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How Orlando Pride Players Have Performed in Olympics Past and Present and Predictions for the Future

A deep dive into the history of the Orlando Pride at the Summer Olympics.

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1 month ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Charles Dickens I am not, but being that much of the women’s soccer world is focused on the Olympic football (soccer) tournament, I want to write a little about the (ghosts of) Orlando Pride’s Olympics past, present, and future. The good news is that we are going to be looking at the fun topic of players who played, or still play, for the Pride. The bad news is, again, you will be reading my prose and not that of Charles Dickens.

It would take some real David Copperfield (you English majors out there see what I did there) type magic for Dickens to write this since he died in 1870, 26 years before the first-ever Summer Olympics and 126 years before the inclusion of women’s soccer in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. We will not be going all the way back to 1996, but let’s go back to 2016 and 2021 (and yet, somehow, also 2020), and from there we will look at the current Paris games and I will close with a prediction about which Pride players I think have a chance to participate in a future Olympiad.

The Pride’s inaugural season was 2016, and that team sent five players to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics: Steph Catley and Laura Alleway represented Australia; Mônica represented Brazil; Josée Bélanger represented Canada; and the face of the franchise, Alex Morgan, represented the U.S. All four nations advanced out of the group stage and into the knockout stage, and all of the Pride players averaged playing at least 60 minutes per match, with two players even averaging more than 90 minutes per match due to playing in games where there was extra time.

Here is a chart of some of the 2016 Pride players’ key statistics during those Olympic games, laid next to their stats from the NWSL season (all data from fbref.com, and it should be noted that Alleway, Catley, and Mônica were defenders):

A few items on these players and their performances in the 2016 Olympics:

  • There were several Pride vs. Pride matchups, with only Morgan going through the tournament without seeing one of her teammates on the opposing side of the field.
  • Canada defeated Brazil in the third-place game, with both Bélanger and Mônica going the full 90 for their respective teams. Also on the field during that match for Brazil were future Pride players Marta and Rafaelle, though neither were playing in the NWSL at the time.
  • Morgan’s two goals tied her for sixth in the Olympics, despite the Yanks’ early departure in the quarterfinals, when they were defeated by Sweden.
  • It is rather crazy to see that both Alleway and Mônica averaged more than 90 minutes per game, but Brazil went into extra time in two separate matches and Australia did in one.

The next Olympics should have been during the 2020 season, but despite the branding staying as the 2020 Summer Olympics, the games actually took place in 2021 in Japan due the pandemic. The Pride sent four players to Japan: Marta represented Brazil; Erin McLeod represented Canada; Ali Riley represented New Zealand; and Morgan once again represented the United States.

New Zealand did not make it out of the group stage, but the other three nations did, with Brazil losing in the quarterfinals, the U.S. winning bronze, and Canada winning the gold medal. It was somewhat of a backwards performance for the Pride players, as the best two individual performers (Marta, Riley) had their teams go out the earliest, and of the two who earned medals, one did not play at all (McLeod, who was a backup goalkeeper) and the other had a poor performance by her high standards (Morgan).

Here is a chart of some of the 2021 Pride players’ key statistics during those Olympic games laid next to their stats from the NWSL season (note: McLeod was an unused goalkeeper in the Olympics and Riley is a defender):

A few items on these players and their performances in the “2020” Olympics held in 2021:

  • There were once again several Pride vs. Pride matchups, and this time every Pride player played at least one game against a teammate. Well, McLeod did not play, but you know what I meant. You did. I know you did.
  • Both Marta and Riley were the captains for their respective nations, though neither captained even one match throughout the entire 2021 Pride season (Ashlyn Harris captained most matches, with Ali Krieger and Toni Pressley captaining the other matches).
  • Marta’s three goals tied her for eighth overall, and when she scored her first goal it marked the fifth — let me repeat the fifth — straight Olympics where she had scored at least one goal. Ranking second overall in goals scored during that Olympics? A 19-year-old Barbra Banda, then playing her club soccer in the Chinese Women’s Super League.

This brings us to the current Olympiad, in which the Pride are tied with Gotham FC for the highest representation across the NWSL with seven players on Olympic rosters: Adriana, Angelina, Marta and Rafaelle representing Brazil; Emily Sams representing the U.S.; and Banda and Grace Chanda representing Zambia.

The tournament is still ongoing, so these stats may change, but here is how the players have been doing thus far, as compared to their NWSL stats (Angelina is an alternate for Brazil and was in the lineup for only one match, and Sams is an alternate for the USA and was in the lineup for only one match. Chanda was only recently signed by the Pride, so she has not yet dressed for a Pride match.):

A few items on these players and their performances in the 2024 Olympics:

  • Thus far, there have not been any Pride vs. Pride matchups. Although the U.S. played Zambia, Sams was not in the lineup for that match.
  • Banda scored her third career Olympic hat trick in Zambia’s matchup against Australia, which makes her the only woman ever with three hat tricks in the Olympics. She now has scored 10 goals total in her Olympic career, which ranks her tied for fourth all-time on the Olympic scoring list.
  • Marta is playing in her sixth straight Olympics. Very few athletes in any sport are able to compete in six consecutive Olympics, and those who do generally play in sports which require less physical exertion than that is required from soccer (shooting, equestrian and sailing have the most athletes who have six or more Olympic appearances) .
  • Both Rafaelle and Chanda suffered injuries and missed games during the group stage.
  • Banda and Marta both captained their teams in every game they played.
  • Brazil and the U.S. have both advanced to the quarterfinals, while Zambia is out, so the stats for Banda and Chanda are final, but the stats for the other five Pride players could change.

I would be remiss not to mention that Marta has said she will be retiring from playing for Brazil after this season, but I certainly hope that she plays at least one more match for the Seleção (Brazil’s nickname for their national team), so that her final match for her country does not end with her having received a straight red card, which is currently the case after Brazil’s match against Spain on Wednesday. Marta will be suspended for the quarterfinal match, but if Brazil wins, I am sure she will be back in the lineup for the semifinal.

That said, let’s transition to looking at the future and consider which current Pride players are most likely to make an appearance in a future Olympiad. Looking at this by nation:

Argentina — Mariana Larroquette started all three matches during the 2023 World Cup and is still a common call-up for the national team. Argentina has a decent chance to qualify for an Olympics, though it did not this year, but Larroquette may need to be playing more minutes to still be a viable selection in four years, and minutes are going to be hard to come by for the Pride as long as Banda is still on the team. My confidence level (on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the highest level of confidence): 2.

Brazil — Luana, Marta, and Rafaelle will be likely nearing the end of their careers or possibly already retired in four years (and Luana’s soccer future is currently uncertain), so although I would never put anything past any professional athlete, I am going to remove all three from consideration. That leaves Adriana and Angelina from the Brazilian contingent, and I think it is likely Brazil will qualify and that both have excellent chances of being on that team in four years. My confidence levels: Adriana 7, Angelina 9.

Canada — Amanda Allen has already been called up to the senior team once and has played frequently for the youth national teams of Canada, one of the strongest teams in the world. Canada is likely to make every Olympic tournament until other nations in Concacaf get stronger, and since Allen is only 19, she likely has several chances to make the team at least once. She will have the same issue as Larroquette in terms of earning minutes while on the Pride, but I think her talent will get her on the field somewhere, and she will make a future Canadian Olympic Team. My confidence level: 9.

England — Anna Moorhouse was called into camp for England just a few weeks ago on the strength of a solid performance in the first few months of this season. England is very deep in goalkeeping talent though, with three players around her age or younger with eight or more starts for England and several others who are starters in the Women’s Super League in their home country. England also did not qualify for this year’s Olympics, and is in a difficult area of the world to feel confident that it will qualify in the next cycle. My confidence level: 1.

