a two-goal lead.
Angelina initially held the ball near penalty spot, but handed it off to Yates to take the kick. Despite her youth, Yates was very confident, sending Kingsbury the wrong way and putting a strong shot into the left corner to give her team a commanding 3-1 lead.
Up two goals, Hines made his first change of the game in the 64th minute. After another excellent performance, Yates was replaced by forward Ally Watt.
In the 65th minute, the Spirit got one back, though not really through their own efforts. Hatch, a regular starter that came on at halftime, sent a long, looping shot towards the far post. It was an easy play for Moorhouse and the goalkeeper should’ve caught the ball. But it went right through her hands and into the far side of the goal, cutting the deficit in half.
Rodman had a chance to equalize in the 68th minute when she received the ball on the right from Casey Krueger. The attacker dribbled inside against McCutcheon, who didn’t close her down, and got a shot off. However, Sams did well to come over and block the shot over the goal.
In the 74th minute, Doyle found Banda on the left. The forward beat substitute Anna Heilferty and sent a cross across the mouth of the goal, but nobody in orange was there to get on the end of it. Watt initially won possession and lost it to Krueger. However, she quickly won it back and played it to Doyle, who immediately laid it off for Banda. The striker sent another ball towards goal but right to Kingsbury.
Hines made two more changes in the 81st minute and they were defensive ones. Defenders Carrie Lawrence and Cori Dyke replaced midfielders Angelina and Doyle. It was Dyke’s professional debut and Lawrence’s first appearance since tearing her ACL prior to the 2023 NWSL season.
“Carrie’s one of the longest serving players here and it’s a big moment for her,” Hines said after the game. “I know she’s gone through a lot all of last year missing out, watching the team go out there and perform, and just biding her time, being patient. And we felt today was the right moment for her to come on and make a difference. And it’s a big moment for her. We’re super proud of her and it takes a lot of dedication to put yourself in that position. So yeah, we’re pleased with her and also there’s Cori Dyke getting her debut as well, because I know she’s been patiently waiting for a moment and her opportunity.”
As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, a Pride corner kick was cleared out. Rodman sprinted out on the break, chased down by Martinez. The defender grabbed at her and Rodman went down. Since Martinez was playing on a yellow, Pagan took her time to consider her decision, but eventually pulled out the card. The second booking for Martinez meant the Pride were down to 10 players for the 11 minutes of stoppage time.
Hines made his final change in the sixth minute of stoppage time. It was a defensive move as left back Celia came into the game, replacing Abello.
The Spirit nearly found an equalizer in the seventh minute, when Hatch hit the crossbar on the half valley. The ball bounced to Metayer, who beat Sams to it, but her header was over the goal.
In the 10th minute of stoppage time, a ball into the box was flicked on by the head of Sullivan. Rodman got her head onto it and put it on goal, but couldn’t get much on the attempt, enabling Moorhouse to make the easy stop.
It was a long time to hold onto a one-goal lead with 10 players and they almost conceded an equalizer, but the final whistle gave the Pride a 3-2 win.
“I trust them. They’ve been through enough scenarios like that,” Hines said about holding onto the one-goal lead with 10 players. “It’s a mentality. You have to embrace it. You have to take the bull by its horns, it’s coming. You know that Washington are a direct team, they’re gonna push numbers forward. They’re going to be very physical and I thought for some periods of the game, we stood up to that challenge. Certainly at the end with 10 players and your backs are against the wall and you’re having to deal with the directness and putting your body on the line and I felt the players did a terrific job in handling that. We obviously rode our luck as well with them hitting the crossbar, but you need a little bit of luck at times as well.”
At full time, Washington had more possession (59%-41%), shots (16-9), and shots on target (11-7), and better passing accuracy (80%-69%). The Pride ended the game with more corner kicks (4-3) and crosses (16-9).
“More relief than anything,” Hines said about the result. “If we dissect the game, I thought we started, although we took the lead, I thought we started slow. We didn’t really start ourselves. We were very lethargic. I thought Washington started on the front foot, putting us under real pressure.
