Orlando Pride
2025 Orlando Pride Season In Review: Julie Doyle
Julie Doyle started the year with an injury, but came back strong to start both playoff games.
The Orlando Pride drafted Julie Doyle with the 11th overall pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft out of Santa Clara University. The midfielder signed a new three-year deal on Oct. 1, 2024, keeping her in purple through the 2026 season. After being a key starter in 2024, injuries saw Doyle’s on-field time limited in 2025.
Doyle’s season got off to a tough start. She came on as a halftime substitute in the regular season opener but suffered a non-contact knee injury 10 minutes later. The injury kept her out of the next eight games, and she returned on May 23. Her starts were few and far between during the remainder of the season, but an unexpected injury to Ally Watt during warmups for the final regular-season home game saw Doyle start that game and the two playoff matches.
Let’s take a deeper look at Doyle’s fourth season with the Pride.
Statistical Breakdown
Doyle came on at halftime of the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit, replacing center back Rafaelle. Despite the attacking change, Doyle wasn’t able to help much in the attack. She completed 13 of 14 passes (92.9%) without any key passes, crosses, or long balls. Additionally, she won her lone tackle and two aerial duels.
In regular-season action, Doyle made 11 appearances with five starts, recording 407 minutes. She put her two of her four shots on target, scoring one goal. She also took a penalty that was saved by Racing Louisville’s Jordyn Bloomer on Aug. 9. The attacker completed 81 of her 117 passes (69.2%), including a key pass, and recorded one assist in the regular season. Defensively, she recorded 11 tackles, an interception, and a block. She committed 10 fouls, drew nine on her opponents, and was not booked.
Watt’s late-season injury had Doyle start both playoff games. She started up top in the first game against Seattle Reign FC and in the midfield against NJ/NY Gotham FC. She logged 119 minutes in the two starts, failing to score but recording an assist. She took two shots but didn’t put either of them on target and completed 25 of her 31 passes (80.6%), including two key passes and her only attempted long ball. Defensively, she added two clearances, one in each game. She committed two fouls, drew one, and was not booked.
Doyle started all four games in the Concacaf W Champions Cup and played all 360 minutes. She played three games in the attack and one at left back, scoring one goal without recording an assist. Three of her six shots were on target and she completed 60 of her 87 passes (69%), including three key passes. On the defensive end, she won seven tackles. She committed seven fouls in the tournament, drew four on her opponents, and her booking in the competition was her only yellow card of the season.
Best Game
While there isn’t a specific game where Doyle stood out, I think her best game was in the 5-0 Concacaf W Champions Cup win over Chorrillo FC on Sept. 16. The attacker played all 90 minutes, touching the ball 46 times while completing 20 of her 26 passes (76.9%). She added a key pass and two tackles while fouling five times.
Her most impactful moment of the game came in the fourth minute when she jumped over Yasselis Magallon to get her head to Prisca Chilufya’s cross, scoring the game’s opening goal.
The conversion set the tone for the game as the Pride dominated their Panamanian opponent. At the time, it put the Pride atop Group A, though a 2-0 loss to Club America in Mexico and a 1-1 draw with CF Pachuca saw the team fail to advance to the semifinals in March.
2025 Final Grade
The Mane Land gave Doyle a composite grade of 5.5 out of 10 for the 2025 season. She might’ve had a higher grade if her early-season injury hadn’t sidlined her. But the grade is the same she’s had in each of her four seasons since joining the Pride in 2022.
2026 Outlook
Doyle is under contract for next season, so she’ll be back in purple unless she gets traded. The addition of Jacquie Ovalle and Seb Hines’ insistence on starting Ally Lemos means Doyle’s time might be limited again next season. However, she’s played left back, left midield, and forward this season, versatility that could allow her to plug into the lineup when a regular starter needs a break.
It will be a big season for Doyle as she enters a contract year. At 27 years old, she’s in the prime of her career and can definitely help the Pride. But she’ll need a strong showing and to prove she can remain healthy in order to earn a new contract beyond the upcoming season.