Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Set New NWSL Unbeaten Record
The Pride picked up a league record-setting win on the road in their return to the NWSL regular season.
The Orlando Pride (12-0-5, 41 points) returned to NWSL action tonight with a 1-0 win over the Houston Dash (3-9-5, 14 points) in Houston, TX. Summer Yates’ 67th-minute goal was the only conversion, though Andressa hit the post for the Dash. The win sets a new NWSL regular-season record with 18 consecutive games unbeaten, a streak that started against Houston last year in the season finale.
Rafaelle’s injury while representing Brazil in the Summer Olympics caused a shift in the starting back line. Emily Sams moved from right back to the center back position she played last year. Despite Carson Pickett joining the squad recently, Cori Dyke got the start at right back. The rest of the lineup included the regular starters in their usual positions.
The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Sams, and Dyke. Angelina and Haley McCutcheon were the defensive midfielders behind Julie Doyle, Marta, and Adriana, with Barbra Banda up top.
The Pride were the better team in the first half and probably should’ve had a multi-goal lead heading into halftime but were unable to beat Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. The hosts came out of the break stronger, creating multiple chances early in the second half. However, a good ball forward, a defensive mistake, and a quality finish by Yates gave the Pride the winning goal. It took some luck to claim all three points, but the Pride will take them.
The Pride nearly had a disastrous start inside the first minute when a heavy touch by Sams enabled Yuki Nagasato to touch it over for Diana Ordonez in the box. Abello came inside to challenge the attacker, resulting in Ordonez going down. Referee Alexandra Billeter didn’t see a foul, allowing Moorhouse to cover the ball.
Billeter got a notification from the video assistant referee the next time the ball went out of play, resulting in a video review. After a lengthy review, Billeter determined that her initial call was correct and no penalty was given.
The Pride got their first decent chance in the seventh minute when Marta lifted the ball forward on the left for Doyle behind the Dash back line. The midfielder’s cross was to the back post where Banda and Adriana were making runs. The ball was just over the head of Banda and fell to Adriana’s feet. The Brazilian volleyed the ball towards goal, but sent it wide.
In the 16th minute, the Pride had a great chance to take the lead when Adriana sent a great ball forward for Banda. The striker used her body to shield her defender and enter the box. While the Zambian international dribbled inside looking for space for a shot, Doyle caught up and was open to the right. However, Banda decided to take the attempt herself, sending the ball into the arms of Campbell.
Houston had its first chance of the game in the 18th minute when Angelina pushed Nagasato over. The set piece into the box was headed out by McCutcheon, but only to Nagasato at the top of the 18. The former Japanese international tried to get over the ball, but sent the volley over the goal.
Adriana sent Banda down the field in the 20th minute for the second time in the game. The striker was surrounded by three defenders without a teammate in sight as she entered the box. The Zambian used her speed to round the last defender and get a shot off, but Campbell was there to catch it at the near post.
Pressure by the Pride resulted in a turnover in the 37th minute. Banda won the ball from Sophie Schmidt in the Houston third before playing it towards the top of the box. Adriana initially looked as though she would take a one-touch shot but let it go for Marta at the top of the 18. The Pride captain took the attempt, but Tarciane was there to block it.
In the 42nd minute, Banda was fouled by Tarciane in the Houston third of the field. The free kick was headed out by Ordonez, but only to Banda in the box. The second touch by Banda was a shot right at Campbell.
Unable to catch the attempt, the block went to McCutcheon, who played it wide for Strom. The center back went down after contact from behind by Avery Patterson, but Billeter didn’t determine it was a foul. McCutcheon ended up with possession and got another shot off. This one was blocked as well, enabling the Dash to clear.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Banda made a strong run into the Houston box before laying the ball off for Adriana. The midfielder looked as though she would shoot, but played it to her right for Doyle instead. Doyle didn’t appear to be expecting the ball, which resulted in her shooting off balance. It was on target but didn’t cause any trouble for Campbell.
At halftime, the Pride had more possession (51%-49%), shots (13-4), and shots on target (4-0), and better passing accuracy (83%-79%). The Dash had more corner kicks (2-1) and crosses (8-5).
Both teams made a change at halftime. Yates entered the game for the Pride, replacing Doyle. Houston brought Michelle Alozie in for Ordonez after the latter didn’t have much impact on the game.
In the 48th minute, Alozie collided with Sams, resulting in the forward going down. The Houston medical staff called for a stretcher, but Alozie walked off under her own power. It looked like the hosts would make a substitution, but Alozie eventually decided she could continue.
Adriana made a strong run down the left and into the box in the 55th minute. The midfielder cut inside and then back out to lose her defender before sending a shot towards the back post. Unfortunately, the ball skipped just wide.
In the 58th minute, Patterson’s cross into the box was headed out by Sams. It went to Barbara Olivieri just outside the box and the midfielder volleyed it just wide of the near post.
The Pride were unable to get the short goal kick out of their end, giving the ball away. Elin Rubensson attempted a low cross that Sams couldn’t control, enabling Alozie to get a shot off. The Nigerian international was able to get over the ball, but sent the volley wide of the far post.
It was somewhat of a surprise that Dyke started the game over Pickett, but the veteran right back made her Pride return in the 61st minute, coming on for the rookie.
Despite defending for much of the second half, the Pride opened the scoring in the 67th minute when Angelina found Yates making a run down the left. Natalie Jacobs was in a good position to intercept the pass but missed the ball, enabling Yates to get free on goal. The second-year midfielder didn’t make any mistakes, curling the shot around Campbell to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.
“So me and Ang, we made eye contact. We do it all the time for training, but she played an absolute beautiful ball in behind,” Yates said. “And I knew it was going to get through, just because she has that technical ability. Jane Campbell’s a great goalkeeper, so I had to take a breath before I took that shot. But yeah, it was a great ball by Ang and just overall, good buildup for that goal to happen.”
“Summer fully took her opportunity,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines added. “Great finish, great ball from Ang as well. Recognizing the spacing behind and the calmness to just put it away.”
The Pride nearly doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Marta made a pair of cuts to beat Schmidt and Paige Nielsen before firing on goal. The shot was on target, but Campbell did well to knock it over the crossbar.
The first cut left Schmidt laying on the ground and the midfielder required treatment before the game could continue. The ensuing corner kick by Angelina found the head of Banda and the striker put her attempt on frame, but Campbell was there to catch it.
The Pride nearly conceded in the 76th minute after Pickett gave the ball away in the back. Olivieri took possession and played Rubensson down the right. The midfielder’s cross was headed away by Sams, but it was a poor clearance attempt, not leaving the box. Patterson took possession and played a give-and-go with Andressa before finding Alozie on her left. Moorhouse came off her line to cut down the angle and made a great stop to maintain her team’s one-goal lead.
Billeter used the stoppage to send the teams to the sideline for the second-half hydration break. During the stoppage, Hines made his third change, replacing Angelina with Ally Watt.
The game restarted with a goal kick and it was immediately won by Houston. The ball ended up with Olivieri who made some moves to weave through the defenders before shooting from outside the box. However, the attempt was well off target, not causing any concern for Moorhouse.
In the 82nd minute, Adriana made a long run to the top of the Houston box. Rather than trying to find a higher-percentage shot, the midfielder took a long attempt for the top far corner. She was unable to get over the ball and it sailed high and wide.
The Dash should’ve equalized in the 86th minute when former Pride defender Courtney Petersen sent a beautiful cross into the box that found the head of Andressa. Left open, it should’ve been an easy finish for the Brazilian, but she hit the post.
Hines made his final two changes in the 88th minute and they were defensive ones as the Pride looked to see out the win. Morgan Gautrat and Evelina Duljan entered the game for Marta and Adriana.
