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

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (3-5-2, 11 points) travel to the west coast to take on the San Diego Wave (7-3-1, 22 points). This is the first of two meetings between the two teams, with the return game in Orlando scheduled for Oct. 2.

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

History

The San Diego Wave joined the NWSL in 2022 and have only faced the Pride eight times in their existence. The Pride have only lost once in those games, posting a record of 5-1-2 overall and 3-0-1 in Southern California.

The most recent meeting took place Sept. 26, 2025 in San Diego. The game got off to a fast start with Jacquie Ovalle giving the Pride the lead in the seventh minute and Dudinha responding three minutes later. Things slowed down significantly after, with Carson Pickett’s 54th-minute goal the only remaining conversion, lifting the Pride to a 2-1 win.

On March 23 of last year in Orlando, Haley McCutcheon scored the opening goal just after halftime to give the hosts the lead before Chiamaka Okwuchukwu equalized minutes later. Marta scored the game winner from the penalty spot after Delphine Carascino fouled Barbra Banda in the box to give Orlando the 2-1 win. It was the third game in a four-game winning streak that lifted the Pride to a strong start to the season.

The final meeting of 2024 took place on June 7. Julie Doyle gave the Pride the lead in the first half, but a second-half equalizer by Makenzy Doniak resulted in a 1-1 draw. On April 19, 2024, in Orlando, Summer Yates scored the game’s lone goal in the first half, lifting the Pride to a 1-0 win. It was the Pride’s first home win in the series.

The first meeting in 2023 was held at Snapdragon Stadium on April 29 after the Pride’s 0-4-0 start to the season. It looked like it would be a fifth straight loss when Jaedyn Shaw gave the hosts the early lead. But Adriana assisted Mikayla Cluff on the equalizer and McCutcheon scored just before halftime to give the Pride the lead. Adriana scored her first goal of the season to put the game away as the Pride won 3-1.

On Aug. 25, 2023, in Orlando, the Pride got off to a horrible start when San Diego center back Abby Dahlkemper scored in the seventh minute for her first goal since 2016. Marta set up Adriana just before halftime for an equalizer, but Kyra Carusa netted the late winner in a 2-1 San Diego win.

The first-ever meeting between the teams took place on Aug. 13, 2022  in San Diego. The lone goal in the game came from the penalty spot after a Julie Doyle cross hit Kaleigh Riehl’s arm in the first half. Meggie Dougherty Howard stepped up and buried the penalty. The Pride held on for 67 minutes to beat one of the top teams in the league, 1-0 away.

The second meeting and first in Orlando kicked off on Sept. 25, 2022, and the Pride got off to a great start. Dougherty Howard opened the scoring in the first half and Gunny Jonsdottir doubled the advantage in the second. It looked like the Pride were headed for six points out of six against the expansion side, but San Diego came storming back. Doniak cut the lead in half and former Pride attacker Taylor Kornieck equalized late, resulting in a disappointing 2-2 draw.

Overview

The Pride came into this road trip with high expectations. It started on May 12 in Boston and continued on May 16 in Denver. It was expected that the team would get something from each game, but the Pride managed to lose to both expansion sides, falling 2-1 to Boston Legacy FC and 3-1 to Denver Summit FC.

Banda is off to a flying start since returning from her season-ending injury last year, currently leading the NWSL with nine goals. Unfortunately, she’s pretty much been the only Pride player to score this year. The striker has scored six of the team’s last seven goals, with the other being a penalty by Marta.

The Pride has been one of the best defensive teams in the league the last two seasons and they were earlier this year. However, they’ve struggled since their 3-2 loss in Louisville, conceding multiple goals in four of their last five games. They’ve been outscored 12-6 in those four contests.

The team has suffered some significant losses this year. Kylie Nadaner is out on maternity leave, Rafaelle has been in and out of the team, and Kerry Abello has been injured. While Abello returned against Denver — coming off the bench — Angelina will be missing after being sent off in Denver for pulling Delanie Sheehan’s hair.

Tonight, the Pride look to end their two-game losing streak as they take on San Diego Wave FC. After suffering a loss in the season opener to the Houston Dash, the Wave went on a five-game winning streak. They had a brief stumble, losing back-to-back games, before going on a two-game winning streak that ended Wednesday night with a 2-2 draw against the Dash.

The Southern California-based side currently sits second in the NWSL standings, one point behind the league-leading Portland Thorns. The Wave are tied for the league lead in goals with 17, even with the Thorns. But they’ve leaked goals, conceding 12 this season, which is eighth most in the league.

Rookie Lia Godfrey and Dudinha lead the Wave in goals this year with four, followed by Melanie Barcenas and Trinity Byars with two each. Dudinha also leads the team in assists with four, making her eight goal contributions the most on the team. Kimmi Ascanio, Kenza Dali, and Godfrey are the other two players with multiple assists with three and two respectively.

Defensively, Head Coach Jonas Eidevall has kept a consistent back line. Perle Morroni, Kristen McNabb, Kennedy Wesley, and Mimi Van Zanten have started all 11 games for the Wave this season. However, Morroni received her fifth caution against the Dash, resulting in a suspension for yellow card accumulation.

“Final match of what’s been a long road trip, but we are ready,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said ahead of tonight’s game. “San Diego has been having a great season and are in good form and looking to get a result, but so are we. We have been preparing well and have had a good week of training and we’re ready for the match. We want to get a result and turn our current form around and we are hoping to do so starting on Sunday night.” 

The Pride have a lengthy list of players missing tonight, including Angelina (suspension), Cosette Morche (ankle), Nadaner (maternity leave), Ovalle (thigh), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Solai Washington (knee). Additionally, Marta (thigh) is listed as questionable. San Diego will be without Trinity Armstrong (knee), Adriana Leon (back), Cat Macario (heel), and Morroni (suspension).

Projected Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Hailie Mace.

Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfielders: Summer Yates, Julie Doyle, Seven Castain.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

San Diego Wave FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: DiDi Haracic.

Defenders: Kristen McNabb, Daniela Arias, Kennedy Wesley, Mimi Van Zanten.

Defensive Midfielders: Kimmi Ascanio, Kenza Dali.

Attacking Midfielders: Dudinha, Lia Godfrey, Melanie Barcenas.

Forward: Ludmila.

Referees

REF: Calin Radosav.
AR1: Ben Rigel.
AR2: Peter Hanson.
4TH: Jose Landa.
VAR: Mark Verso.
AVAR: Christian Clerc.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Snapdragon Stadium — San Diego, CA.

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 (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride.