ORLANDO, Fla. (March 23, 2018) - Orlando Pride will begin its third National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season against expansion side Utah Royals FC on Saturday, March 24. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
Tickets for Saturday’s home opener are available at orlando-pride.com/tickets or by calling (855) ORL-CITY. The match will be nationally streamed on go90 and on the NWSL app. International fans can tune in on NWSLsoccer.com.
“When you look at the team we have, we’ve got a considerable number of match-winners on our team. Even last year, we had a significant number of players that scored goals for us. We’ve added to that firepower even more so this year,” Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said. “The other advantage that we have, or slight advantage, is that although Utah is a new team, the bulk of the team are Kansas City players so at least we’re familiar with the players and familiar with the attributes of those players.”
The Pride will look to build off an impressive second year in the NWSL that saw them go undefeated in the final two months, compiling a 6-0-3 record, to clinch the Club’s first playoff berth. The Pride led the league with 45 goals and return Alex Morgan and Marta, two of the league’s top five goalscorers. Joining them will be U.S. WNT forward Sydney Leroux, along with all-time NWSL assists leader Christine Nairn.
Looking to build off last year’s success, Orlando also added several key players in the defense. Olympic bronze medalist Shelina Zadorsky, Brazilian Poliana and Carson Pickett were added to bolster the back line that is anchored by FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Ali Krieger and U.S. WNT goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
New midfielder Emily van Egmond and returner Alanna Kennedy will join Orlando following the conclusion of Australia’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying, which runs April 6-20 in Jordan.
The Royals roster includes goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, who led the league with 97 saves in 2017, USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Kelley O’Hara and Canadian forward Diana Matheson.
Saturday’s match will mark the first time Orlando has opened the season at home since joining the league, previously playing its first two season openers at Portland Thorns FC, and will also be the inaugural NWSL match for the Royals.
Orlando will face Utah again on May 9 and July 14 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Utah was announced as the newest NWSL franchise on November 16, 2017 - becoming the fourth Major League Soccer-backed club in the league. Upon joining, Royals FC was awarded NWSL rights to all former players from FC Kansas City, which ceased operations during the offseason. Utah later added two-time NWSL Shield-winning coach Laura Harvey as the Club’s first manager. Four Pride players - Leroux, Nairn, Pickett and Kopmeyer - previously played for Harvey at Seattle Reign FC.
