Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Denver Summit FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride look to claim their first points of the 2026 NWSL season as they welcome league newcomers Denver Summit FC to Orlando.
Welcome to your game preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (0-1-0, 0 points) wrap up their two-game homestand against league newcomers Denver Summit FC (0-1-0, 0 points). This is the first time the two teams will meet with the return game in Colorado scheduled for May 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
Denver Summit FC is one of two expansion teams to enter the NWSL for the 2026 season. The Colorado-based club joins Boston Legacy FC, expanding the first-division league to 16 teams for the first time.
While there’s no history between these teams, two former Pride players will return to Orlando with the opposition. Carson Pickett and Ally Brazier (nee Watt) will likely start in front of a crowd that supported them for several seasons.
Pickett had two stints with the Pride, playing with the team from 2018-2020 and again from 2024-2025. Watt joined the Pride in 2022 and played in purple through the 2025 campaign. Both started Denver’s inaugural game and are available tonight.
Overview
The Pride began their 2026 season at home against Seattle Reign FC Sunday. The visitors took the lead before halftime, when Jess Fishlock opened the scoring in the 24th minute. The 15-minute halftime then turned into a nearly three-hour delay due to lightning. The Pride came out strong for the second half with Barbra Banda netting her first goal of the season in the 51st minute. Unfortunately, newly acquired forward Brittany Ratcliffe netted the winner for Seattle in the 83rd minute, handing the Pride their first loss of the season.
As expected, there were questions on the back line, which were visible in the game. Despite being primarily a right back, Hailie Mace started in the middle alongside Rafaelle. The duo showed some shakiness, allowing the Reign to get behind and create chances on Anna Moorhouse.
Banda getting off to a strong start is a good sign for the Pride as they look to improve on poor finishing last season. However, they need more out of Jacquie Ovalle to create space for Banda and provide another attacking threat.
Not much is expected from Denver as an expansion team. However, tonight’s visitors have built a relatively strong side, bringing in players like Abby Smith, Kaleigh Kurtz, and Jordan Baggett in addition to Brazier and Pickett.
The Summitt traveled to Califronia for the first-ever league game in franchise history last week, facing Bay FC in San Jose. The hosts took the lead in the eighth minute before Melissa Kossler equalized in the 20th minute. When center back Joelle Anderson scored 11 minutes later, it looked like it would be a high-scoring affair. But that was the end of it as the Summit fell 2-1. The turning point in the game for Denver came in the 26th minute when Janine Sonis was shown a straight red card, putting her team down a player for the final 64 minutes. The fact that Denver was able keep the deficit at one was impressive, and the club is left to ponder what could’ve been if the side had remained at full strength.
“I think they’ll want to come here and get off on the front foot,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said ahead of tonight’s game. “Obviously, probably disappointed with the result last week against Bay FC. They’ll want to get off the mark, they’ll want points on the board, and that’s what we fully expect. And that’s what we’re looking to do as well. We’re really disappointed with the result. Not the performance, I thought the performance was great. But we need to get points on the board as well. So, I feel like it will be two teams that will be going out to get three points.”
The Pride will take the field without Kerry Abello (hip), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Nicole Payne (knee), and Viviana Villacorta (knee). Additionally, Rafaelle (thigh) is listed as questionable. Denver will be without Jasmine Aikey (knee), Camryn Biegalski (knee), Jordan Baggett (maternity leave), and Sonis (suspension). Meg Boade (illness) and Delanie Sheehan (illness) are listed as questionable.
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Cori Dyke, Hannah Anderson, Hailie Mace, Oihane.
Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Ally Lemos.
Attacking Midfielders: Jacquie Ovalle, Summer Yates, Seven Castain.
Forward: Barbra Banda.
Bench: Cara Martin, McKinley Crone, Reagan Raabe, Luana, Angelina, Simone Jackson, Solai Washington, Marta, Julie Doyle.
Denver Summit FC (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Abby Smith.
Defenders: Carson Pickett, Kaleigh Kurtz, Eva Gaetino, Ayo Oke.
Defensive Midfielders: Emma Regan, Devon Lynch.
Attacking Midfielders: Yuna McCormack, Natasha Flint, Yazmeen Ryan.
Forwards: Melissa Kossler.
Bench: Jordan Nytes, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Megan Reid, Natalie Means, Lourdes Bosch, Ally Brazier, Olivia Thomas, Nahikari Garcia.
Referees
REF: Greg Dopka.
AR1: Brian Marshall.
AR2: Alicia Messer.
4TH: Laura Rodriguez.
VAR: Danielle Chesky.
AVAR: Karen Coulson.
How to Watch
Match Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.
TV: None.
Streaming: Victory+.
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!