Spain — Celia has not played for the national team since 2019, and being that Spain is the reigning World Cup champion, it feels unlikely she will return to the team in the near future, let alone in four years’ time. My confidence level: 1.

Sweden — Evelina Duljan is in a similar situation to Allen, though at a different position and at a slightly older age. Duljan has played quite a few matches for the youth national teams of Sweden and seems a likely part of the senior team’s future, but she will need to get minutes at the club level in the next few years. As fellow Mane Land writer Sean Rollins wrote recently, the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup (which should be sponsored by Dos Equis…think about it), is a great opportunity to get some minutes for players like Duljan, who have been on the bench for most of the season. Sweden did not qualify for the 2024 Olympics and is in the tough European region, so that does knock down my confidence level for Duljan, but she is still young enough that I think she will have multiple chances in her future. My confidence level: 5.

United States — Americans make up approximately half of all members of the Pride, but I think really only a few have a chance to play for the national team: Ally Lemos, Emily Sams, and Summer Yates. Although Yates has played for the youth national team in the past and is having an excellent second season in the NWSL, I think she is a longshot to get a call-up and to be on the the team for the next Olympics, even though I have been impressed by her play this season. Lemos has been part of the youth national team since she was 14 and frequently starts for the U-20 team. She is one of only 37 players in NWSL history to have played more than 250 minutes in a season at the age of 20 or younger. I think she has a decent chance to be called up the senior national team, and then she will have a chance to prove herself and earn a full-time role. Sams is already on the team today as an alternate (recently moved to the active roster as a replacement for the injured Tierna Davidson) and will definitely be involved in the program during the next few years. My confidence levels: Lemos 5, Sams 8, Yates 2.

Zambia — Without Banda, it is doubtful that Zambia makes the Olympics, so as she goes, they go. She is one of the best players in the world, and I think she can get the team into the Olympics on her own at least once, if not multiple times during the rest of her career. Chanda I have not seen enough from yet, but she made the team and played in this Olympics and is still young enough (27) that she likely would be in contention if Zambia qualifies for 2028 and possibly also 2032. My confidence levels: Banda 10, Chanda 6.

So, there it is. I am not Jacob Marley, but we were visited by the ghosts of Pride Olympic past, present, and future, and hopefully for all of you it was as enjoyable a read as are the sounds of the music of another famous Marley — Bob, who obviously would have been a Pride fan. All the remaining Pride players will play again on Saturday in the Olympic quarterfinals, and the bracket is set up for a possible Brazil vs. U.S. gold medal game if each team can win two more games.

I will be rooting for that final, as even though it would delay the return of five players, it would be amazing to see Marta potentially close out her international career with a gold medal. No matter what, it will be exciting to see, and I look forward to watching this coming weekend.

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Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Win Sixth Straight

The Orlando Pride beat the Chicago Red Stars 1-0, extending their unbeaten run and winning streak.

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9 hours ago

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September 8, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (14-0-5, 47 points) continued their unbeaten run and winning streak by defeating the Chicago Red Stars (7-10-2, 23 points) 1-0 at SeatGreek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL. Marta scored the game’s only goal in the 37th minute with a laser from outside of the box.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines deployed the same lineup that beat NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 on Sept. 1. The back line in front of Anna Moorhouse was Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke. Angelina and Haley McCutcheon were the defensive midfielders behind Adriana, Marta, and Summer Yates with Barbra Banda up top.

This game was similar to the one between the two teams last year in the same stadium. The Pride dominated the game in every way from start to finish with the hosts rarely getting a chance at goal. The difference was last year the Pride were unable to convert and the Red Stars scored on a counter attack to steal three points. This time it was the Pride who scored the lone goal and took home the win.

“We reminded the players of the heartbreak of last year where I think we recorded maybe 25 shots at goal. Controlled the whole game, but fell short with a 1-0 defeat,” Hines said about his pregame message. “Just making sure that we scored the first goal was really important tonight. Having the calmness to play and be patient and create more opportunities.”

The Pride created the first chance in the fourth minute when Camryn Biegalski blocked Abello’s cross out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece was headed out, but Chicago was unable to clear. After Banda tried to create something, it ended up with Marta on the left side of the box. The Pride captain was aiming for the far post but missed wide.

The second chance for the Pride came in the sixth minute when Banda made a long run into the Red Stars third of the field before playing Marta forward. Marta played the ball back for Adriana at the top of the box and the Brazilian laid it off for her club and national teammate Angelina. Taking a touch to create space, Angelina sent her shot into the arms of Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

In the 13th minute, Adriana made a move in the box to beat Taylor Malham before going down. There was a brief break in the action as the video assistant referee took a look but didn’t determine the contact was worthy of a penalty.

When play resumed, a cross into the box was cleared by Natalia Kuikka. However, it went right to Banda. The Pride strike settled the ball before shooting, enabling Kuikka to close her down and block the shot.

Abello fouled Jenna Bike in the 19th minute, giving the Red Stars a set piece. Swanson and Julia Grosso stood over the ball with Swanson taking it. Her free kick went through several players, took a brief touch by Angelina, and landed at the foot of Bike. The midfielder was open for a shot but missed the target.

Banda received a nice ball across the field from Yates in the 22nd minute and used her speed to sprint past Malham before shooting for the far post. Naeher was unable to reach the shot, but it skipped just wide.

The Pride had another good chance in the 28th minute when McCutcheon played a great ball for Adriana behind the back line. The midfielder caught up to the ball before it crossed the end line and played a pass for Banda in the six-yard box. Unfortunately, it was a bit too far for the striker.

In the 37th minute. Marta ensured the good chances the Pride created weren’t wasted. Adriana was fouled by Jameese Joseph, winning a free kick in the opposing third. Bike was the first to the ball, but her clearance attempt only went to Marta near the top of the box. The Pride captain took a touch inside before sending a rocket into the bottom far corner of the goal to give her team a 1-0 lead.

“I read a little bit about the situation from the beginning. You know, they were giving us a lot of space to turn, to look up, and I was looking for this situation,” Marta said about her goal. “Have the space and have the time to take a shot. And then I have a little bit of luck, but I was with this in my mind all the time. If I have the chance, I’m going to try it.”

In the first minute of stoppage time, Marta made a run towards the end line before playing it to the top of the box. Yates was unable to get in position to shoot and Adriana left it for Angelina behind her. It was a good attempt by the defensive midfielder but went just wide.

At halftime, the Pride had more possession (63%-37%), shots (7-1), shots on target (2-0), corner kicks (6-0), crosses (17-2), and better passing accuracy (80%-69%).

The Pride nearly created a chance in the 48th minute when McCutcheon took the ball away from Hannah Anderson in the Chicago third. She touched the ball forward for Banda who carried it into the box. Kuikka did well to stand her ground and made a quality challenge, knocking the ball away from the Pride striker.

The Pride were living dangerously as the game neared the hour mark. In the 54th minute, Malham sent a ball forward into the box that was missed by Sams. Bike was making a run behind Abello but couldn’t get on the end of it.

A minute later, a poor pass from Dyke to Angelina was intercepted by Joseph. The forward played a give-and-go with Bike, sending her into the box. Fortunately, a heavy touch resulted in her fouling Abello and ending the attack.

In the 57th minute, a poor clearance attempt by Malham gave the Pride a corner kick. The set piece ended up with Abello, who found Banda to her left. The striker took Biegalski to the end line before trying to beat Naeher from a very tight angle. While the shot didn’t have much of a chance, Naeher knocked it out for a corner kick. The Pride couldn’t create anything from the ensuing set piece, enabling the Red Stars to clear.

Hines made three changes in the 61st minute. Carson Pickett, Julie Doyle, and Evelina Duljan came into the game for Abello, Adriana, and Yates.

