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Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 3-1 as Pride Drop Second Straight Game

One loss turned into two in a row as the Orlando offense and defense both struggled again on the road.

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1 year ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (17-2-6, 57 points) fell for the second straight game, losing 3-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC (16-4-5, 53 points) at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute through Sam Hiatt and the Pride answered when Adriana converted a penalty in the 31st minute. Gotham retook the lead in first-half stoppage time through Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens put the game away in the 49th minute.

After making five changes to the lineup for the 2-0 loss to the Portland Thorns on Oct. 11, Pride Head Coach Seb Hines went back to his usual team. Anna Moorhouse was in goal behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke. Morgan Gautrat and Angelina were in the defensive midfield behind Julie Doyle, Marta, and Adriana, with Barbra Banda up top.

Despite having their regular starting lineup back in action, this was a poor performance by the Pride. They struggled to clear the ball out of their own box and only put two shots on target. The first two Gotham goals should have been cleared, but the Pride were slow to react. Meanwhile, they rarely threatened Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, enabling the hosts to walk away with a stress-free win.

The Pride created the first shot on goal in the seventh minute when Angelina sent Banda down the left. The striker used some nifty moves to beat Jess Carter before playing the ball to Adriana, who was approaching the top of the box. The Brazilian took a touch inside to lose Jenna Nighswonger and tried to beat Berger to her left post but missed just wide.

In the 13th minute, Sams headed the ball away, but Stevens collected it. The midfielder found Esther near the top of the box and the striker continued it to Yazmeen Ryan on the far side. Abello left the midfielder, providing her with a free shot on goal, but Moorhouse tipped it over the top.

Stevens and Adriana challenged for the ensuing set piece in the box with the Gotham attacker getting her head to it. Hiatt was in front of goal and it didn’t appear as though she got a touch to it, but Moorhouse’s view was blocked and the ball went in to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.

The goal was originally given to Stevens before it was changed to Hiatt when they determined the defender got a slight touch to the ball before it went in. Regardless of who scored, it was the second straight week that the Pride trailed in a game after playing the previous 21 without trailing.

In the 29th minute, Angelina sent a long pass behind the Gotham back line for Banda to run onto. Hiatt got back to defend the striker in the box, but Banda did well to tap the ball past her. It was an ill-advised challenge by Hiatt as she stuck her foot in and tripped the Zambian. Referee Ricardo Fierro immediately pointed to the spot, awarding the Pride a penalty.

Adriana stepped up to take the spot kick and sent Berger the wrong way, putting her penalty into the bottom right corner of the goal to even the game at 1-1.

Gotham tried to retake the lead in the 33rd minute when Nighswonger built an attack on the left. Receiving the ball at the top of the box, Esther laid it back for Lavelle just outside the 18, where the U.S. international fired towards goal. The midfielder was unable to get over the ball, sending it over the top.

Marta played Adriana forward in the 39th minute and the Pride had a promising attack with Banda on her right. Hiatt kept the striker onside and Adriana should’ve sent Banda into the box but kept the ball to herself instead. Eventually, Adriana took a shot that went right to Berger.

Gotham nearly regained the lead in the 41st minute when Lavelle played a dangerous ball across the box for Ryan. Sams was in front of the goal, but the midfielder had plenty of space for a shot. However, she was unable to connect with the ball, enabling the Pride to avoid conceding for a second time.

After Gotham recycled the ball, it ended up with Ryan again, providing the attacker with a second opportunity. She sent this chance over the top, again enabling the Pride to clear.

Abello lost the ball to Ryan in the 43rd minute while trying some fancy turns, giving Gotham another good chance to retake the lead. The midfielder dribbled through Angelina and Strom before Sams knocked it off of her foot. It went straight to Stevens, who tried to tuck it inside Moorhouse’s far post, but the ball rolled just wide.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Stevens used some quick turns to lose Angelina and sent a cross towards the back post. Esther tried to redirect the ball with her head, but only got a brief touch to it. However, the ball went to the far post, where Mandy Freeman was making a run. The defender took a shot on goal that Moohouse blocked with her foot.

Nobody in orange was able to clear the ball and it went to Lavelle with nobody on her. It was an easy finish for the midfielder, giving her team a 2-1 lead. 

It was the first time the Pride have conceded twice in the first half since the season opener against Racing Louisville FC on March 16. The opposition that day scored twice inside the first 20 minutes.