“I think the disappointing part from our side is that we gifted them two goals today. In this league, you can’t give teams goals because they’ll punish you. And so it’s a good reminder that we have to keep our standards high. Stick to who we are, stick to our identity. And I’m super proud of the players to not only see the game out 3-2, but with 10 players also. It shows another side to our game. So I’m super proud of them and their efforts and everything that they put into the game today.”
The Pride have now won three consecutive games, including two on the road, and are still unbeaten through the first six games this season. They’re one of three unbeaten teams (pending the Kansas City Current’s outcome) in the NWSL, along with the Current and Racing Louisville FC. It’s the team’s longest unbeaten run and winning streak since 2022.
This is the first of three games in 10 days for the Pride. They’ll return home on Wednesday night as they host the North Carolina Courage.
Orlando Pride
2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Marta
The captain once again provided the competitive spark for the Pride in 2025.
Marta signed with the Orlando Pride way back in 2017. She has been the constant for the club through ups and mostly downs. That all changed last season as she captained her club to two trophies. In 2022, she signed a new two-year contract, taking her through 2024. She then signed yet another two-year contract through 2026.
Marta didn’t have the same type of year as she did in 2024, but she was still one of the better players for the Pride. She remains the heart of this team, showing the others what passion and effort looks like even as she edges closer to the end of her playing career. Let’s take a look at the GOAT’s 2025 season.
Statistical Breakdown
Marta started and played the full 90 minutes in the 2025 Challenge Cup match. She did not record a goal contribution and took two off-target shots. However, her free kick was blocked, resulting in Rafaelle’s opening goal. Marta also set a shot up for the defender in the match but the effort was off target. The Brazilian legend completed 26 of her 37 passes (82%), took four corner kicks, and she did not record a completed long ball. Defensively, she recorded three tackles and won three headed duels. She committed one foul, drew one on the Washington Spirit, and was not booked.
During the regular season, Marta made 22 appearances (18 starts), playing 1,599 minutes. She contributed four goals and an assist, putting 13 of her 27 shots on target. She completed 519 of her 731 passes (71%), 13 crosses, and two of her four long balls (50%) with 43 chances created. On the defensive end, the Brazilian contributed 22 tackles, 19 interceptions, and one blocked shot. She committed 14 fouls, drew 28 on the opposition, and was not booked.
Marta started both playoff games, playing all 180 minutes. She took one shot but did not record a goal contribution, although she was involved in both goals against the Reign, working a give-and-go with Julie Doyle prior to Haley McCutcheon’s opening goal and drawing the penalty that handed Luana the late insurance tally. The captain completed 52 of her 69 passes (75.4%), including three of her six long balls (50%) and four key passes. She recorded one tackle, two interceptions, and one clearance defensively while committing one foul, drawing six on her opponents, and being booked once.
Marta participated in one of the Concacaf W Champions Cup matches against Pachuca. She played all 90 minutes and scored the Pride’s only goal on two shots, one of which was on target. She completed 27 of 34 passes (79%). Defensively, she recorded three tackles, while committing two fouls, and suffering two fouls. She was not booked.
Best Game
While Marta had several good games, I think her best game was the Pride’s 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18. Marta was named Player of the Match by both Michael Citro and myself on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast. The captain caused an own goal and scored on a penalty kick to give the Pride an important road win heading into the playoffs. Washington scored first on a Kerry Abello own goal, but Abello then corrected that mistake by scoring one for her own team minutes later. The Spirit took the lead again and held it at halftime. Seb Hines substituted Marta in at the start of the second half, and it’s a good thing he did. It literally only took her 52 seconds to even the score.
In the 70th minute, Ally Watt was fouled in the box, setting up a penalty for the Pride. There was no doubt who would take the kick, and it turned out there was no doubt Marta would bury it in the back of the net for the winning goal.
Marta might have only played 45 minutes plus stoppage but her impact was monumental. In this match, she took one shot, which was on target, scoring the aforementioned goal. She had 27 touches, completed nine of her 13 passes (70%), two of her three long balls (67%) and took one corner kick. Defensively, she contributed one block and one clearance. She committed one foul, did not suffer any fouls, and was not booked.
