Big Summer Awaits Orlando Pride Internationals

In front of more than 9,000 fans at Inter&Co Stadium Friday night, the Orlando Pride secured their NWSL-record eighth straight victory. The last time the Pride dropped points was the end of March, prior to the previous international break and before the arrival of Barbra Banda, who has eight goals in only six starts. 

After a busy period in the club calendar, most of the roster will get a well-deserved rest. For several players however, attention now turns to their respective national teams and important tune-up matches before a packed summer headlined by the Paris Olympics in July and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in August and September. 

Orlando’s Global Stars

The Pride roster has often included big names, with Marta being a mainstay in Orlando for years now. After the addition of Banda early in the NWSL season, the Pride now boast a former Best FIFA Women’s Player and one of the top forwards in the world. These stars, and several others who play for the Pride, will likely hope that this summer brings glory in their national team colors before the NWSL playoffs start in the fall.

In the lead-up to the bright lights of the Summer Olympics, Orlando’s Brazilian contingent will head to Brazil for two friendly matches against Jamaica during this international break. Marta, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer at 116 goals, is joined by Rafaelle, the current captain of the national team, and Adriana for the brief trip home. Angelina, a recent regular for the Brazil squad with 23 appearances, is not with the team due to the injury she picked up several matches ago with the Pride.

The trio joining Brazil has a combined 299 appearances for As Canarinhas, including 175 appearances from Marta alone. As veterans of the national team, they will attempt to use this international break to build team cohesion and winning form as the Olympics approach.

For Marta, who has announced her upcoming retirement from international soccer at the end of 2024, playing in the Olympics gives her the opportunity to go out on top with a major trophy. While she doesn’t play quite as many minutes as she used to, she is a valuable leader for the team and a role model and spokeswoman for the sport as a whole.

From the other side of the Atlantic, the Pride’s newest addition, Banda, needs no introduction to the Olympics. In the Tokyo Olympics, she burst onto the world soccer scene with back-to-back hat tricks against the Netherlands and China. Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter described her performances at that tournament as one of the main reasons she brought Banda to Orlando.

Unfortunately for Banda, whose two goals in the final match of African Olympic qualifying clinched Zambia’s spot this summer, off-field issues may prevent Zambia’s inclusion in the tournament. Earlier this year, leaders within Zambian football were arrested for monetary crimes committed in their national team roles, and FIFA has threatened Zambia with suspension from world football. It would be a true shame for the Zambian players, Pride fans, and soccer fans worldwide if Banda is prevented from challenging for an Olympic medal due to the misconduct of her football association’s leaders.

USWNT Hopefuls

Despite the incredible start to the season by the Pride, Orlando’s domestic players are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the United States Women’s National Team. The senior USWNT roster for the current international break did not feature any Pride players, which has been a recurring theme since the departures of Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris. 

The good news for Orlando’s USWNT hopefuls is the official introduction of Emma Hayes, as the new USWNT head coach will bring new eyes to the national team roster. Should the Pride continue to dominate in the NWSL, several of the American players might force Hayes to take a closer look and evaluate who deserves a spot in upcoming camps ahead of the Olympics. 

Of the current Pride roster, Emily Sams, Kerry Abello, and Morgan Gautrat may be closest to national team selection. Sams, a 24-year-old stalwart for a strong defensive unit, has been garnering attention as one of the best players yet to make an appearance in the Red, White & Blue. Considering her age and growth on the pitch, it may just be a matter of time for Sams. Abello, who is also 24, is another younger player who could be a useful depth player for the U.S. due to her versatility on the left side of the pitch. Both Sams and Abello have participated in U.S. Youth National Team camps and should, at the very least, be watched carefully by Hayes and her staff. 

Gautrat, on the other hand, has appeared extensively for the USWNT, with 88 career appearances, most recently in the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. Injuries have been the biggest contributor to her falling out of the USWNT, and she has continued to struggle maintaining full fitness with Orlando. If she is able to recover fully and appear more regularly for the Pride, playing at her best could give herself a shot at the Olympic roster.

Youth Movement

Before players appear for their senior national teams, they often shine for their respective youth teams. Orlando’s roster includes three young players that have been selected recently for youth team events: 19-year-old Amanda Allen, 20-year-old Ally Lemos, and 21-year-old Evelina Duljan. All three regularly participate in camps and friendly matches for their respective U-20 and U-23 squads. 

Duljan has yet to feature for the Pride after signing from Juventus in preseason, but she has played at most youth levels for Sweden. This week, she traveled home to Sweden for a flurry of matches, as her U-23 team plays Austria, Poland, and Germany in quick succession. For Duljan, three matches equals three chances to impress Orlando staff in competitive play in hopes of getting her first minutes for the Pride.

For Allen and Lemos, this summer will include the unique opportunity to participate in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which runs from August to September in Colombia. Allen is well regarded by the Canadian national team, already having made a senior appearance. Lemos, for her part, was among the youngest players ever taken in the NWSL Draft and has featured in nine of 11 matches for the Pride, with two starts. Both players could gain an immense amount of experience and exposure if they participate in the U-20 World Cup this fall, but it is unknown at this time if the Pride will allow them to miss club matches for this experience, although the club has not typically held players out of international competitions in the past. 

While Pride fans love to watch their favorite club, the players often get something extra from representing their country. This summer gives a handful of players the opportunity to compete on the world stage. With so many players featuring regularly for their national teams, Orlando Pride players may have a big say in who takes home the gold, silver, or bronze medals.