The Pride had more first-half possession (55%-45%), but Gotham created more shots (10-5) and put more chances on target (4-2). Gotham also had more crosses (8-7) while the Pride had more corner kicks (3-1) and better passing accuracy (81%-79%).

Hines made one halftime change, replacing Gautrat with Summer Yates.

In the 48th minute, Stevens carried the ball into the Pride third and sent Delanie Sheehan into the box. Sams was on the attacker and forced her to tap the ball towards goal, but Strom was there. It wasn’t a simple clearance as the center back got the ball caught in her feet, but she eventually sent it out for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece was cleared, but only to Nighswonger. The right back played it forward to Lavelle, who played a beautiful ball with the outside of her foot for Bruninha. The Brazilian’s first touch was into the six where Stevens beat her defenders and put it past Moorhouse to give Gotham a 3-1 lead.

The goal saw the Pride concede three goals in a game for the first time this season. The last time they conceded three times was on Oct. 6, 2023, the last loss they suffered prior to Portland and one they lost 3-2.

“I think we just gifted them goals,” Hines said about conceding three times. “You know, it’s another set piece that we conceded from. And, yeah, it’s a couple of giveaways that have led to the opportunities to score. So we haven’t showed (that) the whole season long. And so it’s such a critical time in the season that we can’t afford to give teams like Gotham those types of gifts.”

The Pride had a chance to get one back in the 53rd minute when Nighswonger pulled Adriana down from behind just outside the Gotham box, earning a yellow card for the challenge. Marta took the set piece, but sent it into the wall.

Hines made his second and third changes in the 60th minute, replacing Adriana and Doyle with Ally Watt and Haley McCutcheon.

Nealy Martin took out Marta from behind in the 66th minute, giving the Pride a free kick. Angelina sent the set piece to the back post, where it found the head of Watt, but the substitute forward’s chance went wide.

Immediately after the missed chance, Hines made his fourth change of the game. It was a more attacking one as Viviana Villacorta came on for Abello.

Yates sent a dangerous ball into the box and towards the back post in the 72nd minute. Banda and Watt were making runs, but Hiatt got to it first and headed it out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece by Marta was too high and rolled out of play untouched for a goal kick.

Yates sent Banda down the left in the 74th minute and Carter did well to shield the striker, knocking the ball out for a corner kick. Hines took the stoppage in play to make his final change of the game, replacing Marta with Evelina Duljan.

The set piece was sent into the six-yard box where Duljan and Watt went after it. Duljan got to the ball first and headed it towards goal, but it bounced off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Watt made a long run towards the top of the Gotham box in the 87th minute. Dribbling to the right and away from goal, the forward tried to turn and shoot. However, she was slightly unbalanced while shooting, sending the weak attempt wide.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Nighswonger went over Duljan and was called for a foul. Angelina lifted the free kick into the box and Berger punched it away. After Duljan’s ball back in was cleared, Sams’ poor touch enabled McCall Zerboni to knock it forward for Lavelle. The midfielder quickly sent it wide for Bruninha, who charged up field before sending an ambitious shot towards goal. Moorhouse seemed to know it was going over the whole time, but the ball barely missed the crossbar.

That was the last chance of the game as the Pride fell for the second straight time. The Pride ended the game with more possession (55%-45%), but Gotham took more shots (15-9) and put more on target (5-2). The visitors also had the advantage in crosses (16-10), corner kicks (5-2), and passing accuracy (78%-74%) despite losing by two goals.

“We showed our quality at times and we showed that if we don’t handle the ball with better care, you know, you get punished for it,” Hines said. “The goals that we conceded we’re really disappointed with. And so, yeah, we’ll review it and we’ll reflect, and again, make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

“Obviously we’re disappointed. We know it was not our best showing. We know we’re a way better team than that, so that’s frustrating,” Dyke added. “But with that, we know we just have to remember everything we did right leading up to this point and not let our confidence drop from that.”

The Pride entered this two-game road trip on the heels of clinching the NWSL Shield and maintaining an unbeaten record this season. It was a pair of games to forget as they lost their first two games of the year and were outscored 5-1 by the opposition. Despite the recent struggles, the players are still expressing confidence in their abilities.

“This team, this culture, is so great. And it’s easy to have a good culture when you’re winning, but, In instances like this, that culture kind of gets put to the test,” Dyke said about the losing streak. “And I think there’s a lot of growth that we can have in that through this adversity going into playoffs. I think when we learn from these mistakes. We can be even better going into the postseason.”

