Orlando Pride

2025 Orlando Pride Season In Review: Rafaelle

The veteran center back was a key contributor to the Pride back line when healthy.

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5 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride signed Rafaelle back on July 3, 2023, ending her time at Arsenal WFC of England’s Women’s Super League. She joined the team after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — where she represented Brazil — soon starting at center back.

Unfortunately, the 2024 campaign saw Rafaelle injured for much of the season, limiting her to nine appearances and six starts. She suffered another injury in 2025, but returned to the starting lineup alongside Emily Sams when Kylie Nadaner missed the end of the season with an excused absence.

Let’s take a look at Rafaelle’s 2025 season.

Statistical Breakdown

Rafaelle made her debut this season in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit. She started at center back alongside Nadaner and played 45 minutes before being replaced by Julie Doyle at halftime. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said it was precautionary as she returned from an extended injury. The Brazilian international completed 21 of her 28 passes (75%), including four long balls. She put two of her three shots on target and scored the lone goal for the Pride. Defensively, she recorded a tackle, an interception, and three clearances.

In the NWSL regular season, Rafaelle played 12 games (10 starts) and recorded 813 minutes. She completed 394 of her 470 passes (83.8%) with two key passes but did not record an assist. Additionally, none of her four shots were on target and she did not score a goal in the regular season. Defensviely, Rafaelle recorded 13 tackles, 13 interceptions, eight blocks, and 60 clearances. She committed seven fouls, drew three on the opposition, and picked up three yellow cards.

The center back started both playoff games, recording 180 minutes. She completed 55 of her 68 passes (80.9%) without a key pass or an assist. She put her only shot on target but it was saved, so she did not score a goal. Defensively, Rafaelle won both of her tackles while recording four interceptions, two blocks, and 12 clearances. She committed three fouls without drawing any on her opponents and was booked once in the postseason.

Rafaelle was injured during the first two Concacaf W Champions Cup games, but she came on as a halftime substitute against Club America Femenil and played the first 45 minutes against CF Pachuca Femenil. In her 90 minutes of action, she did not record a goal contribution. She completed 35 of her 43 passes (81.4%) without any key passes. She put her only shot on target, but it was saved. Additionally, she won five tackles and drew two fouls without any other defensive contributions.

Best Game

While she didn’t do anything offensively, Rafaelle’s best game this year was a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash on Oct. 3 in Texas. It was a big point for the Pride, largely due to Rafaelle’s terrific defensive play.

In her 90 minutes of action, the Brazilian recorded 77 touches and completed 47 of her 59 passes (80%), including seven of her 17 long balls (41%) and 10 passes into the final third including one key pass. While she didn’t take any shots, she was a presence defensively with 11 clearances (seven headed), an interception, two blocks, and eight recoveries. Additionally, she won three of her four aerial duels (75%).

Rafaelle had more of an offensive impact on other games, but this was her best defensive performance of the year. Given her position of center back and the importance of getting a point late in the season, I felt this was her best game of the year.

2025 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Rafaelle a grade of 7 out of 10 for the 2025 season, the same grade she received for her 2024 performance. It’s a half grade improvement from her first half-season, when she received a 6.5 out of 10 for the 2023 season. Her grade might’ve been even higher if she had been healthy all year, but it keeps her among the best and most important players on the Pride.

2026 Outlook

Rafaelle signed a new contract with the Pride on Oct. 30, keeping her in purple through the 2028 NWSL season. While she’s been injured during large portions of the last two campaigns, she’s been a key component of one of the best defenses in the league when healthy.

If she remains available, Rafaelle will start at center back alongside either Sams or Nadaner. Hines has full faith in the veteran and is comfortable with her alongside Sams and Nadaner, playing on the left side with Sams, while sliding over to right center back when playing with Nadaner. The big question will be whether she can stay healthy, as that has been the primary issue over the last two seasons. She’s missed a total of 21 out of 52 regular-season games and two playoff games. So it’s a legimate concern.

However, if healthy, she’ll ensure the Pride continue to have one of the most formidable back lines in the league and remain a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

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