The Orlando Pride finished their inaugural season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 9th place in the table (6-13-1). The team faced a lot of high points this season, such as breaking the NWSL attendance record in their opening match and winning their first game at home. But the season also faced some lows, many of which came after the international players left for the Olympics.
“I think it was a really challenging year, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing in the first year. I think it highlights the realities of bringing a brand new team together,” Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “There are several reasons why it was as challenging as it was. In the first instance, there was virtually no preseason for us. So, it was always going to be an interesting transition.”
Sermanni mentioned that even with the preseason matches they played, they didn’t have all of their starting players in training until the day before the first match. It was always going to take some time for the players to transition into the team, but their schedule before the start of the season threw them off. Still, the Pride started off with a record of 6-6. They finished 6-13-1.
“I think that it was a proper season of two halves,” Sermanni said. “I think the first half of the season probably went at least to expectations, if not above expectations… We lost our last game here to Portland before the international players left us, but that was probably one of our best games that we played and I think we started to see some cohesion in the team… For the second half of the season, the team was disjointed. You get on a run where you’re not winning, which leads to decision-making becoming more complex than when you’re winning. And I think that was probably the most challenging part was that second half of the season for everybody. Not just me, for the players as well, and they’re working hard to try to turn things around [for next year].”
2017 Pride Season Tickets On Sale
Why the slump in the second half of the season? The game against Portland was the last match before international players left for the Olympics. Many will point to the young players, who had few veterans to look up to with the national team players absent. But when the international players left, Sermanni lost his entire starting back line and his starting goalkeeper. On top of losing Ashlyn Harris to international play, backup goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe sustained a season-ending injury.
“You’re suddenly putting a completely new back four in there,” Sermanni said “Some of them were not quite in their favorite position, we had to Kaylyn [Kyle] in at center back, we had to put players to fill in at left back, etc. And then the injury to Aubrey. We went from having a goalkeeper who had been training with us all year who we had unbelievable confidence in to come in and just take over and command that role, to then having to look outside and bring Kaitlyn [Savage] in, who had been doing some training and things, but didn’t know any of the players. So, bringing all that dynamic together probably impacted the team more than having to slot two or three or four younger players… I think that was probably one of our biggest hurdles.”
So, what is on the horizon for the Pride? Well, next season looks very different from this one. To start, there will not be an Olympics or World Cup next season, so international players will be with the club all season. The UEFA Women’s Championship will take place from July to August, but the Pride currently do not have any European internationals. Secondly, the team will have a core group of players that understand each other’s style of play-- just having a year under their belts will help the Pride tremendously.
“One of the things that we have got on the agenda to do right now, as soon as we can, is get our internationals in place,” Sermanni said. “We’ve got five international spots and they’re really critical to our team next year because, coming into the league, we’ve had to give up a lot of things for next year. We don’t have a draft pick until round three so we don’t really have picks as tradable assets. So, going into next year, our international players become really critical to the team number one, and then our ability to find American players who aren’t attached to teams in this league. So, those are our two key strategies during our offseason that we need to utilize as best we can going into next year.”
“What we need to have is a core. A core of starters who are comfortable with each other and who are in tune with each other,” Sermanni said. “And if you get that, it becomes much easier to slot in players in different positions. So, this year we had a lot of players finding their own way, and then trying to be cohesive with other players who are finding their own feet. Next year what we really want is to keep a degree of continuity in the team and then wisely strengthen that team. Then hopefully the players who have had the continuity of playing together for this year, will have a much smoother operation to get them to work together next year.”
There are other changes that will inevitably impact the Pride’s season, especially the new stadium. Next year, the Pride will be playing in a soccer-specific stadium, a place that players and fans alike can call home. Sermanni says that players on both sides will love to play in an atmosphere like that.
Tom Sermanni ‘Delighted’ For Ashlyn Harris’ Goalkeeper of the Year Title
“I think the stadium will have a huge impact on the club, and I think that’s a boost for everyone in the organization,” Sermanni said. “I think it will increase our supporter base, it will be great for our community, and it will really get the girls excited to go out and play. I think that will be a big bonus for everybody.”
The last piece of the puzzle for the 2017 season is the fans. Sermanni emphasized the importance of the continuing support of the fans, and how crucial they will be next year, especially in the new stadium. “If you look at our goal ratio, we scored probably about 80% of our goals after the 70th minute. A lot of them came due to the late-game support from the Crown and our major fan base, who kept fueling us right to the end,” Sermanni said. “So, if those season ticket members sign on for next year and we can get even more people there, and even louder, it gives us a huge advantage. A loud, cheering fan base impacts visiting teams, big time.”
The Orlando Pride inaugural season wasn’t perfect-- no one ever thought it would be. But the season provided a path forward, and gave the club two feet to stand on. Moving ahead, the Pride know what mistakes were made this season and what they need to do to be successful next year. Will you be there to see it?
