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Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Final Score 3-2 as Pride Win Second Straight NWSL Match

The Pride came back from two deficits to defeat the Washington Spirit in a high-scoring game in the nation’s capital.

Published

10 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (11-8-6, 39 points) won for the third time in the last four games, picking upa a 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit (12-5-8, 44 points) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. It was a back-and-forth game with Kerry Abello conceding an own goal and then equalizing on the other end. It looked like the Spirit might claim all three points when Sofia Cantore gave the hosts the lead just before halftime, but a Narumi Miura own goal and Marta’s penalty conversion gave the Pride all three points.

Orlando has won two straight in the league for the first time since June and is unbeaten in four straight NWSL matches (3-0-1) with three wins over teams above the playoff line — two of those on the road — in that span.

Seb Hines deployed the same lineup from the two previous league games — a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash on Oct. 3 and a 1-0 win over the Portland Thorns on Oct. 10. Anna Moorhouse started in goal behind a back line of Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Oihane. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were the defensive midfielders with Carson Pickett, Ally Lemos, and Jacquie Ovalle in the attacking midfield and Ally Watt up top.

The two teams came into this game in completely different situations. The Spirit have already secured the second position and are unable to finish in first or third. As a result, they have little to play for. Meanwhile, the Pride entered the game in fourth place after Seattle’s win Friday night, just three points ahead of eighth. A win was essential to have a chance to finish in the top four and host a playoff game.

Nearing halftime, it looked like this would be a low-scoring affair, but it quickly escalated. Abello put the ball in her own net in the 35th minute, only to equalize in the 38th minute. Cantore’s backheel in the 42nd minute made the impression that this would be a disappointing result for Orlando fans, but Hines’ halftime addition of Marta changed the game. She created a goal less than a minute after coming on and converted a penalty in the 72nd minute to secure the win.

The Pride got the first chance of the game in the second minute when Kysha Sylla knocked the ball away from Watt and out of play for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece fell to Rafaelle, whose shot was blocked by Kate Wiesner, and Brittany Ratcliffe blocked the follow-up.

The Pride created another chance in the sixth minute when Ovalle lifted the ball into the box from the right. McCutcheon was open just outside the six, but the defensive midfielder jumped a split second late and got under it, sending it over.

The hosts got their first shot in the 10th minute when Ratcliffe cut inside to create space from Oihane. The attacker took a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it was right to Moorhouse for an easy catch.

The Spirit nearly converted in the 20th when Miura found Paige Metayer on the right, and the midfielder sent a dangerous ball into the Pride box. The ball was over Cantore’s head and almost fell to Croix Bethune but went beyond her and out for a goal kick.

The Spirit took the lead in the 35th minute through a set piece. Abello intercepted the ball from Bethune, but Pickett unnecessarily fouled the midfielder behind the play, giving the hosts a free kick. Wiesner sent the ball into the box, looking for Metayer at the near post. Abello got to it first, but headed the ball into her own net to give the Spirit the 1-0 lead.

“As a defender, an own goal is the biggest nightmare,” Abello said. “But as professional athletes, we have to have a short memory. So I was like, forget it.”

The Pride responded quickly from the same player. In the 37th minute, Deborah Abiodun fouled Lemos after the midfielder received a short throw-in. The ensuing set piece was headed out to the top of the box, where Abello controlled and sent an excellent shot past Aubrey Kingsbury to even the game at 1-1.

“My role in the set piece was just to be that kind of second layer for second balls,” Abello said. “And the ball popped out, and I knew I had enough time to get one quick touch on it before a shot off. And I did, and it went in. But I honestly kind of blacked out, because I was just like, I’m gonna score. But it bounced out really well to me, and I was glad I hit it well.”

“There’s no better way to have an effect on the game. You know, by scoring a goal like she did,” Hines added. “It was a hell of a goal, and credit to her, because it’s very tough when she scores an own goal not to go internal. But she made a difference by scoring the equalizing goal. We expect that from all our players. You have to move on quickly. There’s the amount of time in the game to do that sort of resilience, and she showed it in the best way.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the hosts to retake the lead. In the 42nd minute, Kysha Sylla sent Metayer toward the end line. The midfielder burned past Pickett and reached the ball justt before it crossed the end line. She sent a low cross to the near post, where Cantore beat Rafaelle to the ball and used a backheel to push it inside Moorhouse’s near post, giving the Spirit a 2-1 lead.

