Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (4-5-2, 14 points) return home from a three-game road trip to take on Bay FC (3-5-2, 11 points). This is the first of two meetings between the two teams with the return game scheduled for Sept. 27 in San Jose.

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

History

Bay FC is one of two expansion teams that entered the NWSL for the 2024 season. The teams have met four times, with the Pride holding a 3-0-1 record and a 1-0-1 mark at home in the series.

The most recent meeting took place on Sept. 13, 2025, 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.

On June 13 of last year in San Jose, CA, Bay FC led almost every statistical category, but the Pride defense held strong until Barbra Banda scored shortly after halftime. The Pride withstood attack after attack, coming away with a hard-fought 1-0 win.

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

The Pride return home tonight after a difficult road trip that saw the team fall 2-1 to Boston Legacy FC and 3-1 to Denver Summit FC. Having already lost to both expansion teams, they headed west to face San Diego Wave FC, a team near the top of the standings. But Nicole Payne’s first professional goal lifted Orlando to a 1-0 win.

Despite not scoring in two of the last three games, Banda still leads the league with nine goals in 10 games this season. She has a two-goal lead on Ashley Sanchez, who is second in the league. Haley McCutcheon is the only other Pride player with multiple goals, scoring twice in the same game. Ovalle, Marta, and Hannah Anderson have the team’s other three goals. The assists have been spread out much more evenly with Ovalle, McCutcheon, and Rafaelle all sharing the team lead with two.

The clean sheet against San Diego was big for the back line as the team has conceded too many goals recently. Dating back to their 3-2 loss to Racing Louisville FC on April 24, the Pride have conceded multiple goals in four of the last six games. The only other game in which they didn’t concede at least twice was a 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage on May 8, their last home game.

Tonight is the Pride’s last game before the league breaks for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After the game, they won’t play again until July 3 and won’t play at home until July 10. That makes getting a quality result tonight essential for momentum going through the remainder of the season.

If you’re looking for a team to win against, Bay FC is one of the most likely candidates. The Bay -area side sits 13th in the NWSL on 11 points, just four points ahead of Louisville for last place. Tonight’s visitors are currently on a four-game winless run (0-2-2) and a two-game losing streak. Their last win was a 1-0 victory against San Diego on May 3. The club’s most recent games are a 2-0 loss to Portland Thorns FC on May 20 and a 1-0 loss to Chicago Stars FC on May 24.

Bay FC has struggled this year on both ends of the field. Its eight goals are second fewest in the league and Bay is one of three teams with single-digit goals this year. Meanwhile, the team’s 14 goals conceded are sixth in the league. The California side has been better defensively overall than the Pride, who have conceded 16 goals, but worse offensively, as the Pride have scored 15 goals so far this year.

Bay FC has been led in the attack by Alex Pfeiffer and Dorian Bailey with two goals each. Kundananji, Taylor Huff, Keira Barry, and Joelle Anderson have one apiece. Pfeiffer also leads the team in assists with two, tied with Cristina Girelli. Huff and Sydney Collins are the only other players with assists this season.

It should help the Pride tonight that Bay FC will be missing two key players. Silkowitz and starting center back Aldana Cometti were sent off against Chicago Sunday, meaning they’ll miss tonight’s game.

However, the Pride have their own key absences. In addition to injuries that have accumulated this season, Angelina was handed an additional game’s suspension after being sent off on May 16 for pulling Delanie Sheehan’s hair.

“We’re looking forward to it. Looking forward to being back home,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “It’s been a long road trip. Excited to get in front of our own fans. Want to create that atmosphere, make it hostile for Bay FC. We know it’s a quick turnaround for both teams as well, so we want to make sure that we start off on the front foot, build on what we achieved last Sunday in San Diego, and finish this part of the season on a high.”

The Pride will be without Angelina (suspension), Cosette Morche (ankle), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Solai Washington (knee). Marta (thigh) and Ovalle (thigh) are listed as questionable. Bay FC will be without Cornetti (suspension), Abby Dahlkemper (maternity leave), Anouk Denton (lower leg), Dydasco (maternity leave), Heather Gilchrist (knee), Alyssa Malonson (knee), Emily Menges (maternity leave), Pfeiffer (knee), and Silkowitz (suspension).

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Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

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

Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon.

Attacking Midfielders: Kerry Abello, Luana, Nicole Payne.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Zara Chavoshi, Hannah Anderson, Julie Doyle, Marta, Jacquie Ovalle, Summer Yates, Seven Castain, Simone Jackson.

Bay FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Emmie Allen.

Defenders: Sydney Collins, Joelle Anderson, Brooklyn Courtnall, Maddie Moreau.

Defensive Midfielders: Hannah Bebar, Claire Hutton.

Attacking Midfielders: Racheal Kundananji, Caroline Conti, Taylor Huff.

Forward: Cristiana Girelli.

Bench: Camryn Miller, Kelli Hubly, Jamie Shepherd, Dorian Bailey, Karlie Lema, Onyeka Gamero, Tess Boade, Keira Barry.

Referees

REF: Jaclyn Metz.
AR1: Art Arustamyan.
AR2: Adam Cook.
4TH: Edson Carvajal.
VAR: Anya Voigt.
AVAR: Katarzyna Wasiak.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: None.

Streaming: NWSL+.

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.

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Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

The Orlando Pride welcome Bay FC to Inter&Co Stadium this Friday night for the last match before the World Cup break. This is an opportunity to get a win over a team lower in the table and move up in the standings. What must the Pride do to earn all three points against Bay FC this weekend?

Keep the Chip

I have been asking all season on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for the Pride to play with the chip on their shoulder that they had when they won the double in 2024. We saw that against the San Diego Wave. My hope is that the players have now remembered what that feels like and will execute with the same level of intensity going forward.

The task is potentially a little easier against Bay FC, as the California-based side has scored less than half the number of goals that the Wave have this season. Of course, that is the trap. The Pride cannot slack off against Bay FC. Having Rafaelle anchoring the defense is a big help, and moving Hailie Mace out to right back has proven effective. In 2024, this team hated — with a capital “H” — conceding goals. They took it personally. That is the passion I want again. The chip on the shoulder.

Overwhelm and Outscore

As I mentioned above, Bay FC is not a prolific scoring team. Friday’s visitors have also given up 14 goals this season. That’s not the best or the worst in the league, but they haven’t faced Barbra Banda yet. The Orlando Pride don’t have any trouble creating chances, but they have had trouble getting anyone other than Banda to finish them this season. Banda leads the league in goals, and she has an opportunity to maintain or extend that lead against Bay FC.

What will truly make the difference for the Pride against Bay FC is if any of the other players can contribute a goal. We saw the space that Banda can provide her teammates when Nicole Payne scored her first goal against San Diego. Now I want other players to take advantage of that space to provide some goals for the Pride.

More Luana

Luana got her first start since coming back to the squad cancer-free. I think we’ve forgotten that she was a starter on the 2024 squad before her Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis. She was a starter on a team that won the double. Now she is back and she is a leader and an inspiration for her fellow players.

Given Marta’s limited minutes, having Luana out there as a stabilizing presence is important. Obviously, she brings a different skill set than Marta but still a critical one. Much like the defense, the midfield was better last match, and I feel she was a big part of that.

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That is what I will be looking for on Friday night. The Pride can head into the World Cup break on a high with a victory. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

The Orlando Pride (4-5-2, 14 points) bounced back from a pair of tough losses by defeating San Diego Wave FC (7-4-1, 22 points) 1-0 tonight at Snapdragon Stadium. Nicole Payne’s first goal in her first start for the Pride was enough to return home with all three points.

The Pride made the unusual decision of staying on the road after leaving Denver. Rather than returning to Orlando, they stayed on the West Coast for the week leading up to tonight’s game in Southern California.

“As the schedule came out, we felt, after going to Denver, was it necessary for us to go back home,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about the decision. “Sometimes it’s easy to go back home and just being in your own bed. But, being on this side of the country, we felt the need to get to San Diego early. Adapt to the weather, and be together.”

“It was so important,” McCutcheon added about staying on the road. “I think that these games that are coming quick and fast can be a positive when things are going well, and they can be a real challenge when we’re trying to figure things out. And I think that to have a full week of training to really peel back the layers and go back to the basics.”

Hines made three changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Denver Summit FC on May 16. Rafaelle, Payne, and Luana entered the starting lineup, replacing Hannah Anderson, Seven Castain, and Summer Yates.

“Part of the three-game road trip is having the ability to manage players and rotate players,” Hines said about the lineup changes. “Even if some things are not always in your control.”

The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse included Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Hailie Mace. Ally Lemos and Haley McCutcheon were in the defensive midfield behind Julie Doyle, Luana, and Payne with Barbra Banda up top.

Adding to the occasion was a milestone for McCutcheon. It was her 100th appearance for the Pride and her 200th NWSL game.

The Pride came into this game looking to display their physicality. They outmuscled the Wave and were willing to give up set pieces in the process. It was a strong defensive effort that earned the Pride their fourth clean sheet of the season. In the end, it was a surprising long-distance goal by Payne and some critical saves by Moorhouse that made the difference.

The Pride created the first chance in the ninth minute when Lemos sent Payne down the right and the midfielder was dragged down by Kiki Pickett. Lemos stepped up to take the set piece, lifting it into the box where Banda was making a near-post run. The striker attempted to flick the ball to the far post, sending her attempt wide.

San Diego’s first chance came in the 11th minute, when Dudinha made a strong run to the end line. The attacker initially beat Mace, but the right back caught up and knocked the ball out of play. The ensuing corner kick was sent to the near post where Kennedy Wesley tried to put it on goal. Rafaelle was in a good defensive position and blocked the weak attempt.

Banda won a foul in the 15th minute when Kimmi Ascanio impeded her. Lemos again took the set piece, sending it into the box. Banda might’ve gotten a slight touch as she attempted to flick the ball forward with her head, but it didn’t create any trouble for Didi Haracic.

A poor pass by the Wave in the 31st minute allowed McCutcheon to play Banda forward. It looked like the striker would outmuscle Mimi Van Zanten to get in on goal, but the defender got a foot in. Banda went down and the Pride players wanted a foul, but referee Calin Radosav said Van Zanten got enough of the ball.

The Wave had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 33rd minute when Wesley passed the ball forward for Ludmila. As Banda knocked her over, the striker sent a pass forward for Gia Corley, who was goal side on McCutcheon. Corley looked for Dudinha, making a back post run, but Moorhouse got a hand to it. Unfortunately, the ball went right to Lia Godfrey at the top of the six. Despite being on her back, Moorhouse was able to make the save without giving up a rebound.

Lia Godfrey's lurking but Anna Moorhouse takes no chances 🙅‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/J1zkGziia0

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 24, 2026

The Pride got a break in the 40th minute when Wesley headed out a Lemos cross. As the Wave looked to break the other way, Ascanio brought the ball down with her arm, giving the Pride a free kick just outside the San Diego box.

Lemos took the set piece and went for goal, aiming her shot inside the near post. However, her attempt was just wide.

In the 43rd minute, McCutcheon sent Banda down the left and into the San Diego box. The striker used her physicality on Wesley, and when that didn’t work, she cut inside to shoot. But Wesley did well to stay in front and deflected the ball out of play.

The ensuing set piece found Rafaelle near the top of the box and the center back put her attempt on goal, but it was right to Haracic.

Kennedy played a great ball forward for Ludmila in the 44th minute, getting the striker into the box. Dyke was able to stay in front to keep Ludmila from getting a free shot, so the Brazilian sent a dangerous ball to the back post. Dudinha was making a run behind Mace, but it was a bit too far in front of the attacker and went out of play.

Luana won a free kick in the 45th minute when Pickett tripped the midfielder in the San Diego third of the field. The set piece to the back post found Rafaelle’s head, but she sent the ball over the target.

Kenza Dali made a run into the Pride third of the field in the third minute of first-half stoppage time before finding Corley at the top of the box. The attacker found space for a shot between Rafaelle and McCutcheon but it was right to Moorhouse.

Seconds later, the Pride broke through. Luana sent a long ball forward for Banda, but Kristen McNabb struck her foot out to knock it down. Unfortunately for the defender, the ball went right to Payne. It looked like Payne would wait for support as she dribbled away from the goal. But she surprised everyone by turning and firing with her right foot from outside the box, beating Haracic to the far post and giving her team the 1-0 lead.

Luana's long ball sets up Nicole Payne for her first NWSL goal 🤌 pic.twitter.com/tqblgS2ZaO

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 25, 2026

It was a big moment for Payne as she has recently returned from an ACL injury that kept her out for over a year. It was also her first professional goal in her first start for the Pride.

“It’s been a long time. It’s been over a year, so I didn’t really know how everything was going to play out,” Payne said. “But a lot of it just goes to my teammates, the staff, everyone for believing in me and giving me the confidence to be able to be back and just play confidently.”

“Always looking to run in behind and a well taken goal,” Hines said about Payne. “She obviously came as a right back and developed her into a more of a winger. And really pleased for her, because it’s been quite a journey for her, coming back from an ACL. Great goal and great performance from her.”

The hosts immediately went on the attack, looking for an equalizer before the break. Dudinha dribbled to the top of the Pride box before firing on goal, forcing Moorhouse to block the attempt. Ludmila and Doyle raced for the loose ball with both missing it. As a result, it rested for Van Zanten, but her shot went wide.

