Orlando Pride
Young Players Impacting the Pride’s Early Success
Summer Yates and Amanda Allen have been key contributors for the Pride early in the 2024 season.
![](https://themaneland.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MarkThor-PridevChicagoRedStars-032924-OCOP1702-scaled.jpg)
The Orlando Pride are off to a decent start to the 2024 NWSL season, claiming points in each of their first three games. The results can largely be attributed to the veteran Brazilian duo of Angelina and Marta. However, some younger players have shown development during the off-season and are playing key roles in the team’s successes.
The Pride depended on proven talent during the first six years of the team’s existence. But all they had to show for their marquee signings was a single playoff appearance in which they were dominated by the Portland Thorns. Instead, they spent most seasons near or at the bottom of the standings, leaving many to wonder why such big names couldn’t bring success to the club.
Following the 2021 NWSL season, the Pride made the unpopular decision to go through a full rebuild, parting with players like Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris. They traded these assets for Allocation Money and draft picks. Despite some missteps, the club has used most of those assets wisely, building a young and promising team that nearly made the playoffs last year.
There were undoubtedly going to be growing pains with such a young team. Rookies were always going to have to be thrown into the deep end to see if they would sink or swim. It was something that Pride Head Coach Seb Hines expected when he accepted the permanent head coaching position prior to the 2023 campaign.
“Last year we had a lot of young players,” Hines said of the group. “And we had to rely on a lot of young players and guide them and make sure they were ready for this next step.”
The next step Hines refers to is bringing them on to make a difference. The only second-year player starting regularly this year will likely be defender Emily Sams, but others have made a difference as substitutes. In two of the first three games this year, 23-year-old midfielder Summer Yates and 19-year-old forward Amanda Allen have been an essential part of goals.
Both players joined the Pride last season, but in different ways. Yates went into the 2023 NWSL Draft as one of the top prospects, but the University of Washington product inexplicably fell to the fourth round where the Pride grabbed her. It was widely seen as possibly the steal of the draft and might very well be so.
A Canadian international, Allen was signed in April of last season. Despite her talent, the 19-year-old was seen as a project with a high ceiling if she developed properly. The two players saw little time on the field during their first NWSL season, combining for 13 appearances and 117 minutes.
While they didn’t have much experience, Hines and Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter were bullish about the pair heading into the season. They felt both had progressed during the off-season and were ready to contribute significantly more than they did in 2023. It didn’t take Hines long to back up those words.
In the first game of the season against Racing Louisville FC and down a goal, Hines replaced Morgan Gautrat with Yates in the 70th minute and Julie Doyle with Allen in the 83rd minute. It didn’t take long for the pair to combine, helping the Pride to their first point of the season. In the 86th minute, Angelina’s free kick was flicked on by Allen, enabling Yates to get the final touch and put away the equalizing goal.
“Summer has put the effort in in the off-season,” Hines said about Yates after that game. “She’s had moments in the preseason where she’s had to come in and make a difference and today, she did exactly what we asked of her. Her effort and even her tenacity defending, which is probably not something she’s comfortable with, but to get the goal, the equalizing goal late in the game shows her worth and what we need for us to move forward.”
The following game at home against Angel City FC, it was Allen again making a difference. Down a goal late, the second-year Pride forward dribbled the ball with power into the Angel City box with time winding down. Madison Curry tipped it away, but Allen stayed with it and won a corner. Angelina’s ensuing set piece found Marta, who volleyed the ball inside the near post for the equalizing goal. While Marta got credit for the point, Allen’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed.
“She (Allen) wins the corner because of the qualities of trying to take players on and also never giving up,” Hines said about the play. “She could’ve easily given up, but she goes, wins it, goes again, and goes again, and wins the corner that ultimately gets us the point.”
Even when the duo aren’t directly involved in goals, they’re making a difference in games. Yates came on in the 72nd minute Friday night against the Chicago Red Stars in a 1-1 match, looking to find a winner. While the team had to settle for another draw, the midfielder made an immediate impact on the game, causing problems for the Chicago defense.
In the 76th minute, the midfielder beat her defender to get a hard shot off that was blocked by Alyssa Naeher. It was hit too well for the USWNT number one to catch it, enabling the Pride to shoot twice more. The play might’ve resulted in a second goal if not for a pair of sliding blocks by defender Natalia Kuikka.
A minute later, Yates was sent behind the Red Stars defense by Marta. She beat Kuikka to the ball and the veteran was forced to attempt a risky challenge. The controversial shoulder challenge saw Yates go to the ground. The video assistant referee called down for a review, which took over six minutes, before it was determined there wasn’t a foul. However, the speed and well-timed run by Yates caused the play that could’ve easily gone either way.
“We’re seeing the rewards of that off-season. She may have scored another goal today, who knows?” Hines said after Friday night’s draw. “But massive compliments to Summer and not just being a substitute, but being a game changer and coming on and making a difference.”
After narrowly missing out on a playoff appearance last year, the Pride are looking to qualify for the first time since 2017 and the second time in team history. They’re going to need quality play from substitutes to achieve that goal and Yates and Allen so far have brought that necessary quality.
In addition to what they provide this year, the duo provide even more reasons for Pride fans to be optimistic about the future. Marta might be in her last professional season, so the Pride could need an attacking replacement next season. While the club could sign a big name to replace the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, they might have her replacement in Yates right now.
As for Allen, it’s difficult to tell where she’ll fit in in the future. The club recently signed Barbra Banda with the second-largest transfer fee in league history. But the Zambian international will spend time away on international duty and they Pride will need others to step up. The forward position is the last one Carter and Hines were looking to focus on and Allen’s performances can make improving the position easier.
The Pride’s rebuild hasn’t been easy with the team losing young talent and a high draft pick. Sams had an excellent season last year, showing a bright future, and this young attacking duo have shown more promise in their second seasons. If they continue to play as they have in their early appearances, they might lift the Pride to unforeseen heights.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Sign Goalkeeper McKinley Crone to New Contract
The Pride have signed backup goalkeeper McKinley Crone through 2026.
![](https://themaneland.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/JRPRIDE130242055-scaled.jpg)
The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that the club has signed backup goalkeeper McKinley Crone to a new contract. The deal runs through the 2026 NWSL season.
“Mac has played an important role in our goalkeeping corps, continuing to push our group each day while investing in herself both on and off the pitch,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “We are very excited for her to continue her career with us here in Orlando, where we can continue to support her development as a player. We believe she can become a competitive goalkeeper in this league, and we look forward to providing her with the resources and environment to reach her potential.”
Crone went undrafted in 2023 before joining the Pride as a non-roster invitee during preseason. The Maitland native continued with the Pride as a training player and was awarded with a National Team Replacement Player contract on June 27, 2023 when Marta and Adriana departed for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The 25-year-old signed a second National Team Replacement Player contract and was signed for the remainder of the season on Sept. 13, 2023.
Her play in training and during her call-ups earned Crone a NWSL contract for the 2024 season. She only made the team sheet once in 2023, but became the regular backup this year. Anna Moorhouse was called up to the England National Team when the NWSL went on break for the Olympics, opening a spot for Crone. She made her professional debut in a 1-1 draw with the North Carolina Courage on July 20 in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. The young goalkeeper made five saves on six shots while conceding once and helping the Pride maintain their unbeaten record this year in all competitions.
“To be staying here in Orlando, the place I grew up, means everything to me. Being given the chance to represent this city as well as this club has been a huge honor, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue living out my dream,” Crone said in a club press release. “What we are building here is really special and I can’t wait to continue to be a part of it for years to come. This club and this city mean so much to me and I will do everything I can to help bring championships to the City Beautiful. Roll Pride!”
Prior to joining the Pride, Crone played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Alabama. Her final three seasons for the Crimson Tide saw her make 66 starts, play 9,519.77 minutes, and concede 70 goals while making 229 saves. She had a goals-against average of 1.10 and saved 76.6% of the shots she faced. She finished her collegiate career with Alabama’s record for single-season wins (10), career shutouts (23), and career wins (41).
What This Means for Orlando
Crone has worked her way from a non-roster invitee last preseason to the team’s primary backup. When the club signed Finnish goalkeeper Sofia Manner during the off-season, it was expected the newcomer would be behind Moorhouse. However, Crone has been on the team sheet for every game this season, while Manner only appeared during the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.
During the summer break tournament, Crone’s five saves topped the Pride’s goalkeeping group, which saw Crone, Manner, and Moorhouse start one game each. In addition to equaling Moorhouse with a team-best one goal conceded, she saved two penalties in the shootout, more than Moorhouse and Manner.
Crone’s role as the primary backup this season and her play in the Summer Cup makes her the obvious choice for the same role next year. For this reason, it was a matter of when and not if the Pride would attempt to sign her to a new contract. With Moorhouse and Manner already signed through the 2025 season, the Pride now have their goalkeeping corps for next year.
Orlando Pride
Finding Glory? The Orlando Pride “Just Keep Winning”
As Orlando’s NWSL rivals stumble, the Pride have shown no signs of slowing down.
![](https://themaneland.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OPvNJNY-2024.09.01-72-1-scaled.jpg)
Nearly two months ago, the Orlando Pride defeated the Kansas City Current 2-1 for a gritty road win to enter the Olympic break on top of the league table and favorites for the NWSL Shield. If any fans were anxious about the Pride’s form dipping in their return to action, they should now let go of those fears.
While Orlando has continued to rack up points with stingy defense and timely goals, the other credible contenders for the shield, the Current and the Washington Spirit, have both dropped points. Now, there are just eight matches remaining in the regular season, and the Pride have a six-point lead in the table. So, to paraphrase the ever-optimistic Dory from Finding Nemo (and also from the sequel, Finding Dory), “just keep winning.”
Since returning from the break, Orlando has won at the last-place Houston Dash and against fourth-place NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. The latter match featured 12 Olympians, and could have passed for a gold medal rematch due to Gotham’s U.S.-heavy squad and Orlando’s Brazilian contingent. Both the Dash and Gotham games were ones Orlando would be disappointed not to win, but winning is never a given in a league as competitive as the NWSL. Just ask the Current, who started the season unbeaten through 15 matches and set the pace at the top of the table, only to lose three straight and drop to third. On the other end of the table, both Utah Royals FC and Seattle Reign FC are on two-match winning streaks, showing just how quickly things can change for better or worse.
Orlando, however, leads the league and is not slowing down, because the Pride have avoided the trap games and off nights that can bite most teams. It is a testament to values instilled in the squad by Head Coach Seb Hines, now the winningest coach in Pride history, that the players have remained focused and ready for each match. Following the win over Gotham, Orlando’s fifth straight, center back Kylie Strom put it simply, “at the end of the day, we have to stick to our principles, and we did exactly that.”
Strom was referring specifically to the team’s defensive performance, but around the pitch, players are staying true to the other key principles that got them here. In recent matches, defense, as well as squad depth and versatility, have set this club apart from the competition.
Defensively, the numbers speak for themselves. Orlando now has five clean sheets in its past six NWSL matches and has only conceded 12 times in 18 matches. During the previous six matches, the Pride have started seven different players in the back four positions, and that does not include Rafaelle, who has been struggling with leg injuries this season. One of the players deputizing due to injuries to Rafaelle and Bri Martinez is Cori Dyke, who despite only starting three matches to this point in her debut season, is beginning to thrive in the environment the staff and other players have created.
Dyke exemplifies how squad depth has also been key to this defensive run. Despite a couple of injuries, the Pride still have not trailed in a match since the first month of the season, nor have they conceded a goal past the 75th minute. This stat could only be achieved because the roster is ready top to bottom to do the dirty work of defending, whether the players on the pitch are regular starters, or late game specialists. Also, it never hurts to be able to bring on Orlando’s newest addition, veteran defender Carson Pickett, to help see out games.
