The Orlando Pride lost at home to the Portland Thorns. That may seem like an understatement and a lame way to open this post, and it is. The Pride weren’t up to the task of taking on the Thorns Saturday afternoon, with a porous defense and a wasteful attack. Ally Lemos had a nice goal and that was just about all the positives for a Pride team that struggled to create chances for Barbra Banda.

We break down a home loss that all but sealed a season outside the playoff places for Orlando, check back to see what our predictions were, and make our picks for Player of the Match.

This week’s mailbagbox asked how much of the back line needs to be replaced, why Yolanda Thomas made the lineup changes she did, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we looked forward to Sunday, when Orlando will head west to face Bay FC on the road. The Pride must get maximum points down the stretch and hope for help. The entirety of the 2026 season so far suggest that’s not likely. We look at the series history and the two teams’ relative positions in the table, provide our key matchups, and make our predictions for the final score.

Here’s how Episode 139 went down:

0:15 – The Pride’s modest unbeaten run under Yolanda Thomas came crashing to a halt.

15:07- The mailbagbox wonders what in the world was that on Saturday.

34:37 – The Pride head to California to try to rebound against Bay FC.

Orlando City’s unbeaten run came screeching to a halt with two road losses in four days as the Columbus Crew knocked the Lions out of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday and the New England Revolution scored twice in stoppage time to undo a hard-fought comeback in what was eventually a 4-2 loss for City. All of it was made worse by an injury to Antoine Griezmann and the absence of Griffin Dorsey, leaving fans to wonder what might have been if the injury bug hadn’t bitten at the least opportune time.

We briefly discuss the loss to the Crew that cost Orlando it’s best shot at a trophy in 2026 before launching into the discussion of a match the Lions were out of, then back in as the clock hit 90 minutes, and then back out of again in stoppage time. The road has been especially problematic for the defense, which continues to give out goals to opponents like candy to children on Halloween. We look back at our score predictions and provide our picks for Man of the Match for Saturday’s game against the Revs, and the latter was a virtual toss-up.

Our mailbagbox asked us about international break replacement players, Saturday’s loss to New England, how we like our steaks, and more. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.

After the mailbagbox, we discuss OCB’s Decision Day loss to Atlanta United 2. The Young Lions began Sunday in the playoffs and ended the day in 10th place and outside looking in. It was a thorough beatdown to cap a weekend in which all three Orlando teams lost while shipping four goals and those things are very much related to each other.

Finally, we look ahead to the Lions’ match in Philadelphia on Saturday. The Union are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference since the restart, but the match is complicated by the international break, which will take players away from both sides. There will be no Cavan Sullivan vs. Justin Ellis matchup as both teens will be with the USMNT in Orlando to face Wilder Cartagena and Peru. We look at the series history against Philly, discuss where the teams sit relative to one another in the table, provide our key matchups, and try our best to predict the final score.

Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.

Here’s how No. 552 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City suddenly has a losing streak and just…not now, OK? Can you not?!

24:01 – The mailbagbox is medium and doesn’t mind some sauce.

41:31 – OCB crashes out of the playoffs before they even start (again) which could help the senior Lions make up the numbers that will be missing at Philadelphia.

For a good chunk of Friday night, it seemed as though the Orlando Pride would make it two wins in two matches under interim head coach Yolanda Thomas. Barbra Banda produced two moments of brilliance to stake Orlando to a 2-0 road lead. But the leaky Pride defense re-emerged, giving up two quick goals that indicated the hosts might come back to claim all three points. However, Orlando did just enough to get over the finish line, hold onto a point, and remain unbeaten in the Current’s stadium.

We break down the road draw, check back to see what our predictions were, and make our picks for Player of the Match.

We also discussed Banda’s new contract that will keep her in the City Beautiful through 2029. It’s a big fish for Caitlin Carducci to land (and to build around), and it should be the first domino to fall in Orlando’s rebuild as the club tries to return to competing for trophies.

This week’s mailbagbox asked about the Pride’s best back line, coaches, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we looked ahead to Saturday’s showdown with the Portland Thorns. The Pride return home to face one of the league’s bluebloods, and every point is precious with as much ground as Orlando has to make up to try to keep its playoff streak alive. We give you the series history, the tale of the tape, our key matchups, and our score predictions.

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Here’s how Episode 138 went down:

0:15 – It’s a road point against a good team but the way it unfolded felt like more of a loss than a win when the Pride drew Kansas City. Plus, three more years of Bandamonium!

21:01- The mailbagbox asks about coaching search philosophies, and who else might lose their jobs around the NWSL.

31:59 – The Pride and Thorns prepare for battle on Saturday.