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Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Final Score 1-0 as Banda’s Late Winner Lifts Pride to Road Win

A late goal by Barbra Banda secured a 1-0 win for the Pride over Bay FC on the west coast.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (15-0-6, 51 points) continued their unbeaten run and extended their lead atop the NWSL standings with a 1-0 win over Bay FC (8-12-1, 25 points) tonight at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA. Barbra Banda’s 84th-minute goal was the difference as the Pride continue their undefeated season, picking up the club’s fifth consecutive shutout. Orlando swept the season series with the expansion side with a pair of identical 1-0 scorelines.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made three changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with the Kansas City Current on Sept. 13. Kylie Strom was out of the starting lineup for the second time this season and the first time since March 22 — the second game of the season — and was replaced by Carson Pickett. It was Pickett’s first start since returning to the Pride on Aug. 16. Additionally, Julie Doyle and Morgan Gautrat replaced Summer Yates and Haley McCutcheon.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse changed for the first time since the Olympic break, consisting of Pickett, Kerry Abello, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke. Gautrat and Angelina were in the defensive midfield behind Doyle, Marta, and Adriana, with Banda up top.

“We decided to give Kylie a well-deserved rest. Obviously, she came on towards the end of the game,” Hines said about the change. “But moving Abello into center back, you know, Abello’s been brilliant for us also. And it allowed us to play Carson at left back.”

Despite this game being the first-place team against the eighth-place team, it was very even for most of the 90 minutes. Far from the Pride’s best performance of the year, the hosts were the better side for much of the game. However, as they’ve done throughout this season, the Pride found a way to win, getting the winning goal with six minutes left in regular time.

The Pride created the first chance of the game in the third minute when Pickett found Banda making a diagonal run to the top of the box. The striker used a good first touch to flick the ball around Emily Menges for a shot on goal. However, it also created a tight angle, causing the shot to go straight to Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland.

Bay FC created its first chance in the eighth minute when Racheal Kundananji beat Sams on the right and found Rachel Hill in the box. Abello did well to get a touch to the ball, but Hill regained control. The forward turned and shot, sending the attempt wide of the far post.

Hill was involved in another chance in the 10th minute when she sent Asisat Oshoala forward. Sams was on Oshoala’s hip and had the inside position. As a result, the Nigerian international’s shot was directly to Moorhouse, creating no trouble for the Pride shot stopper.

Bay FC had a third consecutive chance in the 12th minute when Caprice Dydasco lifted the ball into the box for Kundananji. Dyke got to it first, but her header went to Oshoala at the top of the box. The forward attempted to volley the ball on goal, sending it well over the top.

The Pride had a pair of chances in the 19th minute when Dyke sent Banda down the right. The striker used her body to turn Menges and get into the Bay FC box. The Zambian sent a strong shot on goal, but it was right to Rowland who pushed it away. Adriana was the first to the loose ball and backheeled it for Pickett. The left back shot’s attempt went off the head of Dydasco and the Pride couldn’t create anything from the ensuing corner kick.

Bay FC had its own pair of chances in the 21st minute when Kundananji sent a dangerous ball over Moorhouse to the back post. Hill was making a run with Pickett on her and the Pride left back was able to keep Hill from being able to get a shot off.

Marta initially took possession, but the hosts won it back. It ended up with Dorian Bailey on the right and the midfielder attempted a cross with her right foot. While it didn’t appear to be a shot, the ball curved towards goal, going over the outstretched arm of Moorhouse and off the crossbar.

The Pride were trying to send Banda behind the Bay FC back line several times, but she struggled to get in on goal. In the 37th minute, Marta played the striker into the box. She tried to create space from Abby Dahlkemper and got a shot off. However, the veteran defender did well to stay in front and Banda’s shot hit the outside of the net.

In the 41st minute, Kundananji found Oshoala at the top of the box. With too many defenders between the forward and goal, she played Alyssa Malonson between the back line instead of shooting. The left back turned and shot, forcing Moorhouse into a diving catch. However, Malonson came back from an offside position to receive the ball, so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.

It looked like the hosts might open the scoring in the 43rd minute when Kundananji turned Sams to get in on goal. As she wound up to shoot, Abello came over to challenge the attacker. It was enough to put Kundananji off and the shot was wide of the near post.