Orlando’s depth and versatility have also shown for the attack in recent weeks. While outsiders may wrongly view the Pride offense as a one-player “Barbra Banda show” due to her team-high 12 goals, the Dash and Gotham games demonstrated how lethal Orlando can be even without a goal from Banda. Against Gotham, it was Adriana who contributed two great goals within 20 minutes to put the game out of reach right after kickoff. Despite a slower start to 2024 following her electric debut campaign, Adriana now sits on five goals for the season. This tally brings her level with Marta, who has hit her highest individual goal mark since 2019, and Summer Yates, who subbed on and scored her fifth of season, a game winner, against the Dash.
Again, Yates’ goal highlights how the Pride players continue to perform well, whether they start or come off the bench. Goals are not the only way Pride attackers have contributed from the bench either, though Julie Doyle did almost have the goal of the season on Sunday if not for the offside flag. Doyle was also critical to seeing out the win and clean sheet because she drove the ball into the opposition half and toward the corner flag repeatedly to kill time and disrupt the flow of the match. Watt performed much the same role after her introduction as well, ensuring that Gotham did not have as many chances to score towards the end of the match.
At the end of the day, these are the types of contributions that Orlando will need to keep winning and maintain their lead at the top of the table. This includes the way the defense doesn’t let the opposition breathe, no matter who is playing. It includes timely goals from the entire Pride roster and not just Banda. And, it includes players in each position remaining focused and doing what they have done to be in the position they are in today. That position is one where they finally have daylight between them and their rivals at the top.
While there are still eight matches to go, the Pride will know that if they can take care of business against the teams outside of the top four in the NWSL, such as this weekend’s against the Chicago Red Stars, the path for other teams to catch them will get much trickier.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Loan Amanda Allen to Lexington SC
The Pride have sent Canadian international forward Amanda Allen on loan to USL Super League side Lexington SC.
![](https://themaneland.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MarkThor-PridevChicagoRedStars-032924-OCOP1702-1-scaled.jpg)
The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has sent forward Amanda Allen on loan to USL Super League side Lexington SC. The loan is for the 2024-25 USL Super League season, which runs through May, and includes a right to recall.
“Amanda has shown her potential and maturity during her time here in Orlando and we’re happy to find an opportunity for her to get more minutes on the field,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Amanda has played an important role so far this season and we are happy to be able to give her the opportunity to compete in Lexington. We look forward to watching her play and will continue to support her from afar during this loan spell.”
The Mississauga, Ontario, native joined the Pride on April 3, 2023 on a three-year deal running through the 2025 season. She made her debut on May 6, 2023 against Racing Louisville FC, becoming the youngest player to play for the Pride at 18 years, two months, and 15 days old.
In her two years in Orlando, Allen has made 17 appearances with two starts while recording 293 minutes with one assist in all competitions. That includes 11 NWSL regular season appearances, three Challenge Cup appearances, and three NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup appearances. Her assist came in this year’s season opener in a 2-2 draw against Racing Louisville when she found Summer Yates for the late equalizer.
Allen has spent time with the Canadian National Team and the youth squads. The 19-year-old forward is currently at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she started in the team’s first two group games.
What This Means for Orlando
The Pride have two primary forwards this season in Barbra Banda and Ally Watt, with the other forwards usually being left on the bench or out of the matchday squad. Even veteran and Argentina international Mariana Larroquette has found it hard to see the field. The club views Allen as part of the future of this team, but she was unlikely to see much more time this year in the regular season or postseason.
This loan gives the 19-year-old an opportunity to see first-team minutes at a high level, as the USL Super League is a first division league. The team was already heavy on forwards, resulting in the waiving of rookie Alex Kerr on Aug. 29. This move clears more space at the position while stating that Allen is part of the future of the team.
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Set New NWSL Unbeaten Record
-
Orlando City B2 weeks ago
Orlando City B vs. Atlanta United 2: Final Score 4-1 as Young Lions Blast Atlanta
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Sporting Kansas City: Player Grades and Man of the Match
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride Focused On More Than Records
-
Orlando Pride6 days ago
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Sporting Kansas City: Five Takeaways
-
Podcasts2 weeks ago
PawedCast Episode 442: Sporting Kansas City Rewind, OCB-Atlanta, Nashville Preview, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Sporting Kansas City: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More