The NWSL Shield-winning Orlando Pride have officially booked a spot next week’s NWSL Championship Sunday when they survived a 3-2 battle against the Kansas City Current. The semi-final was evenly contested throughout the first half, which was fairly unsurprising considering the teams were only five points apart during the regular season. However, The Current managed to score first in the 33rd minute through Debinha, who was able to avoid the Pride back line and give her team the lead. However, it was even just eight minutes later when Haley McCutcheon finished from close range.
While the Current outplayed the Pride in the second half, the Pride were able to make the most of their shots. They took six shots, but put three on target and two in the back of the net, with both of their MVP candidates Barbra Banda and Marta on the scoresheet. Banda scored after a brilliant individual effort in the 53rd minute, while Marta’s goal in the 82nd minute came after she won the ball near the halfway line and raced towards goal.
There was some drama towards the end as the Current earned a penalty that Vanessa DiBernardo converted in the 13th minute of stoppage time. The Current scored a total of fifteen shots in the second half, but only put three on target and were therefore unable to get back into the match.
The Pride will play the Washington Spirit on Saturday in the NWSL Championship at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, airing on CBS at 8 PM ET.
History at stake
The Pride’s goal is to become the first NWSL team since the North Carolina Courage in 2019 to win both the Shield and Championship in the same season, a trend for a team that posted a record 23 games undefeated this year. However, it’s an even more impressive feat considering the Pride have rarely competed for silverware.
Before this season, they had reached the postseason just once since starting play in 2016, but resigned in the bottom half of the NWSL table. Things started to look up with the appointments of Seb Hines as head coach in 2022, initially on an interim basis, and Haley Carter as general manager in 2023. The Pride have successfully built a team that is comfortable without the ball, but has no trouble scoring. , who handles their opportunities quickly and always efficiently. They were one of the NWSL’s top offensive teams in 2024, finishing in the top three in goals scored, shots taken and expected goals during the regular season.
While Marta is a long-time veteran of the competition and defender of the year nominee Emily Sams is only three years into her professional career, the Pride have made the most of unsung heroes with experience in international competitions. NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year candidate Anna Moorhouse was part of the NWSL’s joint-best defense and earned a reward two years after joining the Pride, having played mainly in her native England. Another nominee in Kylie Strom has a similar story, joining the Pride in 2021 after a seven-year absence from the NWSL in various European competitions.
Although they are inexperienced heading into Saturday’s championship game, they may be the favorites. They already have experience of winning trophies with the Shield and have perfected their style of play under Hines, looking to be a complete package this season.
Marta stands out
There are several notable stories to tell about the Pride’s 2024 victory, including Marta’s journey to her first NWSL championship. Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, joined the Pride in 2017 and is the only remaining member from their only other play-off run. She survived several iterations of the team before becoming a key part of this year’s team.
Marta has also gone through her own evolution. Her age began to show in recent years and her influence began to decline for both Pride and Brazil, which was no surprise for a player in her late 30s. However, the Olympic silver medalist has returned in good form in 2024 – scoring ten goals and one assist this season, earning her a nomination for MVP and midfielder of the year.
She will undoubtedly play a big role for the Pride on Saturday as they target their first championship, which will mark another big stop in Marta’s year of redemption – she was part of the Brazilian team that played in the gold medal match at the Summer Olympics, winning her second silver medal along the way.