Orlando Pride
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.
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.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Announce 2026 NWSL Schedule
We now know who, when, and where the Pride will play during the 2026 NWSL regular season.
The National Women’s Soccer League schedule was announced this morning, telling us who, where, and when the Orlando Pride will play this year. The 2026 season will once again feature a balanced schedule with all teams playing the other 15 teams once at home and once on the road. The addition of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC will see each team play 30 games, making it the longest regular season in league history.
The Pride will begin the season at home, facing the Seattle Reign on March 15. This season begins with a two-game homestand, ending with the club’s first-ever match against the Summit and the return of Ally Watt. The first road game will occur on March 25 when the Pride face Chicago Stars FC in Evanston, IL.
The Pride’s home schedule will end on Oct. 25 when they face NJ/NY Gotham FC. They’ll then travel west to face Seattle on Decision Day in the return game on Nov. 1, concluding the team’s 11th season in existence.
Orlando’s games this year are well distributed among the league’s various broadcast partners. The Pride will play nine times on Victory+ — the league’s new free streaming partner. Additionally, they’ll play six times on Prime Video, five times on Ion, twice on CBS Sports Network, once on ESPN, and once on ESPN2. The remaining games will be available on NWSL+.
Should the Pride qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year, the quarterfinals will take play Nov. 6-8, followed by the semifinals on Nov. 14-15. The championship game will take place on Nov. 21 at a location yet to be determined.
The longest homestand this year is two games and will occur three times. As previously mentioned, the Pride begin with a pair of home games against Seattle and Denver on March 15 and March 20, respectively. They’ll host the Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage on May 2 and May 8, respectively; the Kansas City Current and Boston on July 10 and July 15, respectively; and Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash on Aug. 29 and Sept. 6, respectively.
The longest road trip this year is a three-game swing in May. Orlando will face Boston at Gillette Stadium on May 12, Denver on May 16, and San Diego Wave FC on May 24.
The league will take a month-long break during June as the country hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Pride’s final game before the break is on May 29 at home against Bay FC and they will return to action on July 3 against Angel City FC in Los Angeles.
The busiest months of the season will be May and July, when the Pride will play six times in each month. They’ll play four times in March, August, and September, three times in October, twice in April, and once in November.
Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the regular season:
- March — 4
- April — 2
- May — 6
- June — 0
- July — 6
- August — 4
- September — 4
- October — 3
- November — 1
The most common day the Pride will play this year will be Friday (11 times), the same as last year. They’ll play nine games on Sunday, seven on Saturday, two on Wednesday, and one rare Tuesday match.
Here’s the Pride’s breakdown by day for the regular season:
- Monday — 0
- Tuesday — 1
- Wednesday — 2
- Thursday — 0
- Friday — 11
- Saturday — 7
- Sunday — 9
For fans that follow Orlando City and the Pride, the teams will play on the same day five times. However, two of the days won’t see the games overlap. On May 2, the Pride hosts the Spirit at 4 p.m. and the Lions face Inter Miami away at 7 p.m. On Sept. 19, the Pride host the Portland Thorns at 4 p.m while City plays at the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m.
The teams’ games will overlap on three occasions, but they never start at the same time. On May 16, Orlando City hosts Atlanta United at 7:30 p.m. before the Pride play in Denver at 8:45 p.m. On Aug. 15, Orlando City hosts FC Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride play in Portland at 8:45 p.m. On Aug. 29, the Pride host the Royals at 7 p.m. and Orlando City faces Minnesota United FC away at 8:30 p.m.
2026 Orlando Pride Schedule (All Times Eastern)
- Sunday, March 15 — vs. Seattle Reign FC, 4 p.m. (Victory+)
- Friday, March 20 — vs. Denver Summit FC, 8 p.m. (Victory+)
- Wednesday, March 25 — at Chicago Stars FC 8 p.m. (Victory+)
- Sunday, March 29 — at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 7 p.m. (Victory+)
- Friday, April 3 — vs. Angel City FC, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Friday, April 24 — at Racing Louisville FC, 5:30 p.m. (Victory+)
- Saturday, May 2 — vs. Washington Spirit, 4 p.m. (ION)
- Friday, May 8 — vs. North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Tuesday, May 12 — at Boston Legacy FC, 8 p.m. (Victory+)
- Saturday, May 16 — at Denver Summit FC, 8:45 p.m. (ION)
- Sunday, May 24 — at San Diego Wave FC, 7 p.m. (Victory+)
- Friday, May 29 — vs. Bay FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
- Friday, July 3 — at Angel City FC, 10 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Friday, July 10 — vs. Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Wednesday, July 15 — vs. Boston Legacy FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
- Saturday, July 18 — at Utah Royals FC, 8:45 p.m. (ION)
- Friday, July 24 — vs. Chicago Stars FC, 8 p.m. (Victory+)
- Friday, July 31 — at North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Saturday, Aug. 8 — vs. Racing Louisville FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
- Saturday, Aug. 15 — at Portland Thorns, 8:45 p.m. (ION)
- Sunday, Aug. 23 — at Washington Spirit, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Saturday, Aug. 29 — vs. Utah Royals FC, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
- Sunday, Sept. 6 — vs. Houston Dash, 7 p.m. (Victory+)
- Friday, Sept. 11 — at Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Saturday, Sept. 19 — vs. Portland Thorns, 4 p.m. (ION)
- Sunday, Sept. 27 — at Bay FC, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
- Friday, Oct. 2 — vs. San Diego Wave FC, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Sunday, Oct. 18 — at Houston Dash, 1 p.m. (CBSSN)
- Sunday, Oct. 25 — vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 3 p.m. (CBSSN)
- Sunday, Nov. 1 — at Seattle Reign FC, 5 p.m. (TBD)
Orlando Pride
How the Orlando Pride Can Return to the Mountaintop
What needs to happen for the Pride to win hardware in 2026?
A fall-off after winning the double in 2024 was probably inevitable, yet the Orlando Pride still managed to come within minutes of playing in a second straight NWSL championship match. Many of the pieces are still there, and there are resources to get more. However, there have been some big changes in personnel on and off the pitch.
What needs to happen for the Pride to challenge for another double in 2026?
Reinvigorate the Attack
The return of Barbra Banda is the balm to soothe the worries of Orlando Pride fans. Even when the Pride struggled before she was injured, Banda scored plenty of goals. The biggest problem is she was left on an island as the team tried lobbing the ball up the field to her, hoping she’d do it all herself. Jacquie Ovalle didn’t take the NWSL by storm as we hoped, but it sometimes takes time for a player to adjust to a new league and club. If they had been able to work together, it’s likely the Orlando attack wouldn’t have faltered. Ovalle’s ability to deliver the ball into the box, combined with Banda’s ability to put the ball in the net, is a dangerous combo.
Of course, the Pride will need more than the two of them if the club is to win some trophies in 2026. I made this point several times last season, but Marta needs to find her form from 2024. With Banda and Ovalle in the attack, it should allow Marta the freedom she needs to be creative without having to carry the offense. Additionally, the Pride need other attackers to also find their 2024 form. I’m looking at Julie Doyle and Summer Yates in particular.
Fill the Roster
Haley Carter didn’t leave the cupboard bare when she departed for the wicked Washington Spirit. As such, Seb Hines and new Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Caitlin Carducci don’t have too much to do. But, the transfer of Emily Sams did create a need at center back. Fortunately, the Orlando Pride received $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds for Sams. That kind of cash can go a long way to filling the gaps in the roster.
With Kylie Nadaner on maternity leave and Rafaelle seemingly always on the verge of injury, finding a replacement for Sams is a priority. Some might point to Zara Chavoshi, but unless she levels up quickly, Carducci will need to look elsewhere. Offensively, as important as Banda is, adding another striker is necessary for quality depth. The departures of Ally Watt and Prisca Chilufya mean there’s a spot for an even better backup striker. I’m also not opposed to a quality left back.
Find the Grit
In 2024, the entire Pride team was personally offended if the opposition scored a goal. The level of defending up and down the pitch was a big factor in breaking records and winning hardware. The players need to pick up the chip and put it back on their metaphorical shoulders. I somewhat addressed this with the need to replace Sams, but there’s more to it than that. The Pride wore teams down over the course of a match, meaning it wasn’t necessary to score tons of goals. Of course, it’s not just the back line that needs to be better, but the entire team. Fortunately, Hines knows a thing or two about defenses. The Pride still have Marta to motivate them, and that — while not everything — is not a small advantage.
Those are the things I will be looking for in 2026. Let me know your thoughts or ideas in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Name Caitlin Carducci Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager
Caitlin Carducci leaves the Kansas City Current to become the Pride’s new vice president of soccer operations and general manager.
The Orlando Pride have found their replacement for Haley Carter, naming former Kansas City Current general manager Caitlin Carducci as the club’s new vice president of soccer operations and general manager. Carducci arrives in Orlando after helping assemble the Current squad that broke some of the Pride’s league records set in 2024, moving from the 2025 NWSL Shield winners to the 2024 NWSL Shield Winners.
“Caitlin is a proven leader whose experience across every level of women’s soccer and history of building championship-caliber rosters set her apart,” Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said in a club press release. “She emerged as the clear choice in our search with her deep expertise, strong reputation, and a vision that aligns with our culture. Caitlin is the ideal person to elevate the strong foundation we have established and position the Pride for sustained success.”
The Pride used Bloom Sports Partners to assist in the club’s search for Carter’s replacement. Carter left behind a team that won the double in 2024, capturing both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, and came tantalizingly close to a second straight appearance in the NWSL final last season. Carducci, who helped architect the team that won another trophy in 2024 — the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup — now inherits the club Carter left behind on Nov. 18 of last year to take a job with the Washington Spirit.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to take on this role and help elevate the strong foundation that the club’s players, staff, and supporters have already created,” Carducci said in the club’s release. “The chance to work with the Wilf family, whose leadership and investment reflect their commitment to a world-class organization, along with a championship-level roster and technical staff, made this an easy decision. I’m eager to begin this next chapter, strengthen the inclusive and ambitious culture that defines this club, and help push the Pride toward new heights.”
Carducci spent the last three seasons with Kansas City, serving multiple roles, most recently as the Current’s general manager. She joined Kansas City in 2023 as director of soccer operations, becoming interim general manager in May of 2024. Carducci became the club’s GM later that season. Her key accomplishments include bringing in the final piece of the Current’s puzzle — Brazilian international goalkeeper Lorena, who broke Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse’s short-lived NWSL single-season record for shutouts. Carducci also acquired Ally Sentnor during the 2025 season from the Utah Royals. She was also instrumental in the Current re-signing star players Debinha, Temwa Chawinga, Michelle Cooper, and Lo’eau Labonta.
That Current team set new league single-season records for most wins (21), points (65), and shutouts (16), and won the NWSL Shield faster than any previous winner in NWSL history.
During her playing days, Carducci played at Ashland University. The Central Ohio native later served as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University while completing her law degree.
Like Carter, Carducci has a varied background and numerous skillsets that will serve her well in her new position. She served as a compliance officer at Xavier University and as manager of member programs for U.S. Soccer, overseeing professional player registration and FIFA compliance and acting as the primary point of contact for organization members, including state associations and professional leagues. She returned to U.S. Soccer in 2022, where she became vice president of member programs and stakeholder engagement.
What It Means for Orlando
In the short term, hiring a general manager should help fill out a roster that came close to a second consecutive NWSL final, despite being without star striker Barbra Banda for the final weeks of the season and all of the postseason. That roster needs immediate help at center back after Emily Sams recently requested and received a trade to Angel City. There aren’t a lot of holes in the Pride roster, but the center back group needs help and more production and depth are needed in the attack.
Overall, this seems on the surface to be an addition that mirrors the Pride bringing Carter to Orlando in 2023. She brings a variety of experiences that will help the club in multiple ways. From her law degree to her compliance background to evaluating talent and luring those players to non-marquee market teams, Carducci seems to check all the boxes. It’s easy to understand how the club arrived at this decision. Ultimately, how Carducci’s tenure in Orlando goes will depend on what the club does on the field and how well it develops talent.
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