The Pride created a pair of opportunities in stoppage time. In the second minute, Sams and Abello combined on a give-and-go to set up Angelina at the top of the box, but her shot was over the target. A minute later, Pickett’s ball into the box was blocked, going straight to Lemos just outside the 18. The midfielder put her attempt on frame, but Kingsbury got down to make the stop.

That was the final attempt for either team as the Pride went into the half down a goal.

While the Spirit had more first-half possession (53%-47%) and better passing accuracy (80%-79%) in the first 45 minutes, the Pride created more chances. However, the hosts were more efficient. The Pride had more shots (6-2), but both teams put two on target. The teams had the same number of corner kicks (2-2).

Hines made two halftime changes, both on the left side of the field, replacing Abello and Pickett with Marta and Cori Dyke.

“She wants to get forward, she wants to score goals, make an immediate impact off the bench,” Hines said about Marta. “We have to manage her and her loads, because she played high minutes on Wednesday night against Pachuca. We felt we needed a bit of a spark, and she certainly brought that.”

It didn’t take the Pride captain long to make an impact, getting her team back into the game in under a minute. The Brazilian dribbled into the box from the right and cut to lose Wiesner before crossing it through the area. Her shot deflecte off Miura and went past Kingsbury to tie things up at 2-2.

The Pride continued to attack, looking to take their first lead in the 51st minute when an Ovalle cross was blocked out of play by Wiesner. The ensuing set piece found Watt at the top of the six-yard box, but her header was over the crossbar.

The Spirit had a chance in the 53rd minute when Cantore’s cross into the box found Gift Monday, who laid it off for Stainbrook. The midfielder’s first shot was off Ratcliffe, who was on the ground. The ball bounced right back to her and she shot again, but Angelina got in the way of her follow-up attempt.

Free kicks had been dangerous in this game and the Spirit got another one in the 56th minute after Watt gave up possession in her own third of the field. Stainbrook found Abiodun, who won the ball and was fouled by Lemos. Wiesner sent the free kick towards goal with Metayer making a run, but it was right at Moorhouse.

Ovalle sent a cross to the back post for Watt’s run in the 62nd minute for Watt, but the ball was a bit long and Watt couldn’t get around it, sending it wide.

Hines made his third change in the 69th minute, replacing Lemos with Simone Charley.

Right after the substitution, the Pride took their first lead of the day. Oihane sent Watt down the right and into the box between Sylla and Wiesner. Sylla made contact with Watt from behind and the forward went down. Referee Jeremy Scheer pointed to the spot, awarding the Pride a penalty.

Marta stepped to the spot when the video review was complete. The Pride captain stuttered as she approached the ball, forcing Kingsbury to commit to her right, and passed it into the corner to give the Pride the 3-2 lead.

“Showing that sort of composure in front of goal with the penalty. You know, she’s been in those moments many of times,” Hines said. “She’s obviously faced Aubrey many of times in that position as well, and she calmly slots it away. So, really pleased with her. Really happy that we’ve got her back firing in such a pivotal moment in the season.”

“I think the only thing I can say is, don’t forget who she is,” Abello added. “I think we have those moments still constantly of like, that is the GOAT. And she is still very much that. And people love to talk about her age and stuff, but she is still Marta. She can create that magic, and we know that. And we hope the world keeps knowing that. And that was just what she does, and she continues to do it. So, I’m just glad she’s on my team.”

The Pride have struggled offensively this year, so it was a breath of fresh air to see them score three goals. It’s the first time they’ve reached that number since May 23 when they defeated the Utah Royals 3-1 thanks to a Barbra Banda hat trick.

“It’s something that’s been in the works for a long time now, even though the results haven’t been shown with our performances,” Hines said. “We went on that run of not winning in nine games. We’ve sort of turned that around with a couple of wins and draws. But we knew the process, we trusted the process, and now it’s starting to show in such an important time of the season.”

Hines made a defensive change in the 76th minute, lookeing to see out the game. Zara Chavoshi came on as a fifth defender, replacing Watt.

In the 77th minute, Dyke grabbed Gabrielle Carle, pulling back the attacker just before they entered the box. Leicy Santos took the set piece, sending her attempt off target.

The Pride won a free kick on the left in the 80th minute when Charley tapped the ball around Esme Morgan and was fouled by the defender. Angelina and Marta stood over the ball with Angelina taking the set piece. The midfielder’s ball into the box was easily caught by Kingsbury.

Hines made his final change in the 88th minute, replacing Oihane with Julie Doyle.

Monday dribbled into the box from the right in the 88th minute. Rafaelle blocked her shot. Ratcliffe tried to follow up, but the ball took a friendly bounce for Moorhouse, allowing her to collect.

Two minutes later, the Spirit nearly connected for an equalizer in what would’ve been an excellent goal. Miura got down the left before playing it back for Santos. The attacker sent a cross into the box that nearly found Cantore’s head, but the ball was just beyond her reach.

The fourth official showed eight minutes of stoppage time, and the hosts came close to converting in the second. Cantore received the ball on the right and sent it towards the near post, where Monday and Dyke were converging. Dyke got to the ball first, sending it out of play. The Pride cleared the ensuing set piece to maintain their lead.

A Rafaelle injury added more time, and the Spirit tried to take advantage. In the 10th minute, Monday shielded two defenders near the corner flag, earning a free kick when Chavoshi unwisely fouled her from behind. Moorhouse punched away the ensuing set piece into the box. It fell to Carle just outside the 18. The second-half substitute shot, but she couldn’t get much on it and sent the ball well wide of the target.

That was the final chance of the game as the Pride came away with a crucial — and quite surprising — three points away from home.

Washington ended the game with the edge in possession (59%-41%), shots (13-11), crosses (25-17), and passing accuracy (82%-76%). However, both teams put three shots on target and the Pride had more corner kicks (5-4).

“Great game, great result,” Hines said. “We were disappointed with the goals that we conceded, but we showed a lot of resilience to come back and win the game. Credit to all the players and staff. It’s been a journey to get here. We now hold our own destiny, trying to reach that top four spot. I think anytime we play Washington, it’s always an emotional game. It’s very competitive. Both teams are going after it. So, for the neutrals, it was a good game today.”

“It’s a huge win for the club, top win nearing playoffs,” Abello added. “This was a huge test for us going into the playoffs, and obviously we have a lot to play for still. We’re trying to clinch that home spot for the first playoff game. So this was important and a huge test against a top team and a team who knows we might see again in the playoffs. So really happy with the result.”

The back-to-back league wins couldn’t come at a better time for the Pride. After going nine games winless following the summer break, the Pride take a four-game unbeaten run into the final game of the season.

The three points ensure the Pride will finish the penultimate weekend of the regular season in third place, regardless of what other teams do this weekend. But if the Thorns, San Diego Wave, or NJ/NY Gotham FC win this weekend, it will come down to the final day to see if the Pride host a playoff game.

That final game is scheduled for Nov. 2, when the Pride welcome the fourth-place Seattle Reign to Inter&Co Stadium.

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Orlando Pride vs. Racing Louisville FC: Final Score 3-1 as Pride Continue Slide Toward NWSL Basement

The Pride lose another lopsided game and are only spared another shutout defeat by Kerry Abello’s late goal.

Published

9 hours ago

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August 7, 2026

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Image of Kerry Abello taking a shot against Louisville.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Unfortunately, if you’re at the bottom of the NWSL table, the remedy is to play the Orlando Pride. The Pride (7-10-2, 23 points) had never lost to Racing Louisville FC (5-11-2, 17 points) at Inter.co Stadium entering tonight, but that streak ended emphatically with a 3-1 home loss.

Audrey McKeen got her first NWSL goal in the 16th minute and Emma Sears added two more  to the tally at the 68th and 86th minutes. It could have been worse with a comically bad goal that was overturned after video review. Kerry Abello chalked up a goal for the Pride in the fourth minute of added time in the second half to spoil the shutout.