2025 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Marta a composite rating of 7 out of 10 for her ninth season with the club. This was a point lower than the 8 we gave her last year. Much like many of the Pride’s players, Marta’s 2025 wasn’t as good as her 2024, but she was still a critical part of the successes of the team. In 2024, she had a banner year, but despite being a year older, she was still productive in 2025.
2026 Outlook
The 39-year-old is entering the last year of her contract, and it would be surprising — though not totally inconceivable —that she will get another. Despite the fact she will turn 40-years-old before the beginning of the season, she will remain the Pride’s captain as long as she can take to the pitch. Assuming she’s healthy, there’s no reason to assume she can’t contribute to at least the same level as she did in 2025. There’s even a possibility that she finds something closer to her 2024 form. No one plays with more passion than Marta, and I will not doubt what she can do when she has the look in her eye.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Luana (11/17/25)
- Cosette Morché (11/18/25)
- Elyse Bennett (11/19/25)
- Simone Charley (11/20/25)
- McKinley Crone (11/20/25)
- Grace Chanda (11/21/25)
- Viviana Villacorta (11/22/25)
- Summer Yates (11/23/25)
- Julie Doyle (11/24/25)
- Simone Jackson (11/25/25)
- Zara Chavosi (11/26/25)
- Oihane (11/27/25)
- Cori Dyke (11/28/25)
- Ally Lemos (11/29/25)
- Kylie Nadaner (11/30/25)
- Rafaelle (12/1/25)
- Kerry Abello (12/4/25)
- Haley McCutcheon (12/4/25)
- Angelina (12/5/25)
- Barbra Banda (12/6/25)
- Anna Moorhouse (12/7/25)
- Emily Sams (12/8/25)
- Jacquie Ovalle (12/10/25)
This concludes our 2025 Orlando Pride player-by-player Season in Review series. We hope you’ve enjoyed looking back on the players’ performances from the past year as we move closer toward seeing what lies ahead in 2026.
Orlando Pride
2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Jacquie Ovalle
The Pride broke the world transfer record to land the Mexican international in 2025.
The Orlando Pride signed Mexican international winger Jacquie Ovalle for a then-world record transfer fee on Aug. 21, acquiring the attacker’s services from Tigres UANL in Liga MX Femenil. While the club did not announce the transfer fee, it was reportedly around $1.5 million. That transfer record has since been broken a couple of times since, but it was an ambitious move by the Pride to try to provide Barbra Banda a playmaking wing of the highest caliber.
The move ultimately didn’t pay many dividends in 2025, as Banda went down with a season-ending injury before Ovalle arrived, and the Mexican international struggled to get comfortable with her new team, the new league, and a new culture in what could best be described as an inconsistent performance after she joined the Pride.
Let’s take a look at Ovalle’s first season in the City Beautiful.
Statistical Breakdown
Ovalle was signed well after the season-opening NWSL Challenge Cup, so she saw no action in the competition. She made her Pride debut in the regular season on Sept. 7 off the bench. It was an inauspicious start, as Orlando got flattened 5-2 at Chicago that day, with all of the goals happening in the second half. Ovalle played in eight regular-season matches with Orlando, starting seven and logging 666 minutes. She contributed a goal and two assists in her time on the pitch with the Pride, attempting 20 shots and putting seven on target. She completed 84% of her 201 passes during the regular season, with 18 key passes. Ovalle was accurate on 19 of her 48 crosses (39.6%) and three of her seven long balls (42.9%). Defensively, Ovalle chipped in 13 tackles, three interceptions, and five clearances but no blocks during the regular season. She committed six fouls, drew five, and received one yellow card.
In the playoffs, Ovalle started both of the Pride’s matches and played 173 minutes. She did not log a goal contribution in the postseason, putting one of her six shot attempts on target. The winger completed 34 of her 42 passes (81%) with two key passes but completed just three of her 13 crosses and neither of her two long balls. On the defensive end, Ovalle recorded three tackles, one clearance, and two interceptions. She committed three fouls, drew two on her opponents, and was not booked.