The fourth official showed 11 minutes of second-half stoppage time, but the Dash were unable to create anything in the closing minutes. The closest they came was in the seventh minute when Alozie made a long run down the left and into the Pride third of the field. But Gautrat was able to catch up and win the ball back before the Nigerian could create a chance at goal.
The Pride ended the game with more possession (54%-46%), shots (21-9), shots on target (8-1), and corner kicks (6-2) and better passing accuracy (80%-78%). Meanwhile, Houston ended the game with more crosses (15-13).
“Obviously, pleased with the win. Pleased with the three points,” Hines said. “We continue our momentum from the last away game against Kansas. I think, overall, pleased with the result. I think we can play a lot better. I think the performance wasn’t quite there, but one thing with this team is their attitude, their mentality, even towards the end, their calmness to keep the ball, run down the clock, was great. Keep the clean sheet away from home and then, you know, we got the goal that we much needed. We rode our luck as well with them hitting the post and not going in, but sometimes you need that. Sometimes you need a bit of luck on your side. So overall, pleased with the result, but a lot to build on moving forward.”
The Pride snapped the Kansas City Current’s 17-game unbeaten run in the last game before the Olympic break, tying their record. The win tonight is the team’s 18th consecutive NWSL regular-season game unbeaten, setting a new league record.
Tonight’s win also snaps a run of negative results against the Dash in Houston. It’s their first win in the city since June 17, 2017 (eight games) and their first point in the city since June 15, 2019 (five games).
This is the 12th win for the Pride during the 2024 NWSL season, a new club record. The team’s previous highest win total of 11 was set in 2017, the last time the Pride qualified for the NWSL playoffs.
“Records are great. It’s nice when you break them, but we want something at the end of it to show,” Hines said. “I think you can see the effort. You can see the attitude of the players. You know, their desire, again, a lot of hard work’s been put into their craft and what they’ve done this year. You can see their togetherness. Players coming off the bench and making a difference. You know, Summer coming off the bench and scoring the winning goal. Really, really pleased for her as well. And so again, everyone has to contribute. Everyone has to play a part in it. And we just want to continue to keep winning and staying undefeated throughout the season.”
The clean sheet is Moorhouse’s eighth of the 2024 NWSL season, topping her total of seven last year. As a result, she extended her club record for clean sheets in a single season. Additionally, she ties Ashlyn Harris for most all-time regular-season clean sheets for a Pride goalkeeper.
“It sounds pretty good. I’ve been here for three years. I’ve only played for two years. So it’s pretty incredible that I’ve broken both of those records,” Moorhouse said. “That’s something that I’m proud of. And yeah, I don’t think I can take all the credit for it to be honest. It’s definitely a team game. I have a great 10 players in front of me. I can’t even say back line because we defend so well as a team. So yeah, I think the plaudits have to go to them really. I have a great, great team in front of me, and I definitely couldn’t do it without them.”
The Pride now sit on 41 points and remain atop the NWSL standings. They’re six points ahead of the Current, though the Current have a game in hand and play in Washington on Sunday.
The Pride return home next Sunday for their first home league game since June 21 when they welcome NJ/NY Gotham FC to Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Re-Sign Marta through 2026 Season
The Pride captain returns to Orlando for two more seasons with a new deal that could take her through the end of her playing days.
Orlando Pride talisman and team captain Marta will most likely end her illustrious playing career in the City Beautiful after inking a new two-year contract with the club through the end of 2026. The club announced the signing today, just 47 days after concluding her most productive season since 2017 and the Pride’s — and arguably any NWSL team’s — best season ever.
The 38-year-old Brazilian, who will turn 39 in February, said after the Pride won the NWSL Championship in November that she’d like to play one or two more seasons. This contract will allow her to do just that, putting her on track to play 10 seasons in Orlando and retire (if she chooses to do so at that time) at age 40.
Marta, who was out of contract after captaining the Pride to the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2024, was a priority for Orlando this off-season, with the Pride announcing Dec. 10 that the club was in negotiations with the captain over her return. That business is now concluded with today’s announcement.
“Coming off the most successful season in our club’s history and, personally, one of the best of
her professional career, re-signing Marta was a key business priority for us during this offseason,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Sporting Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “The impact she has made on our team, our locker room, and our community is evident, of course through her incredible skill as a player, but even more so through her selfless and exemplary leadership style. We are thrilled to have secured her as a member of the Pride for the next two years and look forward to seeing what more we will accomplish during her tenure.”
“This is a team where everybody works for each other, where everyone believes in each other,
and I’m so excited to continue this journey with this club,” Marta said in the club’s release. “Last year we proved everyone wrong and did something so special as a team, and that’s why I’m so happy to have the opportunity to sign for two more years. Personally, it also means a lot to me that I will reach 10 seasons as an Orlando Pride player, a special number for me as I have worn the No. 10 jersey most of my career. As I have said many times, I love living in Orlando, I love the community, and I love the way that people embrace and enjoy Orlando Pride soccer. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Marta has been a fixture with the Pride since 2017, signing on April 7 from Swedish side FC Rosengard on a two-year deal with a club option for 2019. On Oct. 24 of that year, Marta signed a new one-year deal with a club option for 2020, although ultimately the NWSL regular season was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pride further extended her stay in Orlando on Feb. 17, 2021, with a new one-year contract through the 2021 season with a club option for 2022, using Allocation Money. In 2022, she signed a new two-year contract, taking her through what turned out to be a magical 2024 championship season.
The attacking midfielder is coming off a season in which she was a finalist for NWSL MVP and NWSL Midfielder of the Year, scoring nine goals and adding one assist in 23 games (19 starts), logging a total of 1,739 minutes. In all competitions, Marta scored 11 goals. Following the season, Marta was named to the 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team and the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World XI.
Since her arrival in Orlando, Marta has become the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (128), goals (42), and assists (19). Of her 42 goals, 14 were game winners, including the strike against the Kansas City Current in the 2024 NWSL semifinals that ultimately pushed the Pride into the NWSL Championship game against the Washington Spirit.
A professional player since 2000 — at the age of 14, when she broke in with Vasco de Gama — Marta became one of the most feared attacking players in the world, winning FIFA World Player of the Year six times over her considerable career, including five straight times (2006-2010). The native of Dois Riachos, Alagoas, Brazil has represented her native Brazil on the world stage since 2002, scoring 119 goals in 204 caps for her country. With 17, Marta holds the world record for career goals in the World Cup and scored in five different iterations of the competition. She has also scored in five consecutive Olympic Games, finally calling an end to her international career after the 2024 Paris Olympics, in which she led her team to the Silver Medal — her third time claiming silver.
Marta has become such an icon in women’s soccer that FIFA named an award after her — the FIFA Marta Award. She won the very first Marta Award in December for a goal she scored for Brazil against Jamaica in 2024.
What It Means for Orlando
Orlando has its captain back and even at her age, she’s one of the league’s best attacking midfielders. She had been slowed in recent years by injuries, including an ACL tear that cost her almost all of the 2022 season. Working her way back from that injury throughout the 2023 campaign, which saw the Pride tie for the final playoff spot, only to see the position go to Gotham on goal differential, Marta turned back the clock in 2024 with her MVP finalist performance. Her nine goals in 2024 were second in her Pride career only to her 2017 season, in which she scored 13 times and finished second to Sam Kerr in the Golden Boot race.
If the Pride get the 2024 version of Marta — or even close to it — for the next two seasons, the club will take that every day of the week.
However, this is not a move without risk. Marta figured to be one of the team’s most expensive players under her previous few deals, and she is about to turn 39 next month and 40 just before the final year of her new (final?) playing contract. Although it would be foolish to bet against Marta turning in another outstanding season, the reality of age catches up with everyone eventually. With her in the lineup, the Pride will have someone who can keep possession with her on-ball and passing skills. She’ll continue to smartly release pressure in the midfield with her timely and accurate switches of play. And she’ll likely continue to contribute to the team’s offensive numbers, looking first to set up striker Barbra Banda. She will be the port the Pride turn to in a storm.
The Orlando icon is a lock to be a future member of the Legends Terrace at Inter&Co Stadium, with her name likely being enshrined next to inaugural inductee, Kaká’s. Having the opportunity to potentially sign Marta through the end of her playing days is worth the risk for the Pride. Although Seb Hines would do well to try to get his aging star as much rest as possible during a long season, she’ll be on the pitch for almost every meaningful minute as long as she remains fit.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Need to Address Center Back Depth This Off-Season
The Pride’s starting center backs are strong, but departures have created a depth issue that Haley Carter must address.
The Orlando Pride are in arguably the best roster scenario of any off-season in team history. While the team was breaking records on the field, Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter was busy keeping the team together for the foreseeable future. The result is that most of the roster is intact for 2025, but there are some issues that need to be resolved.
Following the 2024 NWSL campaign, only two contracts expired — 21-year-old midfielder Evelina Duljan and club captain Marta. While Duljan will depart the club, the Pride stated they’re in discussions with Marta about returning next season. If the club re-signs Marta, it will have its entire double-winning starting lineup back.
With the possible exception of replacing Marta, the biggest issue for the Pride this off-season involves the three retirements announced prior to the end of the season. Right back Celia, center back Megan Montefusco, and versatile defender Carrie Lawrence all ended their professional careers. Celia’s absence won’t affect the team much as it has plenty of right back options, but the loss of Montefusco and Lawrence — both of whom have plenty of experience at center back — leaves the team short of depth at the position.
The lack of central depth on the back line was on full display during last season. Montefusco had surgery on her right foot, ending her season before it began. Head Coach Seb Hines moved left back Kylie Strom to a center back role alongside Rafaelle and Emily Sams — who played most of 2023 at center back — to right back. However, Rafaelle’s absence due to injury forced Sams into her natural center back position.
In addition to Strom, Sams, and Rafaelle, three other players started at center back last season. Hines used a center back pairing of Brianna Martinez and Kerry Abello once, putting the two together in the second regular season game, a 1-1 draw with Angel City FC. Cori Dyke was only used in the position late in the season when Sams was given a rest. While all three have played center back before, it’s not the first choice for any of them.
Abello and Dyke played the position in college but have primarily played in different positions professionally. Abello started as a left attacking midfielder before moving back to left back last season. Dyke moved from central midfield to center back for her senior year at Penn State and became the starting right back after the Olympic break. Martinez has usually played right back since joining the Pride. The trio only made five combined starts at center back in 2024, with Abello appearing three times and Dyke and Martinez once.
While there are players that can play center back, only three have at least one full professional season of experience at the position. If Hines has the same vision as last year, Strom and Rafaelle would start at center back and Sams at right back when everyone is healthy. While Sams and Strom proved to be an effective partnership, the Pride boss will want the Brazilian international in the lineup if she’s available. However, Rafaelle suffered a partial tear to her right quadricep tendon late last season and it’s unclear when she’ll be ready to play again. As a result, the Pride could begin the season with only two regular center backs.
If Rafaelle isn’t ready to go when the season starts and Strom or Sams go down, it’s currently most likely that Abello would move over to center back and be replaced by Carson Pickett on the left. Considering that it’s the position that Abello has the least experience of her three potential roles, that’s a less than ideal scenario. Signing a natural center back would enable Hines to make a like-for-like change in the lineup and keep everyone else in their familiar spots.
Carter and Hines have built a team full of versatile players, preparing them for these situations. Nearly everyone on the team has played multiple positions in league games and some have played offensive and defensive roles. As a result, players can take over positions they’re less familiar with when needed with at least some experience, even if just one game.
While Abello, Dyke, and Martinez are capable of filling in at center back in an emergency, the Pride would ideally have someone more experienced in that role. Since the rest of the roster is nearly complete for the first game, Carter can focus on ensuring there’s plenty of depth. The first position in need of additional bodies is the center back position.
Orlando Pride
Top 10 Moments of 2024: Orlando Pride Win NWSL Championship
Our No. 1 moment of 2024 features the Orlando Pride bringing home an NWSL Championship to clinch the league’s double and cap a historic season.
As we count down to the new year of 2025 — which will be Orlando City’s 11th in MLS, the Orlando Pride’s 10th in the NWSL, and OCB’s third in MLS NEXT Pro — and say goodbye to 2024, it’s time to look back at the club’s 10 best moments of the year as selected by The Mane Land staff via vote.
What do you do after you’ve won the NWSL Shield, went unbeaten for 24 consecutive games, set NWSL records for wins, points, clean sheets, and consecutive shutout minutes? Well, to paraphrase Jake Taylor in Major League, there’s only one thing left to do…win the whole f#@%ing thing! That’s exactly what the Orlando Pride did after the 2024 NWSL regular season. The Pride earned the right to play at home up until the championship game by virtue of finishing with the league’s best record in the regular season, and doing all those things I mentioned above. So, the team entered the postseason needing three victories to leave no doubt about which team was the league’s best.
It’s not that a regular-season title would be a hollow victory without a playoff championship, but it had been a few years since the league’s shield winner had completed the double and won the NWSL Championship. Orlando had high aspirations after such a successful regular season, and three wins in a row — even against a trio of the better teams in the league — seemed like child’s play for a Pride team that had winning streaks of eight, six, and three matches during the regular season. On the other hand, every team wanted to be the one to bring down the mighty Pride.
The team’s run to the double started at home against the Chicago Red Stars, a team that the Pride have famously struggled against, especially in Orlando. I won’t belabor it here, as it was the No. 5 moment in our countdown of the club’s biggest moments of the year in 2024. I’ll simply point out that the Pride breezed past the Red Stars so easily that Barbra Banda and Marta were playing goal frame challenge after Orlando built up a big lead, and Anna Moorhouse gave up a silly goal just to give Chicago one solitary moment of happiness in the match. I kid, but only just. Few playoff wins have come more easily.
That left the Pride with an NWSL semifinal matchup against the Kansas City Current — a team desperate to beat Orlando for perceived slights earlier in the season and because the title game was scheduled to take place in their home stadium. If Current players didn’t like Orlando celebrating in their stadium, they hadn’t seen anything yet. But first, the Pride had to get past Kansas City, a team they beat while down a player on the road July 6 and played to a scoreless stalemate in Orlando on Sept. 13.
The Pride took care of business, building a 3-1 lead after falling behind early, with Haley McCutcheon and Banda starting the comeback and Marta ultimately scoring the game-winner (our No. 7 moment of the year). Orlando had to withstand a desperation rally attempt by the Current that came too close for comfort after a late penalty kick goal cut the lead to one, but the Pride held on as they did throughout the season and booked their ticket to Kansas City to face the Washington Spirit.
If fans needed some good omens, there were a few. The Pride had swept the season series, so they knew they could beat Washington. Orlando had played the Spirit in a trophy-clinching game weeks earlier, beating them to clinch the NWSL Shield (our No. 2 moment of the year). The Pride and the Spirit headed to CPKC Stadium on Nov. 23 with a championship trophy on the line.
The game was every bit as tight and nervy as you could expect from a championship match. The teams were physical with each other, and referee Alyssa Nichols was letting them play. Well, everyone except Banda, who was called for every collision and bump, even when she was trying to fight through a hold by the defense. The Spirit and their fans no doubt weren’t happy when the physical play wasn’t called on the game’s only goal.
Angelina won the ball in the midfield and Washington’s Leicy Santos bodied her from behind, trying to win it back. The Brazilian fought Santos off in a physical confrontation and then launched a good long ball down the right channel for Banda to run onto.
Despite getting to the ball first, Banda had a lot left to do from the right flank. She cut inside, flicked the ball with her back heel to beat her defender, working her way nearly to the corner of the six. Former Pride goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury saw the ball on Banda’s left foot and thought Orlando’s striker might try to pick out a runner in the middle of the box. Instead, Banda smashed the ball with her left foot. Kingsbury got a piece but the shot had a lot of powper and surprised the goalkeeper, opening the scoring in the 37th minute.
That was the only goal celebration in the 2024 NWSL Championship. The Pride held off Washington’s repeated advances into the final third. The Spirit chased the game hard, finishing with advantages in many statistical categories, including possession (58%-42%), shots (26-9), shots on target (5-3), corner kicks (8-3), crosses (25-11), and passing accuracy (79%-69%). But the league’s best defense in the regular season held strong, and the Pride had their second major trophy in a 48-day span with the 1-0 win over Washington.
The Pride were even more effusive in their celebrating than they’d been in their last trip to Kansas City, when they’d suffered down a player for more than half the game and won the battle of the NWSL’s last two undefeated teams in the Current’s seemingly impenetrable home fortress. Team captain Marta can perhaps be forgiven for getting on the bad side of the television censors when expressing the intense relief of finally winning the league championship. Pride fans, who had suffered through some miserable seasons since the team’s inception, likely were experiencing similar feelings.
Upon returning home, the Pride were honored with a parade through downtown Orlando, showing off the team’s two trophies to a huge crowd downtown in front of City Hall. The players, coaches, and front office were showered with adulation from the fans, and rightfully so. Even entering the season with raised expectations, few could have foreseen the club achieving so much, and it was the culmination of an extraordinary amount of work and chemistry from everyone.
While winning the NWSL Shield is considered by some to be the bigger accomplishment of the two trophies Orlando won in 2024, doing the double was twice as nice. With the victory, the Pride became the first professional sports team from Orlando to win a major league trophy. As such, the NWSL Championship is worthy of the top spot on our list of the biggest moments of 2024. It wasn’t a unanimous choice by our staff in the voting, but it was the overwhelming winner.
This concludes our list of the the top 10 moments of 2024 for Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, and OCB. There’s no doubt the list was heavy on the Pride accomplishments this season, but that’s what happens when you win the double and set so many league and club records along the way. We had a lot of fantastic moments to choose from in 2024, so if we didn’t pick yours, well…maybe next year. We tried to work OCB into the list, but the Young Lions didn’t make the final 10 in our staff vote. Hopefully you enjoyed reliving these moments as much as we did writing about them.
Previous Top Moments of 2024
10. Orlando City’s massive second-half surge clinches top-four spot in Eastern Conference.
9. The Orlando Pride sign Zambian international striker Barbra Banda ahead of the 2024 season.
8. Facundo Torres scores his 47th goal for Orlando City, breaking the Lions’ all-time goal record.
7. Marta’s magical goal pushes the Orlando Pride past Kansas City and into the NWSL Championship.
6. Orlando City wins nervy three-game MLS Cup playoff series to advance past Charlotte FC.
5. Orlando Pride pick up the club’s first-ever playoff win in their first-ever time hosting a postseason match.
4. Orlando Pride rewrite club and NWSL record books throughout 2024 season and playoffs.
3. Orlando City dumps rival Atlanta United to advance to the club’s first-ever MLS Eastern Conference final appearance.
2. Orlando Pride earn the club’s first trophy by claiming the 2024 NWSL Shield with a win over Washington.
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