“Just to get back to where we were before the shield,” Hines added about his message to the team after the two losses. “We showed some really good form. We were hungry, we had desire, we’re very committed. And I feel at this period where whatever happens in the game, it doesn’t have any dividends on our position. So we just have to get back to who we are, our identity, you know, working extremely hard, not allowing teams to work harder than us once we step onto that field.”

The Pride will have two weeks before they take the field again. Next weekend is an international break and the NWSL will stop to avoid teams losing key players. It’s something that could enable the Pride to refocus before their last game of the season.

The Pride will return home on Nov. 2 for their last game of the regular season as they take on Seattle Reign FC.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Marta

The captain once again provided the competitive spark for the Pride in 2025.

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3 days ago

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December 11, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Marta signed with the Orlando Pride way back in 2017. She has been the constant for the club through ups and mostly downs. That all changed last season as she captained her club to two trophies. In 2022, she signed a new two-year contract, taking her through 2024. She then signed yet another two-year contract through 2026.

Marta didn’t have the same type of year as she did in 2024, but she was still one of the better players for the Pride. She remains the heart of this team, showing the others what passion and effort looks like even as she edges closer to the end of her playing career. Let’s take a look at the GOAT’s 2025 season.

Statistical Breakdown

Marta started and played the full 90 minutes in the 2025 Challenge Cup match. She did not record a goal contribution and took two off-target shots. However, her free kick was blocked, resulting in Rafaelle’s opening goal. Marta also set a shot up for the defender in the match but the effort was off target. The Brazilian legend completed 26 of her 37 passes (82%), took four corner kicks, and she did not record a completed long ball. Defensively, she recorded three tackles and won three headed duels. She committed one foul, drew one on the Washington Spirit, and was not booked.

During the regular season, Marta made 22 appearances (18 starts), playing 1,599 minutes. She contributed four goals and an assist, putting 13 of her 27 shots on target. She completed 519 of her 731 passes (71%), 13 crosses, and two of her four long balls (50%) with 43 chances created. On the defensive end, the Brazilian contributed 22 tackles, 19 interceptions, and one blocked shot. She committed 14 fouls, drew 28 on the opposition, and was not booked.

Marta started both playoff games, playing all 180 minutes. She took one shot but did not record a goal contribution, although she was involved in both goals against the Reign, working a give-and-go with Julie Doyle prior to Haley McCutcheon’s opening goal and drawing the penalty that handed Luana the late insurance tally. The captain completed 52 of her 69 passes (75.4%), including three of her six long balls (50%) and four key passes. She recorded one tackle, two interceptions, and one clearance defensively while committing one foul, drawing six on her opponents, and being booked once.

Marta participated in one of the Concacaf W Champions Cup matches against Pachuca. She played all 90 minutes and scored the Pride’s only goal on two shots, one of which was on target. She completed 27 of 34 passes (79%). Defensively, she recorded three tackles, while committing two fouls, and suffering two fouls. She was not booked.

Best Game

While Marta had several good games, I think her best game was the Pride’s 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18. Marta was named Player of the Match by both Michael Citro and myself on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast. The captain caused an own goal and scored on a penalty kick to give the Pride an important road win heading into the playoffs. Washington scored first on a Kerry Abello own goal, but Abello then corrected that mistake by scoring one for her own team minutes later. The Spirit took the lead again and held it at halftime. Seb Hines substituted Marta in at the start of the second half, and it’s a good thing he did. It literally only took her 52 seconds to even the score.

In the 70th minute, Ally Watt was fouled in the box, setting up a penalty for the Pride. There was no doubt who would take the kick, and it turned out there was no doubt Marta would bury it in the back of the net for the winning goal.

Marta might have only played 45 minutes plus stoppage but her impact was monumental. In this match, she took one shot, which was on target, scoring the aforementioned goal. She had 27 touches, completed nine of her 13 passes (70%), two of her three long balls (67%) and took one corner kick. Defensively, she contributed one block and one clearance. She committed one foul, did not suffer any fouls, and was not booked.

2025 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Marta a composite rating of 7 out of 10 for her ninth season with the club. This was a point lower than the 8 we gave her last year. Much like many of the Pride’s players, Marta’s 2025 wasn’t as good as her 2024, but she was still a critical part of the successes of the team. In 2024, she had a banner year, but despite being a year older, she was still productive in 2025.

2026 Outlook

The 39-year-old is entering the last year of her contract, and it would be surprising — though not totally inconceivable —that she will get another. Despite the fact she will turn 40-years-old before the beginning of the season, she will remain the Pride’s captain as long as she can take to the pitch. Assuming she’s healthy, there’s no reason to assume she can’t contribute to at least the same level as she did in 2025. There’s even a possibility that she finds something closer to her 2024 form. No one plays with more passion than Marta, and I will not doubt what she can do when she has the look in her eye.

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This concludes our 2025 Orlando Pride player-by-player Season in Review series. We hope you’ve enjoyed looking back on the players’ performances from the past year as we move closer toward seeing what lies ahead in 2026.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Jacquie Ovalle

The Pride broke the world transfer record to land the Mexican international in 2025.

Published

4 days ago

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December 10, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride signed Mexican international winger Jacquie Ovalle for a then-world record transfer fee on Aug. 21, acquiring the attacker’s services from Tigres UANL in Liga MX Femenil. While the club did not announce the transfer fee, it was reportedly around $1.5 million. That transfer record has since been broken a couple of times since, but it was an ambitious move by the Pride to try to provide Barbra Banda a playmaking wing of the highest caliber.

The move ultimately didn’t pay many dividends in 2025, as Banda went down with a season-ending injury before Ovalle arrived, and the Mexican international struggled to get comfortable with her new team, the new league, and a new culture in what could best be described as an inconsistent performance after she joined the Pride.

Let’s take a look at Ovalle’s first season in the City Beautiful.

Statistical Breakdown

Ovalle was signed well after the season-opening NWSL Challenge Cup, so she saw no action in the competition. She made her Pride debut in the regular season on Sept. 7 off the bench. It was an inauspicious start, as Orlando got flattened 5-2 at Chicago that day, with all of the goals happening in the second half. Ovalle played in eight regular-season matches with Orlando, starting seven and logging 666 minutes. She contributed a goal and two assists in her time on the pitch with the Pride, attempting 20 shots and putting seven on target. She completed 84% of her 201 passes during the regular season, with 18 key passes. Ovalle was accurate on 19 of her 48 crosses (39.6%) and three of her seven long balls (42.9%). Defensively, Ovalle chipped in 13 tackles, three interceptions, and five clearances but no blocks during the regular season. She committed six fouls, drew five, and received one yellow card.

In the playoffs, Ovalle started both of the Pride’s matches and played 173 minutes. She did not log a goal contribution in the postseason, putting one of her six shot attempts on target. The winger completed 34 of her 42 passes (81%) with two key passes but completed just three of her 13 crosses and neither of her two long balls. On the defensive end, Ovalle recorded three tackles, one clearance, and two interceptions. She committed three fouls, drew two on her opponents, and was not booked.

Ovalle appeared in two of Orlando’s games in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, logging 57 minutes off the bench without a goal contribution, attempting one off-target shot. She completed 10 of her 13 passes (76.9%) without a key pass, chipping in three tackles on the defensive end. She committed two fouls, drew two on her opponents, and she wasn’t booked in the competition.

Best Game

There were a few possible games to choose from in this category, and while I was close to choosing the match with her lone goal of the season (Sept. 26 in a 2-1 road win over San Diego), I ended up going a different route. Still, she scored a nice goal, so here it is:

Instead, I’m going back to her first NWSL start. Ovalle started for Orlando for the first time on Sept. 13 in a 1-1 home draw against Bay FC. She was excellent all game long, but her best moment came in the 70th minute, when La Maga sent in a perfect cross for Ally Watt to flick home with a header to equalize, rescuing a point for Orlando.

Ovalle was Fotmob’s highest rated player in the match from either side with a rating of 8.4 and was a danger all night. She fired eight shot attempts, putting three on target and one off the woodwork. She also completed six of her nine crosses in the game, creating four scoring chances in the game with key passes. One of those should have been an assist on a Marta goal on a beautiful back-post ball, but the captain hit the left post with her shot. She chipped in two tackles, one interception, a clearance, and a recovery on the defensive end, committing two fouls and drawing one in what was a standout performance.

2025 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Ovalle a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for her 2025 season. While the Mexican winger played inconsistently, that was to be expected after a midseason move to a new team that was missing its attacking focal point with Banda out. There were signs of the kind of magic moments Ovalle can bring to the Pride attack, they were too few and far between. In fairness, in most of the matches she played there was no one close to her level in the attack with her, and she looked at times too eager to make something happen. Three goal contributions isn’t bad for her first eight NWSL games, but Ovalle clearly needs another threat up top with her to help provide her the space she needs to shoot or deliver one of her lethal passes.

2026 Outlook

Ovalle will be a starter next season and will get to go through a full preseason training camp with the club, which should help her get a better understanding of both what Seb Hines wants from her and how her teammates like to play. She should also get to play with Banda (finally), which could create one of the most dynamic attacking tandems in the league, because some of Banda’s struggles were due to poor service, which Ovalle can help with, and some of Ovalle’s issues were down to a lack of the kind of quick, decisive attacking movements that Banda provides. I expect Ovalle’s production in both goals and assists to jump in 2026 for multiple reasons, but with a healthy Banda, there will be a lot more room for her (and Marta) to operate. A front line of Marta, Banda, and Ovalle is tantalizing.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season In Review: Emily Sams

The center back was once again one of the best defenders for the Pride, helping them reach their second straight NWSL semifinal.

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6 days ago

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December 8, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride drafted defender Emily Sams with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. The former Florida State player signed with the National Women’s Soccer League through 2025 and was loaned to Swedish side BK Hacken FF prior to being selected by the Pride and signing a three-year contract through the 2026 season.

Sams had a breakout year in 2024, winning NWSL Defender of the Year and helping the club win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. She signed a new deal on Feb. 13, 2025, keeping her in purple through the 2027 NWSL season.

The defender showed her versatility this year, playing several games at right back and center back. She was another key player in a successful season for the Pride, helping them to finish fourth in the league and reach the NWSL semifinals.

Let’s take a look at the defender’s 2025 NWSL campaign.

Statistical Breakdown

The defender’s first appearance this year came in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit. Sams started and played all 90 minutes without recording any shots or goal contributions. She completed 44 of her 52 passes (87%), including four long balls. Defensively, Sams recorded a tackle, an interception, and an aerial duel won.

Sams played in 25 of the team’s 26 regular-season games, starting 24 times and playing 2,183 minutes — the second-most minutes of any Pride player and the most by an outfield player. She took two shots without putting any on target, so she obviously didn’t score any goals. The defender completed 1,284 of her 1,457 passes (88.1%), including 85 of her 146 long balls (58.2%), but didn’t record any assists. Defensively, she added 42 tackles, 33 interceptions, 92 clearances, and 13 blocks. She committed 11 fouls, suffered 25, and was booked once with a yellow card.

Sams started both playoff games, playing all 180 minutes. She didn’t take any shots or record a goal contribution, completing 82 of her 97 passes (84.5%), including five of her 12 long balls (41.7%). She recorded three tackles, four interceptions, a block, and 10 clearances defensively while committing two fouls, drawing five on her opponents, and being booked once.

While a primary starter in the regular season, Sams only played in three of the four Concacaf W Champions Cup games, starting two and playing 164 minutes without a goal contribution. She took one shot that was off target and completed 85 of her 100 passes (85.%). The defender had five tackles and wasn’t booked.

Best Game

Sams’ best game came on Oct. 18 when the Pride traveled to Washington, D.C. for an afternoon clash with the Washington Spirit. The Pride came back from two deficits to defeat their rivals 3-2 and claim a huge three points.

Sams started alongside Rafaelle at center back and was excellent. She completed 41 of her 46 passes (89%), including both long balls, a key pass, and three into the final third. She finished with one tackle, five clearances, four interceptions, and four recoveries. The defender won two of her four duels (50%) in a game where she helped the Pride keep their late lead.

2025 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Sams a 7 out of 10 for the 2025 NWSL season. It’s a decrease from her exceptional 9 in 2024, but still higher than her 6.5 grade in 2023. The grade ties Sams with Rafaelle for the second-highest grade on the team, one point behind Barbra Banda, who was given an eight for her injury-shortened season. Overall, Sams was excellent this year and fully deserves one of the highest grades as she further cements herself as one of the best defenders in the NWSL.

2026 Outlook

Perhaps no player on the Pride is a more definite starter next season than Sams. She’s arguably the team’s best defender and has been a mainstay in the starting lineup over the past three seasons. Her new contract in February means she’ll remain in purple through the 2027 season.

The only question will be where she plays. She’s started at center back and right back several times over the past two seasons, but is best in the middle of the field. However, when Kylie Nadaner and Rafaelle are available, Pride Head Coach Seb Hines has opted to use her at right back.

Regardless, there’s no question that Sams will be a regular starter on the Pride back line as long as she remains healthy. Her presence is something that will be essential if the Pride hope to make a run for a second NWSL Championship next season.

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