Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride look to build on their most recent NWSL win as they finish their road trip against the Houston Dash.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (9-8-5, 32 points) continue their road trip with a league match against the Houston Dash (7-10-5, 26 points). This is the second and final time these two teams will face off in the 2025 NWSL regular season.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The Pride and Dash have played 23 times since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016. Orlando has a record of 10-9-2 against the Dash in regular-season play and a 3-6-1 regular-season record in Houston. Additionally, the teams played two Fall Series games in 2020, both of which were won by the Dash.
The most recent meeting between the two teams took place on June 7. It looked like the game was going to end in a scoreless draw until Cori Dyke scored in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time, leading the Pride to a 1-0 win.
On Aug. 23, 2024 in Houston, Angelina sent Summer Yates through in the second half, giving the Pride the lead. Andressa nearly equalized late, hitting the post, but the Pride held on for the 1-0 win. The second meeting was on Sept. 28 in Orlando. Carson Pickett gave the hosts the lead and Angelina doubled the advantage after halftime. Yuki Nagasato got one back two minutes later, but Marta secured the 3-1 win in second-half stoppage time.
The first matchup between the teams last year was on June 3, 2023 in Houston. The Pride had trouble playing the ball out of the back and were hit on the counterattack, leading to a difficult night. Sophie Hirst gave the hosts the lead early and Michelle Alozie doubled the advantage just before halftime. Despite having more possession and shots, the Pride fell 2-0. The second game took place Oct. 15 in Orlando. While the Pride were the better team, the game was scoreless heading into the late stages. However, a late penalty conversion by Marta gave the Pride the 1-0 win.
The teams first met for the first of two matches in 2022 on June 3 in Houston. The hosts were led by a Nichelle Prince hat trick, while Rachel Daly and Alozie added goals in a 5-0 Dash win. It was the last game the Pride played before then-head coach Amanda Cromwell was placed on administrative leave. The teams met again on July 8, 2022 in Orlando. Ally Prisock’s own goal was the only scoring as the Pride took the 1-0 win, the second result in a seven-game unbeaten run.
The Pride and Dash played twice during the 2021 season. The first game was held June 26 in Houston. Maria Sanchez and Veronica Latsko gave the hosts a 2-0 lead. Gunny Jonsdottir got one back, but it wasn’t enough as the Dash won 2-1. The second meeting came on Sept. 5 at Exploria Stadium. The Dash took an early lead through Daly. However, Taylor Kornieck equalized late in a 1-1 draw.
The 2020 NWSL season was canceled due to COVID but these two teams were matched up in the Fall Series. On Sept. 26, 2020 in Houston, Prince put the Dash ahead, but Marisa Viggiano responded just before halftime. Sophie Schmidt gave the hosts another lead and Shea Groom put the game away as Houston won 3-1. The two teams played again on Oct. 9 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee — the only time the Pride have played at the venue. Groom opened the scoring early and Latsko soon made it 2-0. Sydney Leroux got one back for the hosts, but Houston held on for a 2-1 win.
The Pride and Dash played three times in 2019, with the Pride going 0-2-1. During the first game in Houston on May 5, the Pride only recorded one shot on target. However, Houston only got one goal through Kealia Ohai in a 1-0 win. The second game on June 15 was also in Houston. Joanna Boyles scored her first professional goal to give the Pride the lead, but the Dash scored twice to take the advantage. A Danica Evans conversion allowed the Pride to escape the Oven with a 2-2 draw.
The third and final meeting in 2019 occurred on Aug. 10 in Orlando. The Pride ended the game with nine players as Julie King was sent off in the 61st minute and Marta was sent off in the 85th minute. However, the Dash were only able to convert once — a late penalty by Daly — and won 1-0.
The teams played three times during the 2018 season. The first game was on April 22 in Orlando. Chioma Ubogagu scored the lone goal, leading the Pride to a 1-0 win. They met again in Orlando on June 27. Alex Morgan opened the scoring and the Pride held that lead at the break. But the second half was all Houston, as Ohai and Sofia Huerta scored, resulting in a 2-1 Houston win. The final meeting that season was on July 11 in Houston, where Daly’s brace led the Dash to a 3-1 win.
The Pride and Dash played twice during the 2017 season and the visiting team won both games. The first was on June 17 in Houston. Camila and Alanna Kennedy added to a Marta brace as the Pride took a commanding 4-0 lead. The Dash tried to come back with goals by Poliana and Prince, but the Pride took home a 4-2 win. A week later in Orlando, Carli Lloyd and Daly scored in a 2-0 Houston win.
The teams met four times during the 2016 season — the Pride’s first in existence. The first meeting was the Pride’s first-ever regular-season home game on April 23. An Andressa own goal gave the Pride the lead just after the half before Lianne Sanderson and Morgan made it 3-0 for the hosts. Andressa scored one for her own team, but that was it for Houston as the Pride won 3-1 in front of a then-NWSL record 23,403 fans.
The second meeting was in Houston on May 20. Kristen Edmonds scored the only goal in the 81st minute as the Pride won 1-0. The third meeting that year came on June 23 in Orlando. Jasmyne Spencer broke the scoreless deadlock in second-half injury time as the Pride won 1-0. The fourth and final meeting came on Sept. 3 in Houston. The Dash took a 3-0 lead with goals by Janine Beckie, Poliana, and Ohai. Morgan and Edmonds got the Pride back into the game, but Ohai put it away with her second in a 4-2 Dash win.
Overview
The Pride have had a tough time of it since the end of the summer break, going on a nine-game winless run. That ended on Sept. 26 with a 2-1 win over San Diego Wave FC. The victory saw the first NWSL goal by Mexican star Jacquie Ovalle and the third goal in four games for Carson Pickett, who has moved into a more attacking role in some recent matches.
Unfortunately, the good feelings were short-lived as the team traveled to Mexico City and lost 2-0 to Club America in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. The game saw the Mexican giants win Group A and forced the Pride to need a result in their final game to reach the semifinals.
The Pride are still without star striker Barbra Banda, who suffered a season-ending injury earlier this year. They’ve also been without Marta and Kylie Nadaner — the team’s captain and vice captain — due to an injury and an excused absence. Despite these absences, they’re looking to climb up the standings and host playoff games.
The Pride have been quite good on the road this season with a record of 5-4-2. They showed their ability to play well away from home in their win in San Diego. It moved them to fifth place in the league standings, but they’re still just four points ahead of the North Carolina Courage, the first team out of the playoff places.
A win tonight could see them end the weekend as high as third and a loss as low as eighth. That’s how close much of the NWSL has been this season.
While the Pride want a result tonight, Houston is in need of one as well. The Dash sit 10th in the league on 26 points, two behind the Courage and three behind Racing Louisville FC, current holders of the last playoff spot. Tonight’s hosts are coming off a tough result Sunday, losing 4-0 to the Washington Spirit. Prior to the loss, they had claimed points in seven of their last eight games, four of which were wins.
Yazmeen Ryan is the most dangerous attacking threat with four goals this season. She’s followed by Avery Patterson and Maggie Graham, with three goals each, and several players with two, including former Pride striker Messiah Bright. Similar to when Ryan was with NJ/NY Gotham FC, stopping the attacker is crucial for the success of the team tonight.
The Pride will play this game without Banda (hip), Nadaner (excused absence), and Marta (back). Yates (ankle) is questionable after departing injured midweek. Houston is without Jane Campbell (thigh), Maggie Graham (shoulder), Sophia Schmidt (knee), and Amanda West (knee).
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, Oihane.
Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Angelina.
Midfielders: Carson Pickett, Ally Lemos, Jacquie Ovalle.
Forward: Ally Watt.
Bench: McKinley Crone, Luana, Cori Dyke, Viviana Villacorta, Simone Charley, Julie Doyle, Elyse Bennett, Zara Chavoshi, Simone Jackson.
Houston Dash (4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Abby Smith.
Defenders: Michelle Alozie, Paige Nielsen, Malia Berkely, Avery Patterson.
Midfielders: Yazmeen Ryan, Sarah Puntigam, Danielle Colaprico, Kiki van Zanten.
Forwards: Delanie Sheehan, Messiah Bright.
Bench: Liz Beardsley, Allysha Chapman, Evelina Duljan, Clarissa Larisey, Christen Westphal, Ryan Gareis, Katie Lind, Lisa Boattin, Anna Heilferty.
Referees
REF: JC Griggs.
AR1: Melissa Beck.
AR2: Seth Martin.
4TH: Gloria Martinez Resendiz.
VAR: Adorae Monroy.
AVAR: Jozef Batko.
How to Watch
Match Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium — Houston, TX.
TV: None.
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!