There were high expectations on the 2024 NWSL Shield and Championship winning Orlando Pride and when they started the season with a 6-0 win over Chicago, it looked like they would be keeping their momentum into 2025. 

Alas, as the Pride continued their growth, so did rivals Kansas City and Washington, and mid-season when Barbra Banda suffered a season-ending injury, the team had to figure out tactically what they looked like without her in their attack. A reflection of this is after earning 25 points in the front half of the season, Orlando only earned 15 points in the back half ending the season 4th in the table.  

On November 18th, the Pride announced that VP of Soccer Operations & Sporting Director Haley Carter would be stepping down from her role after three seasons leading the Club’s soccer operations to pursue new career opportunities. She was a large part of building the culture of the club (and she is the only VP/GM I’ve ever seen picking up cones during pre-game warmups). 

The Pride have a pretty high number of players signed for 2026 compared to most squads, but previous seasons have shown how effective Orlando is at getting players loaned out in order to continually bring in new players. The real offseason question will be who fills in Haley Carter’s shoes and whether they continue the organization in a similar direction. 

The Positives

The Pride were 3rd in the fewest goals conceded with 27 and 3rd in expected goals against with 29.3. One of the big moves ahead of the 2025 season starting was signing centerback Emily Sams to a 3-year contract extension through 2027. 

The other big addition they made was during the Secondary Transfer Window when the Pride signed Mexican winger Lizbeth Ovalle on a then record-breaking transfer fee from Liga MX Femenil side Tigres UANL through 2027 with a 2028 mutual option. 

The Negatives

In the first 13 games of the season, the Pride had 8 wins and were 2nd in the table, but if the back 13 games are separated into their own table, the Pride were 10th in the table with only 3 wins and scored 7 less goals compared to the front half of the season.  The club did start building momentum in the last few matches of the season, and should be able to build upon that throughout the preseason.

Additionally, the club tied-1st with Chicago on defensive errors leading to goals with six — which would’ve moved them solidly into 2nd in fewest goals conceded if avoided. 

Roster Flexibility 

The Pride have 23 players signed for 2026 — including 2025 season-ending injury Barbra Banda and goalkeeper Kat Asman who is on loan through June 2026 and would be the fourth goalkeeper on the roster. 

Orlando also has only four of their seven international spots expected to be occupied in 2026, one of those being Banda who won’t occupy a spot until she’s back onto the active roster. 

There were ten free agents that were designated in July, and three have been re-signed to new contracts: midfielder Luana (1-year contract + 2027 mutual option), defender Rafaelle Souza (3-year contract through 2028), and goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse (2-year contract through 2027).

Offseason Priorities

Of the seven unsigned free agents, Morgan Gautrat has announced her retirement from the NWSL following her loan to English WSL–side Newcastle United, and the only player who had at least 1000 minutes for the Pride was defender Carson Pickett (also scored 3 goals and earned 2 assists). 

During the offseason, the Pride should continue to build out their attacking threats (there hasn’t been a timeline for Banda’s return to play). They should also acquire some additional depth in the backline as there are only 5 defenders signed for 2026 and Orlando struggled in their centerback depth with Kylie Nadaner being unavailable for the final 9 matches of the season.