The Pride had more possession (55%-45%), crosses (8-5), and corner kicks (1-0) in the first half, but Bay FC created more shots (7-6). Both teams put two chances on target and completed 83% of their passes.

The Pride had the first decent second-half attack in the 52nd minute when Doyle dribbled to the end line while being defended by Malonson. The midfielder crossed the ball before it crossed the end line and Menges knocked it out before Rowland could grab it. Pickett sent the ensuing corner kick into the box, but it was too close to Rowland.

Bay FC took the first shot of the second half in the 56th minute. Abello intercepted a pass from Kiki Pickett to Oshoala at the top of the box. It went to Gautrat, who was unprepared to receive it. As a result, she couldn’t get anything on her clearance. It went straight to Bay FC’s Pickett, who shot from distance, sending it wide.

Dyke challenged Kundananji in the 60th minute, sliding in to win the ball. The Bay FC striker’s knee hit Dyke on her back, forcing the right back to receive attention. After being evaluated by the medical staff, it was determined that she couldn’t continue.

In addition to withdrawing Dyke, Hines made two additional changes in the 63rd minute. Angelina and Doyle also came out of the game, replaced by Strom, Yates, and Carrie Lawrence. Strom joined Sams as a center back, while Lawrence came in at right back and Abello moved over to left back. Pickett, the starting left back, moved forward into the midfield.

Kundananji found Maddie Moreau making a long run into the box in the 70th minute. Lawrence blocked Moreau’s cross attempt with a slide tackle and Sams got to the Bay FC defender before she could send a second ball across the box. Moreau felt she earned a corner kick from the play, but the referee gave a goal kick.

Less than a minute later, Bailey played the ball to her left for Kundananji. The attacker took a touch inside to create enough space for a shot, but it was right at Moorhouse.

After making defensive changes earlier in the half, Hines went more attacking with his fourth change in the 75th minute as Evelina Duljan came into the game for Gautrat.

The Pride nearly found the opening goal in the 78th minute when Pickett beat Dydasco to the far post and met a Marta cross. Pickett got her head to the ball but couldn’t get enough power on it. Still, Rowland had to dive to her left to push it away.

Moreau received a pass on the left in the 79th minute and played it to Bailey making a run to the six-yard box. Nobody in purple was on the midfielder and she tried to slip it past Moorhouse. However, the Pride number one did well to keep the ball out of the net and near her, gathering it and ending the attack.

Hines made his final change in the 80th minute, replacing Marta with Ally Watt.

In the 81st minute, Watt’s cross to Adriana beyond the far post was headed to Banda in front of the goal. It was a little behind the striker and she tried an acrobatic shot but couldn’t get much on it, enabling Rowland to collect.

Bay FC nearly took the lead two minutes later when Kundananji nutmegged Sams twice before sending a cross into the box. It was a good cross that found Hill, who tried to redirect the ball inside the post. Fortunately, it traveled just wide.

The miss by Hill loomed large as the Pride took the lead in the 84th minute. Pickett sent a beautiful ball into the box, where Banda was waiting between three defenders. Menges and Dahlkemper were in good positions, but it was a perfect cross that met the head of Banda, who redirected it in to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.

“A quality show towards the end of the game with a great ball for Barbra,” Hines said. “And a great finish to win us the game.”

Banda had been flying since joining the team early in the season and had four goals in three games in the Olympics. However, this was her first goal since rejoining the Pride following the Olympic break.

“Well, for her, of course, it means a lot because it’s been like, four games, five today. And for the team too, because we need her feeling good to do her best for the team,” Martra said about Banda scoring. “And I think it was really important that she scored tonight.”

“It’s massive, a massive confidence boost,” Hines added. “I’ve said all along, she’s getting in some really good positions. It’s that final touch and, you know, grateful for us, she managed to put the ball in the back of the net. She needed that.”

Banda’s goal was her 13th of the season, tying the club record for most goals in a single season. Marta previously set the record during the 2017 season, the only other time the Pride made the playoffs.

Hill tried to make something happen again in the 87th minute when she received the ball outside the box. The attacker turned and took a shot from long distance, but it didn’t cause any problems for Moorhouse.

Two minutes later, Kundananji made a run into the center of the field before sending the ball wide for Moreau on the left. The defender volleyed it towards goal, but it wasn’t a hard shot and Moorhouse made the easy catch.

With a goal lead, the Pride put 10 players behind the ball as the game entered stoppage time. However, they nearly scored a second in the third minute of added time from a counterattack. Watt slid in to win the ball from Moreau and Duljan took possession. Duljan immediately sent it long for Banda behind the Bay FC back line. She had time and space to place the ball behind Rowland but sent it directly to the goalkeeper instead.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Duljan was called for a foul on Tess Boade, giving the hosts one final chance in the final third. Rowland came up as everyone from Bay FC was in the Pride box. The free kick by Bailey was punched away by Moorhouse and cleared by Adriana as the final whistle blew.

However, it wasn’t quite over yet, as the video assistant referee took a long look at the final play to determine if there was a penalty. While there was some contact between Watt and Dahlkemper, it was determined that it was mutual and the game was over.

It was a very even game as the Pride had more possession (55%-45%), but both teams accumulated 13 shots and each put six on target. The Pride also had more crosses (22-13) and corner kicks (4-1), and slightly better passing accuracy (81%-80%). Most importantly, they scored the lone goal and came away with a 1-0 win away from home.

“I don’t think we played to our best,” Hines said. “I don’t think we were threatening as much as I would have liked us to be. But, you know, to come away from a difficult environment, Bay FC have done really well the last couple of games. Have shown what they are capable of doing. But yeah, 1-0 win away from home I’ll always take. You know, three points, it’s so critical at this stage in the season that we continue to pick up valuable points. But yeah, obviously there’s still a lot of things that we can continue to work on. I said to the players before the game, it’s important that we still learn, even though we’re unbeaten and still winning games, that we still have so many learning moments within that to continue to progress towards the postseason.”

The win extends the Pride’s unbeaten run to 21 games in the regular season, 22 games in the league going back to last year, and 25 games in all competitions. More importantly, the Current beat the Washington Spirit 3-0 earlier in the night, so the Pride extended their lead atop the NWSL standings to seven points.

Additionally, the win guarantees the Pride a top four position at the end of the season. They’ll host a playoff game for the first time in club history.

“We are really happy to know that,” Marta said about securing a home playoff game. “It was, like, our first goal in this year. To come back to the playoffs and play at home. It’s the best with our support and in the atmosphere that we have every single game at home. So, yeah, I’m happy with that. And then we’re going to go for more. Of course, our second goal is to win the shield, and then keep working hard to win the next games.”

The Pride also continued their record breaking with Moorhouse’s 12th shoutout of the season. That breaks the NWSL record for most shutouts by a single goalkeeper in a season.

“It’s a great feeling to have it just be me. It’s not a tied record. It’s Orlando Pride, it’s me, all up front. So, yeah, that’s a great feeling,” Moorhouse said. “It’s something, like I said before, I wanted it. It was one of my goals before the season to kind of see if I could get that record. It probably only became, not a determined effort, but it became more of a reality as the season went on. I’m like, yeah, I can actually do this. And now we have, I think it’s five games left to go. So, I just want to extend that record as much as I can and hopefully it stays for many years.”

She’ll have that opportunity when the Pride return home for a two-game homestand, beginning on Sept. 28 against the Houston Dash.

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Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride look to build on their home win against North Carolina against Boston Legacy FC tonight in a midweek contest.

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4 hours ago

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May 12, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (3-3-2, 11 points) take on Boston Legacy FC (1-5-2, 5 points) in Foxborough, MA. This is the first of two games between the teams this year, with the return game in Orlando scheduled for July 15.

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

History

Since this is the first year in the existence of Boston Legacy FC and the first time the two clubs will meet in 2026, there’s no history between the teams. However, Boston’s roster does include forward Amanda Allen, who played for the Pride from 2023 to 2025. Additionally, the Pride will be familiar with several of the opposing players as they have extensive experience in the league.

Overview

This has been an up-and-down season for the Pride so far. It began with a disappointing start as they fell 2-1 to Seattle Reign FC and drew 1-1 with Denver Summit FC. They bounced back from the homestand with an impressive 3-0 win over the Chicago Stars, a scoreless draw with defending NWSL champion NJ/NY Gotham FC, and a 2-1 win over Angel City FC.

Unfortunately, those highs didn’t last long. Orlando fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC and 4-2 to the Washington Spirit, before defeating the North Carolina Courage 1-0 Friday night.

