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

Welcome to your match preview and game thread as the Orlando Pride (9-13-3, 30 points) travel west to face Bay FC (7-13-5, 26 points) at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA. This is the second and final time these teams will meet during the 2026 NWSL season.

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

History

Bay FC is one of two expansion teams that entered the NWSL for the 2024 season. The teams have met five times, with the Pride holding a 4-0-1 record and a perfect 2-0-0 mark in San Jose.

The most recent meeting took place on May 29 in Orlando. Barbra Banda gave the Pride the early lead, but Caroline Conti equalized moments later and the teams went into halftime tied at 1-1. The Pride came out of the halftime break flying with goals by Banda and Cori Dyke, leading to a 3-1 win.

The first meeting of 2025 took place on June 13 in California. Bay FC led almost every statistical category, but the Pride defense held strong until Banda scored shortly after halftime. The Pride withstood attack after attack, coming away with a hard-fought 1-0 win. Last Sept. 13 in Orlando, the visitors took the lead just before halftime when Racheal Kundananji headed in a long pass by Caprice Dydasco. The Pride equalized in the second half, when Ally Watt headed a Jacquie Ovalle cross past Jordan Silkowitz to claim a 1-1 draw.

The teams met twice in 2024, with the first-ever game between the clubs occurring on May 11. Just prior to the half-hour mark, Banda dribbled inside and Deyna Castellanos attempted an ill-advised challenge, resulting in a foul in the box and a Pride penalty. Adriana put the ball into the bottom left corner for the only goal, lifting the Pride to a 1-0 win. It was the sixth win in an NWSL-record, eight-game win streak.

The teams met for the second time on Sept. 20, 2024. It looked like the game might be headed for a scoreless draw until Banda got her head on the end of a Carson Pickett cross, redirecting it past Katelyn Rowland to give the Pride the 1-0 win.

Overview

It’s been a tough year for the Pride, who sit in 11th place. They’re eight points behind the Kansas City Current for the final playoff spot with just five games left. While not yet eliminated, it will be nearly impossible for the team to reach the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Making matters worse, the team fired Seb Hines on Aug. 31. Yolanda Thomas won her first game as interim head coach, a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dash on Sept. 6. The Pride had a 2-0 lead on the Current on Sept. 11 but gave up two goals in three minutes to draw 2-2. On Sept. 19, they were completely outplayed by the Portland Thorns, falling 4-1 at home.

The Pride’s lone attacking threat this year has been Banda, who has scored 16 of the team’s 32 goals. She’s currently the league’s second-leading goal scorer, just three behind Ashley Sanchez.

Defensively, the team has finally found some consistency under Thomas, at least in terms of personnel if not preventing goals. The back line of Hailie Mace, Hannah Anderson, Dyke, and Oihane have started the last three games. On Sept. 3, starting goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was sent on loan to Manchester City, giving the starting gloves to Cosette Morche.

At this point, the Pride are just trying to end the season on a high note rather than challenging for a playoff spot. That continues tonight when they face Bay FC in California.

Bay FC sits below the Pride in 13th place with 26 points. Today’s hosts are only 3-7-3 at home this year, giving the Pride a good chance to take maximum points on the road.

The Bay Area team has struggled to score goals this year, only netting 26. That’s only good enough for 15th in the NWSL. Only Chicago Stars FC has fewer with 14. Bay has been better defensively, conceding 34 goals, eighth most in the league.

The team ended a three-game losing streak on Sept. 16 with a 2-2 draw against Denver Summit FC. It followed that with a 2-0 win at home against Racing Louisville FC on Sept. 20, giving the team some confidence heading into this game.

Tonight’s opponent is led in the attack by Karlie Lema with seven goals. She’s followed by Alex Pfeiffer and Kenndy Fuller with three each. Kundananji, Bay FC’s star attacker over the past three seasons, is on two goals from 16 games.

“I think in this league you can lose any game, you can win any game. So, we’re expecting a team that will be ready to face us that probably, from their perspective, sees an opportunity,” Thomas said ahead of today’s game. “And we’re going to be ready for that. I think we lean on the experience that we have, and I feel like we know the opponent fairly well. So, if we go out and do what we’ve worked on, it will give us an opportunity to get a result, and really that’s all we can affect.”

The Pride are almost completely healthy with only Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave) out and Sanne Lekven (head) listed as questionable. Bay FC will be without Anouk Denton (lower leg), Dydsco (maternity leave), and Alyssa Malonson (knee).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Cosette Morche.

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

Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Haley McCutcheon.

Attacking Midfielders: Solai Washington, Luana, Marta.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: Cara Martin, Hannah Anderson, Kerry Abello, Nicole Payne, Sanne Lekven, Ally Lemos, Julie Doyle, Jacquie Ovalle, Summer Yates.

Bay FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Jordan Silkowitz.

Defenders: Jenna Nighswonger, Joelle Anderson, Heather Gilchrist, Sydney Collins.

Midfielders: Hannah Bebar, Taylor Huff, Claire Hutton.

Forwards: Racheal Kundananji, Karlie Lema, Alex Pfeiffer.

Bench: Camryn Miller, Kelli Hubly, Aldana Cometti, Maddie Moreau, Agostina Holzheier, Kennedy Fuller, Cristiana Girelli, Caroline Conti, Keira Barry.

Referees

REF: Corbyn May.
AR1: Cameron Siler.
AR2: Emmanuel Padilla.
4TH: Eduardo Hernandez Garcia.
VAR: Matthew Corrigan.
AVAR: Christian Clerc.

How to Watch

Match Time: 5 p.m.

Venue: PayPal Park — San Jose, CA.

TV: ESPN.

Streaming: ESPN App.

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!