Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride return to action tonight after the summer break as they host the Utah Royals.
Welcome to your game preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (8-4-1, 25 points) host the Utah Royals (1-10-2, 5 points). It’s the first Pride game since June 20, following the summer break, and the final time these two teams will meet this year.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The Royals first played in 2018 and 2019 before the team was purchased and relocated to Kansas City. The new owners of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake bought an expansion side, so 2024 was the first season the two teams met since 2019, although this is an all-new side. The Pride are 4-3-2 against the Royals all-time, with all games coming in the NWSL regular season. Orlando is 3-0-0 against this current iteration of the Royals and 1-0-0 in Orlando.
The last time the Pride met the Royals was on May 23 in Utah. It was the Barbra Banda show, as the striker became the first Pride player to score a hat trick, doing so in just 38 minutes. The only goal for the hosts came in the 14th minute, when Brecken Mozingo got behind the back line. But a scoreless second half resulted in a 3-1 win for the Pride.
The first game between the two since this new version of the Royals began NWSL play was on April 12, 2024 in Sandy, UT. Marta started on the bench and came on for Adriana in the second half. It didn’t take long for the Pride captain to make an impact, netting the game’s lone goal six minutes after entering the match, as the visitors left the Beehive State with a 1-0 victory.
On June 21, 2024 in Orlando. It was a dominant performance from start to finish as the Pride roared to a 6-0 win. Banda started the scoring, and Summer Yates made it 2-0 just before halftime. The Pride took off in the second half with goals by Banda and Ally Watt, along with a Marta brace.
Overview
The Pride return to action tonight after over a month off for the summer break. Prior to the break, they won three straight before falling 2-0 to Racing Louisville FC on June 20.
While the Pride are eight points behind the Kansas City Current halfway through the season, the more concerning situation sits behind them. The San Diego Wave are level on points with them, although the Pride have a game in hand. The Washington Spirit are just two points back, and the Portland Thorns are three points back.
The Pride have struggled offensively this season. After netting six against the Chicago Stars in the season opener and two the following two games, they’ve only scored multiple goals twice since — a 3-2 win over Angel City FC on April 25 and the 3-1 win over Utah on May 23. Banda has been responsible for most of the goals, netting four of the last five, and Cori Dyke scored the other.
Meanwhile, the Pride defense has kept them afloat. Before the 2-0 loss to Louisville, they hadn’t conceded multiple goals since April 25. Those are the only two games they’ve given up more than one goal this year.
Unfortunately, the Pride will be shorthanded in this game. Anna Moorhouse is back after representing England in the Euros, and Banda is back following the Africa Cup of Nations. But Marta and Angelina are still away with Brazil, who defeated Colombia in penalties in the Copa America Femenina final last night.
However, tonight’s game is against the worst team in the league. The Royals have only one win and two draws this year, losing the other 10 for a league-low five points. Their lone win came on April 18 against the Stars, and they haven’t gained a point since May 17 — a 3-3 draw with the Washington Spirit.
The Royals have only scored 11 goals this year, with six coming from Bianca St-Georges and Mozingo, each with three goals. Claudia Zornoza, Mina Tanaka, Ally Sentnor, and Cece Kizer are the other scorers with one goal. Sentnor will be a noticeable absence for the Royals tonight, as she was traded on Friday to the Current, weakening Utah’s attack.
In addition to scoring the second-fewest goals in the league, the Royals have conceded a league-high 29 goals.
Conversely, the Pride have scored 20 goals this year — fourth in the league — and are tied for the league lead with just 10 goals conceded. Given that the Pride are missing some key players and need to get the second half of the season off to a flying start, they’re facing the right team.
“In terms of Utah, it’ll be interesting what they’ve worked on over this period. For ourselves, we’ve been working on some things that can improve us, ultimately scoring more goals and getting more wins,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “But, it’s been challenging with the players that have been absent representing their countries on the biggest stage. No more than Anna (Moorhouse). We congratulate her on winning the European championship. That’s a big thing for the club and for herself. We’ve got two other players who are away who are in finals. It’s been a mixed bag for this period, but we’re just ready to go and happy to be back at home in front of our own fans and putting on a good show for them. Because it’s been a long time away from them. So, we’re all excited to go again.”
The Pride will play this game without Kerry Abello (thigh), Oihane (knee), and Ally Watt (ankle). Additionally, as previously mentioned, Angelina and Marta are still with Brazil. However, the team is welcoming Simone Charley and Luana back from the season-ending injury list. Both will be available tonight. Rafaelle is also no longer listed on the availability report.
Utah will be without Cloe Lacasse (knee), Olivia Griffitts (maternity leave), Tatumn Milazzo (knee), Alex Loera (knee), Cece Kizer (concussion), Paige Monaghan (concussion), Madison Pogarch (ankle), and Mandy McGlynn (hand).
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Carson Pickett, Kylie Nadaner, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke.
Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Morgan Gautrat.
Midfielders: Julie Doyle, Ally Lemos, Summer Yates.
Forward: Barbra Banda.
Bench: McKinley Crone, Simone Charley, Luana, Grace Chanda, Zara Chavoshi, Rafaelle, Viviana Villacorta, Simone Jackson, Prisca Chilufya.
Utah Royals (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Mia Justus.
Defenders: Nuria Rabano, Kaleigh Riehl, Kate Del Fava, Imani Dorsey.
Midfielders: Aria Nagai, Mina Tanaka, Claudia Zornoza.
Forward: Brecken Mozingo, Aisha Solorzano, Bianca St-Georges.
Bench: Lauren Flynn, Janni Thomsen, Ana Tejada, KK Ream, Mikayla Cluff, Dana Foederer, DeAira Jackson.
Referees
REF: Jaclyn Metz.
AR1: Katarzyna Wasiak.
AR2: Kendall McCardell.
4TH: Richonne Clark.
VAR: Shawn Tehini.
AVAR: John Krill.
How to Watch
Match Time: 6 p.m.
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.
TV: FDSN Florida.
Streaming: NWSL+, Paramount+.
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!