A Pride throw-in in the 64th minute turned into Chicago’s first shot on target. Cari Roccaro and Angelina collided going for a loose ball, which ended up at the feet of Swanson. The Pride had kept Swanson quiet in the game, but the Red Stars leader tried to make something happen with a long shot. However, she sent it straight to Moorhouse and it was an easy save for the Pride goalkeeper.

Duljan looked to make her presence known in the 69th minute when she won possession from Biegalski in the Chicago third of the field. Marta took the ball and played it between the legs of Kuikka to Banda in the box. After conceding possession, Biegalski came back to challenge Banda, resulting in both players requiring medical attention. Banda was able to continue, but Biegalski had to leave the game.

During the stoppage, Hines made his fourth substitution. In a like-for-like change, Morgan Gautrat came on for Angelina. It was a homecoming for Gautrat, who spent six years with the Red Stars from 2017-2022.

The Pride nearly doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Doyle found Pickett making an overlapping run. The left back’s cross found the head of Banda, who tried to send it over Naeher and into the corner of the goal. Her header was over Naeher, but Kuikka was able to head the ball off the goal line and onto the roof of the net.

 In the 78th minute, Kuikka headed a Marta throw-in for Banda over the end line for a Pride corner kick. The set piece by Pickett found the head of Banda and the redirection was on target, but Malham cleared it off the line. Banda got her head to the clearance for another attempt on goal and it was cleared off the line again, this time by Tatumn Milazzo.

Pickett found Banda in the box in the 81st minute, this time between three defenders. Anderson ended up marking the striker and Banda turned her to get a shot off. However, she was unable to get over the ball, sending it over the crossbar.

The Red Stars nearly had a breakaway in the 89th minute when Chardonnay Curran sent Ludmila between Sams and Strom. It was a race between Ludmila and Moorhouse with the Pride goalkeeper getting there first. The two collided and Moorhouse required attention but was able to continue.

Chicago took their second shot on target in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Gautrat pulled Curran down and was booked. Swanson’s free kick into the box was cleared by Pickett but back to Swanson with nearly everyone in the Pride box. The attacker dribbled past Gautrat and took a long-distance shot that went right to Moorhouse, who made an easy save.

The Red Stars continued to push everyone forward in an attempt to get a last-second equalizer, but the Pride were able to hold them off and secure the 1-0 win.

It was a dominant performance and a deserved three points as the Pride ended the game with more possession (61%-39%), shots (14-3), shots on target (4-2), corner kicks (12-0), crosses (28-5), and better passing accuracy (79%-67%).

“Every game is a challenge, right? Obviously, Chicago trying to keep themselves in the playoff positions. We obviously want to keep ourselves at the top of the table. So every game, there’s always something on the line,” Hines said about the game. “I thought first half we did really well. I thought we got ourselves in really good positions to try and score the goal, but fell short. Obviously Marta, unbelievable finish and goal, and that just epitomizes her performance today. I thought she was tremendous. And then, same as a lot of other games, you know, backs against the wall late on in the game, Chicago trying to push to get an equalizer, but the team stayed strong and managed to get the three points over the line.”

The clean sheet is the Pride’s 10th of the season, extending their team record. They’re now on three behind the league record, held jointly by the 2017 North Carolina Courage and 2021 Portland Thorns. Moorhouse has been in net for all 10, putting her one behind the league record, set by Adriana Franch in 2017 and matched by Casey Murphy in 2021.

“I say every week, it’s not just the goalkeeper and the backline, it takes everyone,” Hines said about the 10 clean sheets. “But there’s some really brave moments. There’s players getting tight, not allowing the cross to come in, and then if that does happen, then getting first contact, set in contact, and then having the calmness to play out of pressure as well. I think it’s all important elements to our game. But most importantly, I think you have to build a foundation with your defensive structure. I think, historically, Orlando hasn’t always had that, and so we’ve really pinpointed that we need to be defensively solid and not give the opponent too many opportunities, which the players have done extremely well all season long.”

