Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride look to make it five straight wins as they welcome the Washington Spirit to Orlando.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride return home to face the Washington Spirit. This is the second time the teams will meet this year and the first of two regular-season games. They are scheduled to face off again in Washington on Oct. 18.
Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game.
History
The Pride and Spirit have faced off 27 times since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016. Orlando has a record of 10-9-8 in all competitions against Washington and a 9-6-7 record in NWSL play (regular season and playoffs combined).
The last time these two teams met was on March 7 in the NWSL Challenge Cup. In her first game back since July 6, Rafaelle netted the opening goal to give the Pride a late first-half lead. Leicy Santos equalized in the 72nd minute with a terrific strike, ending the game 1-1. The Spirit won the ensuing shootout 4-2 to claim the preseason trophy.
The first meeting of 2024 was on April 26 in Washington, D.C. Angelina gave the Pride the early lead before Ouleymata Sarr equalized shortly before halftime. A Barbra Banda strike and a Summer Yates penalty conversion in the second half seemed to put the game away, but Anna Moorhouse dropped an easy catch from Ashley Hatch, giving the Spirit a second goal. Fortunately, the Pride held on for the 3-2 win, extending their early-season winning streak to three games.
On Oct. 6, 2024 in Orlando, the Pride were dominant but didn’t convert until Marta scored in the 53rd minute. An Adriana shot was deflected by Tara McKeown for an own goal in the 73rd minute, lifting the Pride to a 2-0 win and clinching the NWSL Shield. The two teams then met on Nov. 23, 2024 in the NWSL Championship. Banda’s 37th-minute goal was the difference in the game as the Pride won their first-ever league title.
The first meeting of 2023 was on May 10 at Audi Field in NWSL Challenge Cup group play. Tori Hansen gave the Pride a surprising early lead, but late first-half goals by Lena Silano, Sam Staab, and Marissa Sheva made it 3-1 Washington at halftime. Ally Watt scored off the bench early in the second half, but Ashley Sanchez put the game away in injury time as the Spirit won 4-2.
The first regular-season matchup of 2023 was on May 20 in Orlando. Marta converted a first-half penalty, but Staab equalized five minutes later. Kylie Strom netted the winner late, and the Pride won 2-1. The Pride dominated the Spirit in the second regular-season matchup on July 1. Julie Doyle had a brace in the first 16 minutes and a McKeown own goal put the game out of reach as the Pride won 3-0.
The final meeting in 2023 was in the Challenge Cup on Aug. 4 in Orlando. The game appeared to be headed for a scoreless draw until Mariana Speckmaier scored eight minutes into second-half injury time, lifting her team to a 1-0 win.
The first game between the teams in 2022 came on May 27 at Exploria Stadium. Trinity Rodman gave the Spirit an early lead and Hatch doubled the advantage after halftime. As the game entered second-half stoppage time, it appeared as though the Pride would fall for the second straight time, but a pair of late goals by Mikayla Cluff and Darian Jenkins stunned Washington with a 2-2 draw. The teams met again on July 17 at Audi Field and the Spirit dominated the game statistically. They had more possession, shots, and shots on target but couldn’t find the back of the net, resulting in a scoreless draw.
Prior to the draw in May, the Pride and Spirit played two games in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. The first was on March 19 in Orlando, playing to a scoreless draw.
The second Challenge Cup meeting came on April 3 at Audi Field. Gunny Jonsdottir scored the team’s first goal in four games. However, the Spirit already had a 3-0 lead. Rodman scored a late goal to put the game away as the Pride fell 4-1.
The two teams played four times during 2021. The first was on April 21 in the Challenge Cup. Sydney Leroux’s goal was the only scoring as the Pride won 1-0. Just two games later, the Pride opened their regular season by hosting the Spirit on May 16. Hatch gave Washington the lead, but Alex Morgan equalized to claim a 1-1 draw. The second regular-season meeting that year was on June 6 in Washington. Hatch opened the scoring, but Taylor Kornieck equalized minutes later, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The final meeting of 2021 came Aug. 22 at Audi Field. Marta gave the Pride the lead, but Hatch equalized just two minutes later. It looked like it would be a third straight 1-1 draw but Sanchez won it for Washington late.
Due to the pandemic, the Pride and Spirit didn’t play in 2020 but faced off three times in 2019. The first was on July 6 in Orlando. Marta scored a brace in the second half, leading the Pride to a 4-3 win. They played again on Aug. 24 in Washington. Crystal Thomas gave the hosts the lead and Marta equalized. But Hatch’s goal lifted the Spirit to a 2-1 win. The final game was supposed to be the following weekend but was postponed due to Hurricane Dorian. Instead, the game was played Oct. 9 in Orlando. The Spirit dominated the rubber match, beating the Pride 3-0.
The first of two meetings in 2018 was on March 31 at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Hatch scored a goal and added an assist in a 2-0 win for the Spirit. The Pride got their revenge in the second game in the same location. Alanna Kennedy’s goal was the difference as the Pride won 1-0. The final meeting that year was on July 7 in Orlando. Hatch gave the Spirit the lead, but Leroux scored just before halftime and Marta’s goal gave Orlando the 2-1 win.
The 2017 season was the first time the teams played three times in a year. Their April 22 meeting was the Pride’s first home game that year. Line Sigvardsen-Jensen gave the visitors the lead, but Danica Evans answered as the teams drew 1-1. They met for the second time that year in Maryland on July 8 when Marta and Mallory Pugh both scored braces in a 2-2 draw. The final game in 2018 was on Aug. 8 in Orlando. Marta, Camila, and Morgan all scored as the Pride ran away with a 3-0 win.
The Spirit swept the first two meetings in 2016, winning 2-0 in Maryland and 2-1 in Orlando.
Overview
The Pride have gotten off to a great start to the 2025 NWSL season. They started with a club record-tying 6-0 win over the Chicago Stars and followed that with wins over NJ/NY Gotham FC, San Diego Wave FC, and Seattle Reign FC.
Offensively, the Pride have a league-leading 11 goals, largely sparked by that dominant 6-0 season opener. As expected, Banda leads the team with three goals. Marta and Haley McCutcheon follow with two goals each.
The Pride back line has started this season where it left off last year. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu’s 62nd-minute goal for San Diego on March 29 is the only goal conceded in regular-season play. Only the Kansas City Current have equaled the Pride’s defensive start to the season.
The Spirit have started the season just a bit behind the Pride and Current. After winning the Challenge Cup, last year’s runners up are 3-1-0, with their only loss being a 2-0 defeat at home to the Current.
Outside of the 2-0 loss — the Current are second in the league with 10 goals scored — the Spirit have only conceded once. The last two games have been 2-0 wins over Bay FC and Racing Louisville FC.
The Spirit are led offensively by the always-dangerous Hatch. The U.S. international has four of the team’s six goals, with Santos and Makenna Morris splitting the other two. Santos, Esme Morgan, and Narumi Muira each have one assist so far this year.
Former Pride goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury remains the starter in net for the Spirit. The shot stopper has 13 saves — fourth in the league — and an 0.75 goals-against average — third in the league.
In front of Kingsbury is a strong center back pairing of Tara McKeown and Rebeca Bernal. Casey Krueger and Gabrielle Carle have been the fullbacks until the most recent game when Krueger was out with a knee injury.
“Two teams that are competing to ultimately win the shield. So, there’s not a lot of room for error. It’s fine margins,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “They are coming to our place and we want to make that hostile environment with the fans coming out and supporting us. But it should turn out to be an entertaining game. Like I said, both teams are in a good run of form, and so we’re hoping we get the good side of it by getting the three points.”
There’s only one change to the Pride availability report today. Simone Charley (ankle), Luana (illness), Amanda Allen (shoulder), Aryssa Mahrt (knee), Julie Doyle (knee), and Rafaelle (thigh) remain out. They’re joined by Summer Yates (foot) who suffered an injury while assisting Banda’s goal in Seattle on April 12.
The Spirit have an extensive injury list, including Croix Bethune (hip), Emma Gaines-Ramos (knee), Hal Hershfelt (ankle), Lyza Jessee (wrist), Krueger (knee), Paige Metayer (knee), Brittany Ratcliffe (lower leg), Trinity Rodman (back), Ouleye Sarr (back), Andi Sullivan (knee), and Kate Wiesner (hip) all out. Santos (ankle) is questionable.
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Kerry Abello, Kylie Nadaner, Emily Sams, Oihane.
Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Morgan Gautrat.
Midfielders: Angelina, Marta, Ally Watt.
Forward: Barbra Banda.
Bench: McKinley Crone, Carson Pickett, Cori Dyke, Bri Martinez, Zara Chavoshi, Ally Lemos, Viviana Villacorta, Grace Chanda, Prisca Chilufya.
Washington Spirit (5-3-2)
Goalkeeper: Aubrey Kingsbury.
Defenders: Makenna Morris, Gabrielle Carle, Tara McKeown, Rebeca Bernal, Esme Morgan.
Midfielders: Narumi Miura, Heather Stainbrook, Courtney Brown.
Forwards: Ashley Hatch, Gift Monday.
Bench: Sandy MacIver, Leicy Santos, Rosemonde Kouassi, Kysha Sylla, Kiley Dulaney, Meg Boade, Chloe Ricketts.
Referees
REF: Elton Garcia.
AR1: John Krill.
AR2: Tiffini Turpin.
4TH: Alejo Calume.
VAR: Greg Dopka.
AVAR: Brian Marshall.
How to Watch
Match Time: 5 p.m.
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.
TV: Ion.
Streaming: Prime Video.
Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).
Enjoy the game. Go Pride!