Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals: Photo Gallery

The Orlando Pride hosted the Utah Royals in their return to NWSL regular-season action, drawing 1-1 in what surely will have created some mixed emotions for the team, but less so for fans, who witnessed a poor offensive showing against the league’s worst team. The positives were the Pride welcoming back a couple of players from longterm absences, but the result will ultimately be what is remembered from a match the defending champions should have owned at home from the opening whistle.

Midfielder Luana returned to the gameday squad after more than a season fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma, rightfully receiving a salute of honor from the team as she took the field for warmups. In addition to Luana’s return, Rafaelle, who last played in March after missing much of 2024 as well, returned from injury. Simone Charley returned from back-to-back Achilles ruptures in 2023 and 2024 to make her Pride debut off the bench in the second half.

Unfortunately, the emotional returns did not translate into a fast start for the Pride, as they found themselves down in the fourth minute when goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was caught too far off her line, allowing an embarrassing Mina Tanaka chipped goal from long range. After about 30 minutes, Orlando finally started to rediscover some team cohesion and tilted the field more in their favor, only for a lightning delay in the 40th minute to interrupt the momentum.

After halftime, Orlando brought in Simone Jackson, and the Pride continued to rediscover themselves, but good chance creation was lacking, and many shots were either off target, blocked, or directly at the goalkeeper. It took bringing on Prisca Chilufya for the team to finally break through with the tying goal. The two substitutes combined well in the 72nd minute, with Jackson advancing the ball on a run up the left side and feeding Chilufya in the box, who finished well for her second goal since joining the Pride.

After that, the game turned mostly one-way for the Pride, with 70th-minute sub Rafaelle often roaming forward and 79th-minute sub Charley also contributing well to the attack. Unfortunately Orlando was not able to break through for the go-ahead goal, and the game ended in a draw.

The games will soon come fast and furious, as the Pride will also enter Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup play next month.

We hope you enjoy the photos from the Pride’s return to regular season play.