“I just want to soak that in because last year, it felt like we were so close and sometimes it would just, we were not quite there. And I think that this year, we have been so incredibly focused, we’ve been so incredibly organized, and we just have the grit and the willingness to grind out wins and shutouts and all things,” McCutcheon added. “And I’m just incredibly proud of that stat much more than scoring goals. I think that just speaks volumes to our team and our character.”

The win extends the Pride’s unbeaten run to 20 games, dating back to the final regular season game last season. The run ties the league record including playoffs, matching the Washington Spirit’s 20-game unbeaten run in 2021 and 2022.

Additionally, the Pride are now on a six-game win streak, their second six-game win streak this season. They’re now only three wins shy of the single-season record for wins a season, currently held by 2018 Courage.

Their 47 points place them six points clear of the Spirit for the league’s top spot with seven games left. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot and are looking to seal the NWSL Shield, which includes the top seed in the postseason.

That quest continues Friday night when the Pride return home to face the Kansas City Current.

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Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride try to extend their winning streak and unbeaten run on the road against the Chicago Red Stars.

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20 hours ago

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September 8, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (13-0-5, 44 points) head back out on the road to face the Chicago Red Stars (7-9-2, 23 points). This is the second and final meeting between the two teams in the 2024 NWSL regular season.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

The Pride and Red Stars have played every season since Orlando’s entrance into the NWSL except 2020. The teams have played 19 games, with the Pride going 5-12-2. The Pride have been better against the Red Stars in Illinois than in Orlando with an away record of 4-5-0 against tonight’s opponent.

The last time the Pride and Red Stars met was on March 29 in Orlando. The Pride took the lead early through a Taylor Malham own goal, but Mallory Swanson equalized in the 64th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

The first meeting of 2023 was on May 27 in Illinois. Orlando dominated the entire 90 minutes, with Chicago only getting two chances on its home field. But the Pride struggled to hit the target, and Yuki Nagasato’s goal was the difference as the Pride fell 1-0.  The Aug. 20 matchup was the debut of Pride center back Rafaelle and the Brazilian scored in the 15th minute to give Orlando the lead. The hosts continued their attack, resulting in four more goals. Messiah Bright scored a pair, new signing Mariana Larroquette scored her first Pride goal, and Mikayla Cluff capped off the night with a goal as the Pride won 5-0.

The first meeting of 2022 took place on May 22 in Orlando. Sarah Griffin gave the visitors the lead, and Bianca St. Georges and Swanson made it 3-0 Chicago. It appeared as though the Red Stars would run away with the game, but the final 10 minutes saw three goals and two penalties for an exciting finish. Sydney Leroux missed a penalty, but Amy Turner scored the Pride’s first goal late. Swanson converted her penalty moments later, and Leah Pruitt scored her first goal for the Pride a minute after that in a 4-2 Red Stars win. The second meeting of the 2022 season was on June 12 in Illinois. Swanson capitalized on an early Pride turnover and the Red Stars held on for the 1-0 win.

The teams met three times during the 2021 season, but didn’t play until Aug. 8 in Illinois. Jodie Taylor and Leroux scored for the Pride before the half. The 2-0 win ended a six-game winless streak and was the first NWSL win for interim head coach Becky Burleigh.

The second meeting was Oct. 13 in Bridgeview, a rescheduled game that was originally supposed to take place Oct. 2. Kealia Watt scored early and the Red Stars defended that lead for 84 minutes on their way to a 1-0 result. The teams met again Oct. 29, 2021, in Orlando in the final game of the regular season. The Red Stars controlled the game but the Pride held off the Chicago attack for 65 minutes, at which point Watt scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Chicago win.

The Pride and Red Stars didn’t play in the 2020 Fall Series, so the last meeting prior to 2021 came in 2019. The first game was June 30 at Exploria Stadium. Goals by Chioma Ubogagu and Marta were topped by a Sam Kerr hat trick as the Red Stars won 3-2. The second game was on Aug. 21 in Bridgeview. The Pride took a 2-0 lead with goals by Rachel Hill and Ubogagu. Tierna Davidson cut the lead in half for Chicago, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride won 2-1. 

