Orlando Pride Midfielder Morgan Gautrat Loaned to Newcastle, Retires from NWSL

In one of the strangest endings to a player’s Orlando Pride career, the club announced that midfielder Morgan Gautrat has been loaned to Newcastle United W.F.C. in England’s Women’s Super League 2 for the remainder of the 2025 season and that the veteran U.S. international has announced her retirement from the NWSL. While it may not be the first time a player has ever retired from one particular league, it is not a common occurrence. Gautrat, 32, had been listed on the availability report as out due to excused absence for the last couple of games.

“We want to thank Morgan for her incredible contributions to our club and the NWSL,” Orlando Pride Vice President and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Her professionalism, leadership, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our organization and the league as a whole. We understand and fully support Morgan’s decision as she moves into this next chapter. While we’re sad to see her go, we respect her choice to pursue opportunities that align with her personal goals and wish her and her family nothing but success in their future endeavors. Morgan will always be part of our family, and we’re grateful for everything she’s brought to our club.”

The Pride acquired Gautrat from the Kansas City Current along with $50,000 in Allocation Money on Jan. 11, 2024, in exchange for a 2024 international roster spot. She signed a new contract with the Pride on Sept. 12, 2024 through the 2025 season with an option year for 2026.

The native of St. Simons Island, GA, made 34 appearances in an Orlando Pride kit. She did not score a goal with the club, but registered one assist in her two seasons in Orlando. She was an instrumental piece in the club’s historic 2024 season, helping the Pride win both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship a year ago.

Gautrat appeared in 17 of Orlando’s NWSL matches in 2024, starting 11 and playing 850 minutes without a goal contribution. The midfielder also played in two of the Pride’s three playoff games — both off the bench — playing 19 minutes. She received a solid 6 out of 10 rating from The Mane Land for her season output with Orlando.

She leaves the NWSL having played with four clubs — Orlando, Kansas City, Chicago, and Houston — after being selected with the top overall pick in the 2015 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash. She played more than 100 matches in an NWSL career that was plagued by injuries at times. She also spent the 2018 season with Lyon in France.

Gautrat played in 88 matches with the United States Women’s National Team between 2013 and 2022 but has not been in the player pool for the past three years. She scored eight USWNT goals in her international career with the senior team after previously representing her country at the U-17 and U-20 levels.

What It Means for Orlando

The move frees up a roster spot, and while it weakens the team’s depth in central midfield, it is a position of depth for the Pride. It also means the club will not need to make a decision on Gautrat’s 2026 option.

The Pride have a lot of players who can slot into the central midfield, including Angelina, Haley McCutcheon, Luana, Ally Lemos, Kerry Abello, and Viviana Villacorta. Cori Dyke could also play in that role if needed.

While Gautrat’s soccer IQ and effort have never been in question during her time in Orlando, her lack of pace has been noticeable in a league where players continue to get faster. The Pride have some older players on the roster that will start to rotate out over the next few transfer windows, and Gautrat was always going to be part of that.

Gautrat will now try to help Newcastle, which kicks off its 2025-2026 season on Sept. 7 against Nottingham Forest.