Ovalle appeared in two of Orlando’s games in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, logging 57 minutes off the bench without a goal contribution, attempting one off-target shot. She completed 10 of her 13 passes (76.9%) without a key pass, chipping in three tackles on the defensive end. She committed two fouls, drew two on her opponents, and she wasn’t booked in the competition.
Best Game
There were a few possible games to choose from in this category, and while I was close to choosing the match with her lone goal of the season (Sept. 26 in a 2-1 road win over San Diego), I ended up going a different route. Still, she scored a nice goal, so here it is:
Instead, I’m going back to her first NWSL start. Ovalle started for Orlando for the first time on Sept. 13 in a 1-1 home draw against Bay FC. She was excellent all game long, but her best moment came in the 70th minute, when La Maga sent in a perfect cross for Ally Watt to flick home with a header to equalize, rescuing a point for Orlando.
Ovalle was Fotmob’s highest rated player in the match from either side with a rating of 8.4 and was a danger all night. She fired eight shot attempts, putting three on target and one off the woodwork. She also completed six of her nine crosses in the game, creating four scoring chances in the game with key passes. One of those should have been an assist on a Marta goal on a beautiful back-post ball, but the captain hit the left post with her shot. She chipped in two tackles, one interception, a clearance, and a recovery on the defensive end, committing two fouls and drawing one in what was a standout performance.
2025 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Ovalle a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for her 2025 season. While the Mexican winger played inconsistently, that was to be expected after a midseason move to a new team that was missing its attacking focal point with Banda out. There were signs of the kind of magic moments Ovalle can bring to the Pride attack, they were too few and far between. In fairness, in most of the matches she played there was no one close to her level in the attack with her, and she looked at times too eager to make something happen. Three goal contributions isn’t bad for her first eight NWSL games, but Ovalle clearly needs another threat up top with her to help provide her the space she needs to shoot or deliver one of her lethal passes.
2026 Outlook
Ovalle will be a starter next season and will get to go through a full preseason training camp with the club, which should help her get a better understanding of both what Seb Hines wants from her and how her teammates like to play. She should also get to play with Banda (finally), which could create one of the most dynamic attacking tandems in the league, because some of Banda’s struggles were due to poor service, which Ovalle can help with, and some of Ovalle’s issues were down to a lack of the kind of quick, decisive attacking movements that Banda provides. I expect Ovalle’s production in both goals and assists to jump in 2026 for multiple reasons, but with a healthy Banda, there will be a lot more room for her (and Marta) to operate. A front line of Marta, Banda, and Ovalle is tantalizing.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Luana (11/17/25)
- Cosette Morché (11/18/25)
- Elyse Bennett (11/19/25)
- Simone Charley (11/20/25)
- McKinley Crone (11/20/25)
- Grace Chanda (11/21/25)
- Viviana Villacorta (11/22/25)
- Summer Yates (11/23/25)
- Julie Doyle (11/24/25)
- Simone Jackson (11/25/25)
- Zara Chavosi (11/26/25)
- Oihane (11/27/25)
- Cori Dyke (11/28/25)
- Ally Lemos (11/29/25)
- Kylie Nadaner (11/30/25)
- Rafaelle (12/1/25)
- Kerry Abello (12/4/25)
- Haley McCutcheon (12/4/25)
- Angelina (12/5/25)
- Barbra Banda (12/6/25)
- Anna Moorhouse (12/7/25)
- Emily Sams (12/8/25)
Orlando Pride
2025 Orlando Pride Season In Review: Emily Sams
The center back was once again one of the best defenders for the Pride, helping them reach their second straight NWSL semifinal.
The Orlando Pride drafted defender Emily Sams with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. The former Florida State player signed with the National Women’s Soccer League through 2025 and was loaned to Swedish side BK Hacken FF prior to being selected by the Pride and signing a three-year contract through the 2026 season.
Sams had a breakout year in 2024, winning NWSL Defender of the Year and helping the club win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. She signed a new deal on Feb. 13, 2025, keeping her in purple through the 2027 NWSL season.
The defender showed her versatility this year, playing several games at right back and center back. She was another key player in a successful season for the Pride, helping them to finish fourth in the league and reach the NWSL semifinals.
Let’s take a look at the defender’s 2025 NWSL campaign.
Statistical Breakdown
The defender’s first appearance this year came in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit. Sams started and played all 90 minutes without recording any shots or goal contributions. She completed 44 of her 52 passes (87%), including four long balls. Defensively, Sams recorded a tackle, an interception, and an aerial duel won.
Sams played in 25 of the team’s 26 regular-season games, starting 24 times and playing 2,183 minutes — the second-most minutes of any Pride player and the most by an outfield player. She took two shots without putting any on target, so she obviously didn’t score any goals. The defender completed 1,284 of her 1,457 passes (88.1%), including 85 of her 146 long balls (58.2%), but didn’t record any assists. Defensively, she added 42 tackles, 33 interceptions, 92 clearances, and 13 blocks. She committed 11 fouls, suffered 25, and was booked once with a yellow card.
Sams started both playoff games, playing all 180 minutes. She didn’t take any shots or record a goal contribution, completing 82 of her 97 passes (84.5%), including five of her 12 long balls (41.7%). She recorded three tackles, four interceptions, a block, and 10 clearances defensively while committing two fouls, drawing five on her opponents, and being booked once.
While a primary starter in the regular season, Sams only played in three of the four Concacaf W Champions Cup games, starting two and playing 164 minutes without a goal contribution. She took one shot that was off target and completed 85 of her 100 passes (85.%). The defender had five tackles and wasn’t booked.
Best Game
Sams’ best game came on Oct. 18 when the Pride traveled to Washington, D.C. for an afternoon clash with the Washington Spirit. The Pride came back from two deficits to defeat their rivals 3-2 and claim a huge three points.
Sams started alongside Rafaelle at center back and was excellent. She completed 41 of her 46 passes (89%), including both long balls, a key pass, and three into the final third. She finished with one tackle, five clearances, four interceptions, and four recoveries. The defender won two of her four duels (50%) in a game where she helped the Pride keep their late lead.
2025 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Sams a 7 out of 10 for the 2025 NWSL season. It’s a decrease from her exceptional 9 in 2024, but still higher than her 6.5 grade in 2023. The grade ties Sams with Rafaelle for the second-highest grade on the team, one point behind Barbra Banda, who was given an eight for her injury-shortened season. Overall, Sams was excellent this year and fully deserves one of the highest grades as she further cements herself as one of the best defenders in the NWSL.
2026 Outlook
Perhaps no player on the Pride is a more definite starter next season than Sams. She’s arguably the team’s best defender and has been a mainstay in the starting lineup over the past three seasons. Her new contract in February means she’ll remain in purple through the 2027 season.
The only question will be where she plays. She’s started at center back and right back several times over the past two seasons, but is best in the middle of the field. However, when Kylie Nadaner and Rafaelle are available, Pride Head Coach Seb Hines has opted to use her at right back.
Regardless, there’s no question that Sams will be a regular starter on the Pride back line as long as she remains healthy. Her presence is something that will be essential if the Pride hope to make a run for a second NWSL Championship next season.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Luana (11/17/25)
- Cosette Morché (11/18/25)
- Elyse Bennett (11/19/25)
- Simone Charley (11/20/25)
- McKinley Crone (11/20/25)
- Grace Chanda (11/21/25)
- Viviana Villacorta (11/22/25)
- Summer Yates (11/23/25)
- Julie Doyle (11/24/25)
- Simone Jackson (11/25/25)
- Zara Chavosi (11/26/25)
- Oihane (11/27/25)
- Cori Dyke (11/28/25)
- Ally Lemos (11/29/25)
- Kylie Nadaner (11/30/25)
- Rafaelle (12/1/25)
- Kerry Abello (12/4/25)
- Haley McCutcheon (12/4/25)
- Angelina (12/5/25)
- Barbra Banda (12/6/25)
- Anna Moorhouse (12/7/25)
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