The third meeting in 2021 came on Sept. 11 in Orlando. Casey Short stole the game for Chicago with the game’s lone goal five minutes into second-half injury time as the Red Stars won, 1-0.

The 2018 NWSL season saw the Pride and Red Stars meet three times. On May 2 in Bridgeview, Hill and Ubogagu scored in a 2-0 Pride win. They met in the same location May 26, with a Leroux brace and goals by Hill, Alex Morgan, and Dani Weatherholt leading to a 5-2 Pride win. The Red Stars were led by a Kerr brace, resulting in a 3-1 victory over the Pride on Aug. 25 in Orlando in the third meeting of 2018.

The Pride and Red Stars met three times in 2017 — the first year that they played that many games against each other. A Christen Press goal on July 1 lifted Chicago to a 1-0 win. On July 22 in Bridgeview, a Press brace led her team to a 2-1 win. The final meeting came a week later in Orlando. Morgan and Sofia Huerta traded goals in a 1-1 draw.

The Red Stars won both meetings in 2016 by 1-0 final scores.

Overview

The Pride have been on fire the whole season and refuse to cool off. Following the team setting an NWSL record with eight straight wins, it drew two games. While it looked like the Pride might be coming back to earth, they’ve now won five consecutive games, dating back to June 21.

The most recent win came on Sept. 1 against NJ/NY Gotham FC, with Adriana taking the plaudits. The midfielder scored in the sixth minute and again in the 19th minute to double the advantage. Gotham only put two shots on target in the 90 minutes and neither caused Anna Moorhouse any trouble, assuring the Pride’s 2-0 win.

The 2024 season has been an up-and-down year for the Red Stars. Just when it looks like they’ll start a run to climb up the standings, they stumble. Wins over San Diego Wave FC and the Houston Dash heading into the Olympic break set the Red Stars on the right path, but they’ve lost their first two games since the league’s return. They currently sit in seventh but only two points ahead of Bay FC and Angel City FC for the final playoff spot.

As you might expect, Swanson has led the team offensively since returning from injury that caused the star to miss nearly all of the 2023 campaign. The attacker leads her team in goals, with seven, and assists, with three. Second-year forward Ally Schlegel is second on the team with four goals, and Penelope Hocking had four for the Red Stars before being traded to Bay FC on Aug. 31.

The most effective method of stopping the Red Stars tonight is the same as it’s been for the past few years. Limiting Swanson’s time on the ball and her ability to get into dangerous spaces will make Chicago’s attack much weaker and enable the Pride to control possession, although that’s easier said than done.

Despite the Red Stars being midtable in 2022 and finishing last in 2023, the Pride have struggled on the road against Chicago recently, losing their last two games in Bridgeview by 1-0 scores. The most recent win in the Chicago suburb was on Aug. 8, 2021, and they’ll be looking to flip that trend.

“I think they’ll be looking to bounce back from recent results. They’re in that playoff position right now and they want to maintain that position, but obviously we’ve got our own objectives as well,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “We want to keep that unbeaten run going. We always know it’s going to be a difficult environment to play at, so we’re looking to change a little bit of history, because it’s been a while since we’ve won there. I think this group is fully prepared for what’s at stake in this game.”

The Pride have six players out tonight due to injury, including Grace Chanda (thigh), Simone Charley (ankle), Luana (illness), Sofia Manner (concussion), Megan Montefusco (heel), and Rafaelle (foot). Additionally, Ally Lemos (USA) is away on international duty and Mariana Larroquette (thigh) is questionable.

Chicago will be without Ava Cook (knee), Sam Staab (Achilles), Maxi Rall (abdomen), and Sophie Jones (knee).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke.

Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Angelina.