Louisville has now won three of its last four games.

“Louisville is very aggressive – they like to put pressure on,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said after the game. “We didn’t execute the best we could have – we were close in moments but close isn’t good enough.”

The Pride made four changes to the lineup amid a hefty number of players out on the availability report and were not even able to field a full bench of nine substitutes, dressing two backup goalkeepers. Anna Moorhouse started in goal with Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Zara Chavoski on the back line. Angelina (with the captain’s armband) and Ally Lemos played central midfield in front of them with Simone Jackson, Jacquie Ovalle, and Nicole Payne attacking from the midfield. Julie Doyle started up top as the attack focal point.

Both teams generated an opportunity in the first 90 seconds, with Jackson almost connecting with Payne before Racing Louisville goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer snuffed it out. Sears then came down the other side and forced a save from Moorhouse. The ensuing corner generated a bit of chaos in the box before it was cleared, but it was a sign of things to come.

Both teams continued to trade possession without any real dangerous moments. Doyle had a shot blocked in the seventh minute and Louisville had a shot saved in the 11th.

Racing Louisville then managed to hold the attack in Orlando’s defensive end for a while. On the third corner of the set at the 16-minute mark, Katie O’Kane sent a great ball into the center of the six-yard box. McKeen broke loose and got a head on the cross to opening the scoring. Louisville had played most of its previous corners short and caught the Pride a bit off with a normal cross.

Orlando could not generate much of a response in the following minutes. Jackson broke loose down the left side but her cross was not threatening. Meanwhile, Sears hit the crossbar at the 26-minute mark on a ball that seemed to surprise the whole defense.

Orlando was able to generate a corner off an Angelina shot from 25 yards out, but nothing came of it. On the next possession, Doyle got on the end of a Payne through ball but could not create danger from it.

At the hydration break, there were plenty of areas for Hines to correct as not a lot had gone right. Jackson was able to get by her mark multiple times but there wasn’t a lot else.

In the 35th minute, Doyle worked herself free at the top corner of the box and sent a searching cross to the back post. Jackson ran it down but hit the crossbar with a lot of net to shoot at, wasting one of the team’s best chances of the night. The Pride kept up the pressure and finally generated something. Orlando should have scored in the 38th minute, with a great ball sending Doyle into the area, but her shot was a weak one and easily saved, when any pace on the ball at all would have put the Pride on the board.

The Pride thought they’d gotten a break as Mirann Gacioch slid into Doyle as she got her shot off, and referee Muhammad Hassan awarded a penalty. However, as Lemos held the ball at the penalty spot, the video assistant referee sent Hassan to the monitor and he reversed his call.

Nothing much occurred after the incident, although O’Kane picked up a yellow card for a tactical foul for pulling Ovalle back in the first minute of stoppage time. Neither team created any threats in the added time and the half ended without further excitement.

The Pride led in possession (54%-46%), while Racing Louisville held the advantage in shots (9-7), shots on target (4-1), and passing accuracy (83%-82%). The teams each won four corners in the opening period.

The second half started even worse, with the Pride hemmed into their defensive end for the first seven minutes. The crossbar continued to get hammered as Lauren Milliet put one off it from the top of the box. After that, Orlando finally got out of its end and Jackson’s shot was deflected by Gacioch near the right post and had to be parried away by Bloomer.

The Pride used their first substitution window to replace Jackson and Payne with Summer Yates and Solai Washington at the 55-minute mark.Jackson had done well to get into some good areas but there was no final product from the young forward.

Racing Louisville responded with its own subs in the 62nd minute as Ella Hase replaced Quincy McMahon and Maja Lardner replaced Kayla Fischer. The game had settled into a sloppy back-and-forth without either team generating any danger.

Doyle then sat down in the 65th minute after a tangle and was replaced by Abello. Coming out of the restart, Louisville again picked up the pressure and, off a Mace turnover, Sears dribbled down the right side, easily stepped inside of Rafaelle, and blasted a shot from a tight angle past Moorhouse and into the inside netting at the back post for the game’s second goal in the 68th minute.

Three minutes later, Racing Louisville made changes by putting Rachel Hill and Sarah Weber in for Makenna Morris and McKeen. The Pride used their final substitutes to pull Mace and Angelina for Zoe Matthews and Luana.

In the 78th minute, Washington was unable to get on the end of a dangerous Yates cross. Louisville immediately responded, as Sears beat Abello down the left and the dribble somehow went right through Moorhouse’s legs, allowing Sears to tap it in. However, Sears was deemed offside on the pass that turned her loose after video review, sparing Orlando its most embarrassing goal of the evening.

The Pride picked up their energy level after that and were able to generate some danger. Bloomer saved Ovalle’s shot at the 84-minute mark, and Matthews put a header off the crossbar right afterwards.

Unfortunately, on Louisville’s response, Sears broke loose down the right, easily blew past the much slower Rafaelle, and put another goal past an ineffective Moorhouse in the 86th minute.

With 10 minutes added to the end of the game, the Pride showed some life, though it was too late to change the outcome. After a couple of aborted attacks, Abello took a long dribble off a blocked cross and smashed a goal into the corner in the fourth added minute. That kept Louisville from getting its first clean sheet of the season.

Orlando kept up the pressure and Yates should have added a second goal for the Pride off a saved shot from Washington in the eighth added minute, but it skipped just inches wide of the right post. Racing Louisville put in one more substitute by pulling O’Kane for Avery Ciorbu. The Pride weren’t able to generate anything in the last 90 seconds and the game ended without any further attacks.

The Pride finished the game with the lead in possession (52%-48%), with Racing Louisville ahead in shots (20-18), shots on target (7-6), passing accuracy (78%-77%), and corners (9-8).

“I’m really proud of our fight in the last 20 minutes, but we have to do that from the first,” Abello said. “We played into their hands and let Louisville play their game. They’re good at set pieces – they’re all six feet tall.”

The Pride travel the next two weekends to Portland and Washington, D.C., before returning home on Aug. 29 against Utah. All three teams are above the Pride in the NWSL table.

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Orlando Pride vs. Racing Louisville FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride return home looking to get back in the win column against Racing Louisville.

Published

20 hours ago

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August 7, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (7-9-2, 23 points) face Racing Louisville FC (4-11-2, 14 points) at home (7 p.m., NWSL+). This is the second and final time these two teams will meet during the 2026 NWSL regular season.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

This is the fifth season of existence for Racing Louisville, and the Pride have played the Kentucky-based side 14 times in that span, with Orlando going 3-5-4 in NWSL games and 3-5-6 in all competitions (0-0-1 in both the NWSL Challenge Cup and the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup). The Pride are undefeated at home against Louisville with a 3-0-3 record in league play and a 3-0-4 record in all competitions.

The most recent meeting between the two teams occurred on April 24 in Louisville. Lauren Milliet gave the hosts the lead in the 19th minute before Barbra Banda equalized just before halftime. The hosts separated themselves early in the second half with goals by Sarah Weber and a second by Milliet, both within five minutes of the restart. Banda scored a second in the dying minutes, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride fell 3-2.

The first meeting in 2025 took place June 20 in Louisville. Arin Wright gave the hosts the lead at the half-hour mark and former Pride midfielder Taylor Flint doubled the advantage in the second half as the Pride fell 2-0 to end the first half of the season. On Aug. 9, 2025, in Orlando, Marisa DiGrande scored against her old team just before halftime to give Louisville the halftime lead. It looked like the visitors would claim all three points until an Ary Borges own goal in second-half stoppage time resulted in a 1-1 draw.

The teams first met in 2024 on March 16 in Louisville. The season opener for both teams looked like it would be a long day for Orlando, as Elexa Bahr and Uchenna Kanu gave the hosts a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes. The Pride got on the board with an own goal by Elli Pikkujämsä, but the task was made more difficult when Kylie Strom received her second yellow card in the second half. However, Amanda Allen and Summer Yates combined on a late goal by Yates, as the Pride pulled out an unlikely 2-2 draw.

On May 5, 2024, in Orlando, an Emily Sams cross in the 17th minute found Banda’s head at the back post, and she nodded home the game’s only goal in a 1-0 Pride win. On Aug. 1, 2024, in the Summer Cup, Evelina Duljan scored her lone Pride goal to give the Pride the lead. However, Reilyn Turner equalized, sending the game into penalties. The Pride took the early shootout lead when Jaelin Howell missed, but saves by Jordyn Bloomer on Morgan Gautrat and Ally Watt saw Louisville take the extra point.

The first meeting of 2023 was held on May 6 at Exploria Stadium. Messiah Bright gave the Pride an early lead, and the hosts held on for 69 minutes for the 1-0 win. The second meeting that season took place on Oct. 6 in Louisville. The Pride got off to a great start with goals by Marta from the spot early and an excellent individual effort by Kerry Abello to make it 2-0. However, Bright took Savannah DeMelo down in the box just before halftime and Nadia Nadim converted the penalty. A five-minute swing with a goal by Kristen Davis and an own goal by Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse resulted in the Pride losing the critical game 3-2.

The first meeting between the two teams in 2022 took place Sept. 16 in Louisville. Racing struck first when Nadim was left open in front of goal for a tap-in. The hosts doubled their lead on a great strike by DeMelo from outside the box, and the Pride fell 2-0.

Back in 2022, the first meeting was in a unique setting, taking place at Daytona International Speedway on July 3. The game was a part of the 2022 Daytona SoccerFest and was the first time a professional soccer game was played at a racetrack. Emina Ekic gave Louisville a halftime lead and DeMelo doubled the lead shortly after the break. However, the Pride fought back with goals by Strom and Darian Jenkins, pulling out a 2-2 draw.

The first year the two teams met was in 2021 during the NWSL Challenge Cup in Louisville. CeCe Kizer gave the hosts the lead early, but Taylor Kornieck equalized just before halftime. It looked like the Pride would win when Abi Kim scored late, but Brooke Hendrix equalized in second-half injury time and the teams drew 2-2.

The teams played three times in the 2021 regular season, with the first meeting coming on July 9 in Orlando. Ebony Salmon gave Louisville the lead, but Sydney Leroux scored to force a 1-1 draw with a goal in second-half injury time. The second meeting was held Sept. 11 in Orlando. The Pride took a 2-0 lead into the break with goals by Leroux and Marta. Kizer got one back, but Alex Morgan’s conversion sealed three points for the Pride.

The final meeting of 2021 came in the penultimate game of the year for both teams. The Pride needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and they got off to a good start when Jodie Taylor scored in the third minute. However, the game slipped away as Salmon and Katie McClure scored on either side of halftime and Yuki Nagasato made the final 3-1.

Overview

The Pride have struggled since the FIFA World Cup break. They’ve lost four of the last six games and have failed to score in each of those losses. The two wins were a 3-0 win over the Kansas City Current and a slim 1-0 victory over Chicago Stars FC.

The most recent game against the North Carolina Courage saw the Pride lose 5-0, their worst loss since Seb Hines’ first game as interim head coach on June 19, 2022. It was arguably the worst performance of the season, with multiple goals coming from defensive mistakes and the attack unable to create any clear-cut chances.

The play of the back line was the most surprising thing about the loss in North Carolina. While the team has struggled to score goals, the defense has been excellent in recent games. Two of the four losses have been 1-0 and the two wins were clean sheets.

The attacking problems are largely due to the absence of Banda and the lack of a secondary scorer on the team or an identity of how to play without her. The star striker leads the league with 12 goals this year, but she saw few minutes as she worked her way back to full fitness. Just before she was able to play significant minutes, she departed to represent Zambia in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The impact of the 5-0 loss in North Carolina is on display in the NWSL standings. The Pride are tied on points with Angel City FC and Seattle Reign FC for the eighth and final playoff position. But their -4 goal difference is three behind Seattle and 11 behind Angel City. The poor goal difference is something that could haunt the team as the Pride look to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

The Pride desperately need wins and they should be able to claim three points against tonight’s opponent. Racing Louisville sits in 15th in the 16-team league. Tonight’s visitors have just 14 points from 17 games and a -13 goal difference. Their 21 goals are fifth-most in the league and their 34 goals conceded are the most in the league.

Similar to the Pride, Louisville has had a tough restart to the season. The Kentucky-based side suffered three crushing losses, including a 4-0 loss to the Portland Thorns, a 2-0 loss to Bay FC, and a 5-1 loss to the Current. However, while the Pride are looking to rebound from a devastating performance, Louisville is coming off a 2-1 win over Chicago.

Louisville is led in the attack by Kayla Fischer with four goals, followed by Weber and Flint with three goals each. Emma Sears, Katie O’Kane, Milliet, and Maja Lardner are the other players with multiple goals this year, recording two each. Sears, Fischer, and O’Kane also lead the team in assists with four, three, and two, respectively.

The assumption was that Louisville would improve on its defensive performance last season, which was good enough to claim seventh in the league. But, despite reutrning regular starters like Ellie Jean, Arin Wright, and Bloomer, Racing has been worse this season.

“They’re very direct. They use their goalkeeper. She’s part of their buildup play,” Hines said ahead of tonight’s game. “They’ve got some aerial threats and they’re going to make it a physical game. We always talk about how there’s no excuses, no matter how tall you are or how short you are. It’s the fight in the beast and stuff. And so we have to stand up to that challenge. We’ve got to make sure we’re challenging the first, winning the second, getting the ball down, play through their press, and create opportunities to score.”

The Pride are missing several players tonight, including Hannah Anderson (lower leg), Marta (head), Haley McCutcheon (suspension), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Oihane (lower leg), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Banda (international duty). Louisville will be without DeMelo (illness), DiGrande (maternity leave), Taylor Flint (thigh), Macey Hodge (arm), Natalia Mitchell (knee), and Taylor White (knee).

Projected Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Zara Chavoshi, Cori Dyke.

Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Angelina.

Attacking Midfielders: Jacquie Ovalle, Luana, Solai Washington.

Forward: Julie Doyle.

Racing Louisville FC (3-4-3)

Goalkeeper: Jordyn Bloomer.

Defenders: Mirann Gacioch, Arin Wright, Ellie Jean.

Midfielders: Quincy McMahon, Katie O’Kane, Makenna Morris, Kayla Fischer.

Forwards: Emma Sears, Lauren Milliet, Sarah Weber.

Referees

REF: Muhammad Hassan.
AR1: Christian Clerc.
AR2: Adam Cook.
4TH: Benjamin Meyer.
VAR: Jaclyn Metz.
AVAR: Melissa Gonzalez.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: None.

Stream: NWSL+.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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SkoPurp Soccer Episode 132: North Carolina Rewind, Louisville Preview, and More

The Pride hit a new low for 2026 and must regroup for the upcoming Racing Louisville match.

Published

3 days ago

on

August 5, 2026

By

Image of Anna Moorhouse from 5-0 loss at North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Just when you think the Orlando Pride have bottomed out and things might start to turn around, the team shows you there’s a new, lower level possible. The Pride played an apathetic and inept brand of soccer on the road against a struggling North Carolina Courage team, which put Orlando on full blast. The 5-0 loss could have been even worse, and the attack rarely created much threat for the Courage back line to deal with. If this is what life is like without Barbra Banda, the Pride are literally a one-player team, and that’s simply not good enough.

We look back at a lopsided loss for as long as we could bear it, checked our score predictions, deferred our selections for Player of the Match to any fan who sat through the entire game, and pondered what the club’s general manager is doing, whether the players have tuned out Head Coach Seb Hines, and what exactly the plan is to fix the mess that the 2024 double winners have quickly become.

This week’s mailbagbox is understandably bitter and cynical, although we did get to reminisce about shopping for school supplies and Trapper Keepers. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we looked ahead to Friday’s home game against Racing Louisville. Both of your hosts will be in the stadium as fans for that one (our first time seeing a match together), and we’re curious whether Orlando will show some…err…pride…after such a dreadful showing at North Carolina. We look at the series history, the teams’ relative positions in the standings, and who has been creating danger for Louisville. Then we provide our key matchups and score predictions.

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Here’s how Episode 132 went down:

0:15 – The Pride were awful on Friday against the Courage.

14:40 – The mailbagbox has had it.

33:47 – Orlando prepares for Racing Louisville at home.

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