ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2021) — Orlando Pride began its 2021 National Women’s Soccer League preseason training on Monday morning, returning to the Orlando Pride Training Ground at Sylvan Lake Park, the team’s exclusive training facility.
The Club will start building toward April 9, when the second-edition of the NWSL Challenge Cup is set to kick off this year’s competition schedule. Following the Challenge Cup, a 24-game regular season will begin on May 15. A complete breakdown of key dates for the 2021 season can be found here.
Led by third-year head coach Marc Skinner, the Pride begin their sixth NWSL campaign with 23 players on the preseason roster, including 20 that were contracted by the Pride in 2020. The complete preseason roster can be found below.
New to the locker room this year is midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard, who joined the Pride via trade in December 2020, as well as Gunny Jónsdóttir and Erika Tymrak who were recently acquired from Kansas City. English midfielder Jade Moore has also reported to Orlando for the first time after missing the 2020 NWSL campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forwards Alex Morgan and Marta, who were previously named to the 2021 SheBelieves Cup rosters for their national teams will participate in the opening days of preseason training before joining their respective national teams next week. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod and midfielder Jordyn Listro will join Canada, also at a later date, for a pre-SheBelieves training camp. The SheBelieves Cup will be hosted at the home of the Pride, with all six matches taking place at Exploria Stadium from Feb. 18-24.
Morgan, along with U.S. teammates Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, remain on the roster as 2020 Federation players, with the 2021 U.S and Canada designations to be announced at a future date.
Currently in contract negotiations, forward Sydney Leroux has reported to preseason camp and will be training with the Club. Defender Camila remains out of contract, with the Pride currently holding her NWSL rights, and is not on the Pride’s preseason opening day roster.
The Pride’s four 2021 NWSL Draft picks — Viviana Villacorta, Mikayla Colohan, Kerry Abello and Kaylie Collins — will remain in college to compete for the Spring NCAA season, with the Pride retaining NWSL rights to all four.
Defender Ally Haran returns to the Pride as a non-roster invitee after a strong showing during the 2020 Fall Series, including a stoppage-time equalizer in Orlando’s thrilling 3-3 finale against North Carolina.
Season Ticket Memberships for the 2021 Orlando Pride season are currently on sale at Orlando-Pride.com or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
2021 Orlando Pride Preseason Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (FED/USA), Erin McLeod (INTL/CAN), Brittany Wilson
DEFENDERS (9): Ally Haran (NRI), Ali Krieger (FED/USA), Carrie Lawrence, Phoebe McClernon, Carson Pickett (NYR), Courtney Petersen, Konya Plummer (INTL/JAM), Toni Pressley, Ali Riley
MIDFIELDERS (8): Meggie Dougherty Howard, Gunny Jónsdóttir, Taylor Kornieck, Jordyn Listro, Jade Moore (INTL/ENG), Erika Tymrak (NRI), Marisa Viggiano, Chelsee Washington
FORWARDS (3): Sydney Leroux^, Alex Morgan (FED/USA), Marta Vieira da Silva (INTL/BRA)
Key:
FED: Denotes 2020 Federation Player (2021 status not yet announced)
INTL: Denotes International Player
NRI: Non-Roster Invitee
NYR: Not Yet Reported
^: Contract Offer Extended