Midfielders: Summer Yates, Marta, Adriana.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Evelina Duljan, Celia, Carrie Lawrence, Brianna Martinez, Carson Pickett, Julie Doyle, Morgan Gautrat, Ally Watt.

Chicago Red Stars (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher.

Defenders: Taylor Malham, Hannah Anderson, Natalia Kuikka, Cameron Biegalski.

Midfielders: Julia Grosso, Cari Roccaro, Julie Bianchi.

Forwards: Jameese Joseph, Mallory Swanson, Jenna Bike.

Bench: Ludmila, Mackenzie Wood, Tatumn Milazzo, Chardonnay Curran, Bea Franklin, Leilanni Nesbeth, Sarah Griffith, Ally Cook, Ally Schlegel.

Referees

REF: Eric Tattersall.
AR1: Noah Kenyawani.
AR2: Art Arustamyan.
4TH: Peter Bernardy.
VAR: Alyssa Nichols.
AVAR: Rhett Hammil.

How to Watch

Match Time: 6 p.m.

Venue: SeatGeek Stadium — Bridgeview, IL.

TV: Bally Sports Florida.

Streaming: NWSL+.

Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).

Enjoy the match. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Sign Goalkeeper McKinley Crone to New Contract

The Pride have signed backup goalkeeper McKinley Crone through 2026.

Published

3 days ago

on

September 6, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride/Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that the club has signed backup goalkeeper McKinley Crone to a new contract. The deal runs through the 2026 NWSL season.

“Mac has played an important role in our goalkeeping corps, continuing to push our group each day while investing in herself both on and off the pitch,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “We are very excited for her to continue her career with us here in Orlando, where we can continue to support her development as a player. We believe she can become a competitive goalkeeper in this league, and we look forward to providing her with the resources and environment to reach her potential.”

Crone went undrafted in 2023 before joining the Pride as a non-roster invitee during preseason. The Maitland native continued with the Pride as a training player and was awarded with a National Team Replacement Player contract on June 27, 2023 when Marta and Adriana departed for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The 25-year-old signed a second National Team Replacement Player contract and was signed for the remainder of the season on Sept. 13, 2023.

Her play in training and during her call-ups earned Crone a NWSL contract for the 2024 season. She only made the team sheet once in 2023, but became the regular backup this year. Anna Moorhouse was called up to the England National Team when the NWSL went on break for the Olympics, opening a spot for Crone. She made her professional debut in a 1-1 draw with the North Carolina Courage on July 20 in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. The young goalkeeper made five saves on six shots while conceding once and helping the Pride maintain their unbeaten record this year in all competitions.

“To be staying here in Orlando, the place I grew up, means everything to me. Being given the chance to represent this city as well as this club has been a huge honor, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue living out my dream,” Crone said in a club press release. “What we are building here is really special and I can’t wait to continue to be a part of it for years to come. This club and this city mean so much to me and I will do everything I can to help bring championships to the City Beautiful. Roll Pride!”

Prior to joining the Pride, Crone played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Alabama. Her final three seasons for the Crimson Tide saw her make 66 starts, play 9,519.77 minutes, and concede 70 goals while 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 This Means for Orlando

Crone has worked her way from a non-roster invitee last preseason to the team’s primary backup. When the club signed Finnish goalkeeper Sofia Manner during the off-season, it was expected the newcomer would be behind Moorhouse. However, Crone has been on the team sheet for every game this season, while Manner only appeared during the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.

During the summer break tournament, Crone’s five saves topped the Pride’s goalkeeping group, which saw Crone, Manner, and Moorhouse start one game each. In addition to equaling Moorhouse with a team-best one goal conceded, she saved two penalties in the shootout, more than Moorhouse and Manner.

Crone’s role as the primary backup this season and her play in the Summer Cup makes her the obvious choice for the same role next year. For this reason, it was a matter of when and not if the Pride would attempt to sign her to a new contract. With Moorhouse and Manner already signed through the 2025 season, the Pride now have their goalkeeping corps for next year.

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