The Pride have been carried offensively by striker Barbra Banda, who has eight goals and has scored the team’s five most recent goals. All five have come in the last three games. The team has only played two games in which other players have scored. Jacquie Ovalle and Hannah Anderson converted against Chicago and Haley McCutcheon had a surprising brace against Angel City.

The team got off to a good start defensively, conceding just four goals in the first five games, including two clean sheets. But the Pride were torn apart by Louisville and Washington, giving up seven goals in those two games.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines responded by making adjustments to the back line Friday night. While it was the same back four, Cori Dyke moved from left back to center back, Oihane moved from right back to left back, and Hailie Mace moved from center back to her natural right back position. The changes resulted in the team’s first clean sheet in five games.

They’ll look to build on their most recent result tonight against a team that sits at the bottom of the NWSL standings. Through five games, Boston has just one win, a 3-2 victory over fellow newcomers Denver at home. However, they sandwiched that win with a 2-2 draw against the Courage and a 1-1 draw with Gotham away from home on Saturday.

With only seven goals this season, there hasn’t been much of a threat from this new team. Aissata Traore and Alba Cano lead the way with two goals each, while Bianca St-Georges, Sammy Smith, and Nichelle Prince have one goal each. Prince also has a team-leading two assists.

Defensively, Boston is led by league veteran goalkeeper Casey Murphy, who spent the last five seasons with the Courage and has made her way into the U.S. National Team setup. The team has seen several defensive units and formations since the start of the season as it looks to find the best lineup.

Tonight’s hosts face a tough challenge as they welcome the league-leading goal scorer in Banda. Meanwhile, the Pride will undoubtedly see this game as an opportunity to create some momentum as the schedule creeps closer to the FIFA World Cup break.

“I think it is going to be a tough game. I think any game in this league is tough, regardless of where the standings are,” Hines said ahead of tonight’s game. “Boston are in good form right now. I think they are unbeaten in three games, so we are looking to build on our performance this last week against North Carolina. Hopefully, get three points away from home and start that journey on our away form as well. Always expect a tough match. They have some tough players as well, and we have to put our best game forward.”

The Pride will take the field tonight without Kerry Abello (hip), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle), Jacquie Ovalle (thigh), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Solai Washington (knee). Boston will be without Kaka (ankle) and Fauzia Najjemba (thigh), while Nicki Hernandez (thigh) is listed as questionable.

Projected Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Hailie Mace.

Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfielders: Summer Yates, Haley McCutcheon, Marta.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Boston Legacy FC (3-1-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Casey Murphy.

Defenders: Lois Araujo, Bianca St-Georges, Emerson Elgin.

Defensive Midfielder: Annie Karich.

Attacking Midfielders: Sammy Smith, Josefine Hasbo, Alba Cano, Nichelle Prince.

Forwards: Amanda Gutierres, Barbara Olivierei.

Referees

REF: Katja Koroleva.
AR1: Sharon Gingrich.
AR2: Kristin Patterson.
4TH: Jeremy Scheer.
VAR: Brad Jensen.
AVAR: Matthew Seem.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Gillette Stadium — Foxborough, MA.

TV: None.

Streaming: Victory+.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Win on Banda’s Late Goal

North Carolina hadn’t allowed a goal in the second half all season until Banda’s breakthrough.

Published

4 days ago

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May 8, 2026

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Image of Barbra Banda celebrating her winning goal against the Courage.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

A sloppy first 85 minutes finally gave way to a moment of brilliance from Barbra Banda as she worked her way free for the one and only goal to get the Orlando Pride (3-3-2, 11 points) back to their winning ways. Banda’s eighth of the season led to a 1-0 Pride win over the North Carolina Courage (2-3-3, 9 points) at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are still waking up from the international break, having lost the last two to Racing Louisville, a team well below them in the standings, and the Washington Spirit at home. Banda has scored five goals in the last three games, leading the NWSL in goals, but she’s the only one scoring.

“We’ve met as units. We watch film, we go over things,” Pride forward Simone Jackson said in preparation for this game. “We’re talking to each other. We’re working on shifting faster and covering splits and making change for this North Carolina game and making sure that our press is matching their style of play.”

Head Coach Seb Hines put the same lineup on the field as the previous game against the Spirit, with Anna Moorhouse in goal. The only changes were in where the players started. Cori Dyke moved from left back to right center back, with Oihane and Rafaelle to her left and Hailie Mace at right back. Additionally, Haley McCutcheon dropped into central midfield with Ally Lemos, while Angelina joined Summer Yates and Solai Washington in the attacking midfield with Banda up top.

“We felt we had conceded seven goals in two games and we needed to make a shift in the back line,” Hines said after the game. “Cori Dyke has played center back for me and Hailie Mace is a new player to the club and just finding a bit more comfort with her playing right back. We just felt we needed to shift a bit — not change the personnel but shift the personnel.”

The Pride opened the match with a free kick from 40 yards out that Lemos sent straight to Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. North Carolina was able to get to the end line four minutes later but the cross went straight to Moorhouse. At the eight-minute mark, Angelina intercepted a long ball and headed it to Yates at the top of the box, whose first touch failed her and snuffed out the counter.

Banda got her elbow up high in the 10th minute and caught Natalia Staude in the chin. That prompted a delay as the video assistant referee evaluated it for a red card offense but eventually play resumed without incident. Banda then showed her immense talents three minutes later, outracing and outmuscling center backs, Staude and Uno Shiragaki for 40 yards, but the double team eventually won out.

Moorhouse and Lemos collided defending a free kick at the 18-minute mark, which caused Lemos to take a moment to gather herself. Yates picked up a yellow card in the 21st minute for sliding under Riley Jackson and catching her with her studs in the fallout of a foul she herself had drawn on the play. Washington slipped by Jackson with a great move in the 25th but the play ended up with a corner that turned into nothing.

As a light rain (that eventually turned into a full-on downpour) settled in with 18 minutes to play in the half, the Pride definitely had shown more promise on offense but no real threats. It was a good start for a team that had fallen behind early previously but more precision was going to be needed on the offensive side. Washington worked herself free in the box but, again, the shot went wide.

The first real threat from the Courage came in the 31st minute as Manaka Matsukubo got on the end of a deflected corner and pushed it just wide of the far post. Yates went to the ground a minute later after she took a shot to the ribcage by Lauryn Thompson.

Whether it was the rain picking up or a tactical adjustment, the game flowed to where North Carolina started owning possession but without any real threats. The Pride couldn’t get out of their own end until the 40th minute when a pass from Lemos to Banda at the top of the box allowed her to open up enough space to rocket a shot just wide of the near post.

Thompson tried to chip a cross towards the Pride goal but ended up skying it into the stands in the 43rd minute. With five minutes added to the first half for the various video reviews and injuries, The Courage kept Orlando bottled up in their own defensive end. Trying to escape, Oihane overhit a touch and kicked the legs out of Thompson, picking up a yellow card in the third minute of added time. A shot by McCutcheon a minute later deflected off Banda just wide.

To wrap up the half, Lemos picked up a yellow card in the fifth minute of added time for tripping Matsukubo. North Carolina’s ensuing free kick went long and ended the half just as the rain let up.

It wasn’t a great half of soccer by either team, highlighted by minimal threats and mostly defined by turnovers. The Pride trailed possession (58%-42%), crosses (7-5) and passing accuracy (83%-76%) but led on shots (4-3). Both teams had two corners and neither put a shot on goal.

The Pride came out with energy in the second half trying to change that. Just 30 seconds in, Washington crossed it to Banda at the penalty spot but she scuffed the volley. One minute later, Banda held off Shiragaki to open up a shot but put it just over the bar.

“Honestly, to be switched on from the beginning,” Angelina said when asked about the halftime message. “We know that in past games we got scored on pretty early coming back from the half. That was a big goal for us to come and be disciplined.”

Dani Weatherholt elbowed Washington to the ground in the 50th minute, picking up the Courage’s first yellow card. Matsukubo unleashed a 40-yard through ball to Thompson at the 53-minute mark, freeing Thompson for a shot wide.

Hines decided to try to bring some precision to the attack in the 55th minute, bringing in Marta for Yates and Seven Castain for Washington. It didn’t lead to anything immediately and, in the 60th, Shinomi Koyama got free at the top of the box and put it just over the bar.

However, just seconds later, Banda held off her defender at midfield and dribbled to the middle, laying it off to Marta in the box, who worked herself free for the first shot on target for either team. Sheridan kept it out with a huge save. The ensuing corner by Lemos rattled off the near post, leading to nothing. Lemos was subbed off a minute later in the 64th, with Julie Doyle taking her place.

Marta’s influence on the game started to become even more apparent with a slick left-footed inside-of-the-boot pass that curled perfectly to Banda, but she dribbled in too deep and didn’t get a shot off, losing the ball to Sheridan while trying to round the keeper. Ryan Williams put a shot over the bar 90 seconds later off a block.

Marta rifled a corner in the 69th minute that Sheridan parried right to McCutcheon, who fired it just wide. The Courage then made their first substitutes, bringing in Chioma Okafor for Thompson and Ally Schlegel for Evelyn Ijeh. Ijeh is listed as the forward for the Courage, yet this is the first mention she got in this writeup.

There was a lot of back-and-forth play over the next few minutes until Sanchez pushed a shot just past the far post in the 76th minute. North Carolina then brought in Carly Wickenheiser for Jackson in the 77th minute.

Marta shook herself loose in the 81st and thought she had a corner off a Sheridan tip but it was judged as a missed shot. Angelina went down in the ensuing Courage possession and was subbed off for Luana at the 84th-minute mark. The Courage made a substitution in the 85th, bringing in Ivy Younce for Sanchez.

In the 87th, the Pride broke the scoreless deadlock. Rafaelle intercepted a long pass and fired it over the top to Banda, who was kept onside by Staude. Banda worked her way into the box on the left. The Zambian international sent a curling shot around Sheridan and inside the right post, finally converting and giving the Pride the lead they had been knocking on for a while. Banda had been wasteful all game, but a striker just needs one. The Courage had not surrendered a second-half goal all season but they hadn’t played Banda yet either.

Banda went down in the ensuing celebration and then again five minutes later after a tough shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. She was able to return and, 60 seconds later, held off three defenders while transitioning the ball all the way down the field. She looked winded at this point, but the Pride had used all their subs.

Rafaelle picked up a yellow card in the seventh minute of added time for an over-the-top challenge. That produced the last meaningful action of the half as the Pride wrapped up the win.

The Pride ended up with roughly the same amount of possession as in the first half, finishing behind the Courage (56%-44%). They trailed in shots (12-9) but led in shots on target (2-1). The Courage led in crosses (13-8), but the Pride had one more corner (5-4). Passing accuracy picked up for the Pride in the second half, but they still ended up trailing (82.4%-79.6%).

The Pride now head out on a long road trip. They’ll head to Boston for a game against the Legacy on Tuesday, fly to Denver for a Saturday game against the Summit. Orlando will then get an eight-day break before going to San Diego to play the Wave.

“Sometimes road trips are nice, because you get to bond as a team,” Moorhouse said. “You’re with your teammates 24/7, so you get to bond a bit and hopefully this win will now snowball.”

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Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride look to end their two-game losing streak as they welcome the North Carolina Courage to Inter&Co Stadium.

Published

4 days ago

on

May 8, 2026

By

Image of Rafaelle playing the ball.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (2-3-2, 8 points) look to bounce back from a tough loss as they welcome the North Carolina Courage (2-2-3, 9 points) to Inter&Co Stadium (8 p.m., Prime Video). This is the first of two meetings between the two teams this season, with the return game in Cary, NC scheduled for July 31.

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

History

The Pride and Courage have played 28 times since the Western New York Flash moved to North Carolina and became the Courage in 2017. The Pride are 6-11-3 in the all-time series in NWSL play and 6-14-8 in all competitions (0-0-2 in the Fall Series, 0-3-2 in the NWSL Challenge Cup, and 0-0-1 in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.). Orlando is 3-6-0 at home in league play and 3-7-2 in home matches against the Courage in all competitions.

The most recent meeting between the two teams took place Sept. 19, 2025. The game appeared to be headed towards a scoreless draw until the end of normal time, when Shinomi Koyama converted to give the Courage the 1-0 win.

Prior to that game, the teams met on May 10 in Cary, NC. Feli Rauch scored in the first half to give the hosts the lead and it looked like they would hold on for all three points. But Prisca Chilufya’s equalizer in second-half stoppage time saw the game end in a 1-1 draw.

The first meeting in 2024 was held on May 1 in Orlando. Barbra Banda set up Ally Watt for the opener in the first half, and Watt repaid the favor just over 10 minutes later, as the Pride went up 2-0. Julie Doyle added a goal just before halftime, giving the Pride a commanding lead. Emily Sams’ own goal was the only scoring for the Courage, and Banda’s second of the night gave the Pride a 4-1 win.

On June 15, the Pride were the better team with more possession, shots, and shots on target, but the game ended in a scoreless draw. While they were disappointed with the result, the Pride were the first team to take points in North Carolina in 2024. On July 20 in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup in North Carolina, Manaka Matsukubo gave the hosts the lead just before halftime before Celia equalized late for the Pride. The game went into penalties and the Courage won the shootout 5-4. 

The first game between the Pride and Courage in 2023 took place April 19 in Orlando. The Pride took the lead after halftime when Summer Yates set up Watt for the opening goal, but Denise O’Sullivan equalized deep in second-half injury time, resulting in a 1-1 draw. On June 17 in North Carolina, it was all Courage. Kerolin and Meredith Speck gave the hosts a 2-0 lead before a Haley McCutcheon own goal made it 3-0 to North Carolina.

The Pride didn’t show up for the July 29 Challenge Cup contest in North Carolina, getting demolished by the Courage. Brittany Ratcliffe and Malia Berkely gave the hosts a 2-0 halftime lead before Frankie Tagliaferri made it three, and a late brace by Haley Hopkins completed the 5-0 beating. The Pride finally got a win over the Courage in 2023 on Sept. 17 at home. Watt scored inside the first minute. After assisting on the first goal, Adriana doubled the lead before halftime. Matsukubo got one back for the visitors, but it wasn’t enough and the Pride won 2-1.

The first meeting in 2022 came on May 18 in North Carolina. Sydney Leroux scored early and Mikayla Cluff doubled the lead with her first professional goal. A late goal by Brianna Pinto got the Courage back within one, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride took the2-1 win. On Sept. 21, 2022, at Exploria Stadium, Debinha scored early, assisted Tess Boade in first-half injury time to double the lead, and later added another goal, dooming the Pride to a 3-0 defeat.

The Pride and Courage were placed in the same division for the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, so the teams played twice before the regular season started. The first game took place March 26 in North Carolina. Merritt Mathias converted a penalty after Gunny Jonsdottir was called for a handball in the box, lifting the hosts to a 1-0 win. The return match in the tournament took place on April 16 in Orlando. The Courage scored three goals in the first nine minutes. Darian Jenkins netted a brace to make it 3-2, but a late Debinha goal put the game away and North Carolina won 4-2.

The teams played three times during the 2021 NWSL season. On May 22 in North Carolina, goals by Leroux and Alex Morgan gave the Pride a 2-0 lead late into the game. Jessica McDonald scored late to pull one back but the Pride held on for a 2-1 win. On July 4 in Orlando, Debinha and Havana Solaun goals helped the Courage take home a 2-0 win. The final game was played July 31 in North Carolina. Leroux opened the scoring but Ratcliffe equalized moments later and the teams drew 1-1.

The two teams were also matched up in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup but they only played once in that tournament. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in a scoreless draw.

Similar to the Challenge Cup, the teams were in the same group of the 2020 Fall Series, meeting twice. The first took place Sept. 19 in North Carolina and ended in a scoreless draw. The second was held on Oct. 17 at Exploria Stadium. Led by a Debinha brace, the Courage went up 3-0. But the Pride came back with goals by Marisa Viggiano, Kristen Edmonds, and Ally Haran for an exciting 3-3 draw.

The Pride and Courage played three times during the 2019 season. The first game was on April 17 in North Carolina. The Courage took a 1-0 lead into halftime but scored four times in the second half to win 5-0. They played a second time on June 1 in Orlando. Again, it was a dominant performance by the Courage as the Pride fell 3-0. The final meeting that year was another thrashing by North Carolina as the Pride fell 6-1.

The teams also met three times in 2018. On May 23 in Orlando, goals by Alanna Kennedy and Rachel Hill saw the Pride come back from a 3-1 deficit. But McDonald scored a winner in the 90th minute and the Courage won 4-3. The Pride went down by three goals in the final two games that season, but were unable to come back and fell 3-0 in both contests.

The 2017 season saw the teams meet for the first time. The Courage took the first game 3-1 on April 29 in North Carolina. They played a second time two weeks later in Orlando when the Pride took the 3-1 win. The final meeting in 2017 came in the final game of the season on Sept. 30. Kennedy netted a late winner, leading the Pride to a 3-2 win.

Overview

The Pride went into the three-week international break on a four-game point streak, recording a pair of wins and a pair of draws. However, they’ve had two poor results since then, a 3-2 loss to Racing Louisville on the road and a 4-2 loss to the Washington Spirit at home.

The most recent game got off to a terrible start as Sofia Cantore scored twice in the first five and a half minutes to give the Spirit a 2-0 lead. It looked worse when Ally Lemos had her penalty saved by Sandy MacIver. But Banda scored twice before the break to even the game at 2-2.

Unfortunately, Claudia Martinez and Trinity Rodman scored in the second half, lifting the visitors to a two-goal win and handing the Pride their second consecutive loss. The losses put the Pride in 12th place in the league standings, but just one point behind eighth.

With Kerry Abello and Kylie Nadaner out, the Pride’s back line has consisted of Cori Dyke, Rafaelle, Hailie Mace, and Oihane. Together with starting goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, the defensive unit has conceded seven goals in the last two games. But that’s not the only reason they’ve struggled the last two weeks.

Finishing has been another problem for the Pride. The only player able to convert has been Banda, who has scored four goals in the two most recent games. As previously mentioned, that included a Lemos penalty saved against the Spirit.

Tonight, the Pride face a foe in a similar position, as the Courage also sit on nine points. They’ve played three games since the break. They returned from the international break with a 1-0 win over the Houston Dash before drawing Boston Legacy 2-2 and losing to the Kansas City Current 2-1.

The Courage are tied for the sixth-most goals conceded through their first seven games. That’s despite adding Canadian international goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who joined from San Diego Wave FC, where she was one of the league’s top shot stoppers.

The back line in front of Sheridan has been consistent recently, consisting of Dani Weatherholt, Maycee Bell, Uno Shiragaki, and Ryan Williams. However, Bell missed the team’s loss against Kansas City with a lower body injury.

Offensively, the Courage are led by U.S. international Ashley Sanchez, who has five goals. Matsukubo is second on the team with two goals and Weatherholt has the remaining one.

Williams leads the Courage with three assists so far this season, followed by Carly Wickenheiser, Matsukubo, Payton Linnehan, and Shinomi Koyama with one each.

“I think in any game in this league, it’s always going to be a tough matchup. I think they’re looking to bounce back from a defeat this past weekend. Similarly, we are as well,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said leading into tonight’s game. “We want to get our home form going again. Looking back at the Washington game, we’re very disappointed in the goals we conceded. We created some of our own as well and we have to capitalize on those moments. But there’s been a big emphasis on getting back to who we are as a team and not conceding sloppy goals.”

The Pride will play tonight without Kerry Abello (hip), Hannah Anderson (illness), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle), Jacquie Ovalle (thigh), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), and Viviana Villacorta (knee). The Courage are without Maycee Bell (knee), Payton Crawford (knee), Natalie Jacobs (ankle), Feli Rauch (suspension), and Olivia Wingate (knee).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Oihane, Raelle, Cori Dyke, Hailie Mace.

Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfielders: Solai Washington, Angelina, Summer Yates.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Nicole Payne, Reagan Raabe, Luana, Seven Castain, Julie Doyle, Simone Jackson, Marta

North Carolina Courage (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan.

Defenders: Dani Weatherholt, Natalia Staude, Uno Shiragaki, Ryan Williams.

Midfielders: Manaka Matsukubo, Shinomi Koyama, Riley Jackson.

Forwards: Ashley Sanchez, Evelyn Ijeh, Lauryn Thompson.

Bench: Molly Pritchard, Sydney Schmidt, Cameron Brooks, Ivy Younce, Carly Wickenheiser, Ally Schlegel, Hannah Betfort, Cortnee Vine, Chioma Okafor.

Referees

REF: Lauren Aldrich.
AR1: Zeno Cho.
AR2: Seun Yinka-Kehinde.
4TH: Elvis Osmanovic.
VAR: Anya Voigt.
AVAR: Kaili Terry.

How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: None.

Streaming: Prime Video.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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