San Diego ended the first half with more possession (59%-41%), but both teams recorded eight shots and put three on target. The teams also each won one corner kick and the Wave had better passing accuracy (84%-73%).

“We just really wanted to focus on putting in a really good defensive shift,” Payne said about the halftime message. “Obviously, we don’t like to concede goals, so we just really were focused on trying to set a tone in the second half and really continue to control the game.”

The Wave began the second half on the front foot, creating the first chance inside the first minute. Dali played the ball square for Godrey outside of the box and the attacker fired from distance. However, the ball was always curling left and sailed wide of the near post.

The Pride were forced into their first substitution of the game in the 51st minute when Doyle landed awkwardly after being pushed down by McNabb. After receiving treatment on the field, she couldn’t continue and was replaced by Kerry Abello.

Ludmila tried to make something happen herself in the 55th minute as the striker carried the ball across the top of the box. The Brazilian found enough space to turn and shoot, but she was unable to put her attempt on target.

A minute later, the Pride created their first shot of the second half when Lemos played the ball to Payne on the right and continued her run to the top of the box. The first-half goal scorer sent the ball right back to Lemos, who fired from the top of the 18. Unfortunately, she was never balanced and the ball sailed wide of the goal.

Hines made his second change in the 62nd minute as Yates entered the contest, replacing Payne.

Second-half Wave substitute Tatum Wynalda tried to lift the ball out of the back in the 67th minute, but she couldn’t get it over the head of Abello. The Pride midfielder brought it down with her chest and sent a long shot towards goal, sending it over the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, Mace pushed over Dudinha, giving San Diego a free kick just inside the Pride half. Before the set piece could be taken, Luana went down and required attention. During the stoppage, Hines made his final two changes as Seven Castain and Simone Jackson came on for Oihane and Luana.

The ensuing set piece was headed to the top of the six-yard box where Gabi Portilho was making a run. The substitute got her head on it but sent the attempt wide of the near post.

Banda made a long run off the restart, earning a corner kick when Wynalda blocked her cross out of play. The ensuing set piece went just over Banda and McCutcheon and out of play for a goal kick.

Jackson sent a long ball down the field for Banda in the 83rd minute, giving the striker a one-on-one with Wesley. The center back did well to knock it off of Banda’s foot, allowing McNabb to get back into position. Banda played a square ball for Castain entering the box, but her shot was wide of the near post.

San Diego nearly had a chance in the 85th minute when Wynalda found Van Zanten making a free run to the penalty spot. The defender should’ve been able to take a shot, but she was off balance and missed the ball completely.

The Wave stayed on the attack and nearly found an equalizer when McNabb sent a ball into the box that connected with Portilho’s head as she jumped between Castain and Abello. The header was heading just inside the far post before the diving Moorhouse got her fingertips to it, redirecting the ball wide.

As the game reached stoppage time, Lemos fouled Melanie Barcenas just outside of the Pride box. Barcenas took the free kick and sent her attempt into Moorhouse’s arms.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time, San Diego created its final attack. Rafaelle headed a Wesley cross out to Laurina Fazer, who saw McCutcheon block her shot. The ball went to Trinity Byers for a second attempt, but Abello blocked it.

The Pride players and coaching staff’s appeal for the final whistle fell on deaf ears. Barcenas received a throw-in and fired from long distance, sending her shot well over the crossbar.

That was enough for Radosav to blow the final whistle and the Pride held on for the 1-0 win.

At full time, San Diego held the advantage in possession (58%-42%), shots (17-14), shots on target (5-3), crosses (15-6), corner kicks (3-2), and passing accuracy (84%-76%). But the Pride defended well to hold onto their slim lead and claim all three points.

“Incredible game. Great effort as well from start to finish,” Hines said. “I thought we managed the game really well. We brought a little bit more intensity with our press. We were a lot calmer on the ball as well, and we talked about that going into the game — getting back to who we are as Orlando Pride team — and it was fully on show tonight in San Diego.”

“We put it all together today,” McCutcheon added. “This was definitely more than just three points for us. It’s a shift in our season and our momentum, and I’m just so proud of the group.”

The Pride end the weekend in eighth place, holding the final playoff spot with one game remaining until the World Cup break. They’re one point behind the North Carolina Courage for seventh and four points behind three teams for fourth.

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The team will return home for one final game before the league stops for over a month, facing Bay FC Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium.