Orlando Pride (7-10-1, 22 points) vs North Carolina Courage (8-6-4, 28 points)
When: Sunday, September 17, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
TV: Paramount+ (subscription required), FOX 35+ (local broadcast)
As the Pride play at home for the last time in September, here are six things to watch for on Sunday:
Noche Latina
On Sunday, the Pride will celebrate “Noche Latina”, honoring members of the Latin and Spanish-speaking community as well as those that are a part of the Pride. Orlando currently has eight players that will be celebrated at the match, including: Celia (Spain); Mariana Larroquette (Argentina); Marta, Adriana, Thais Reiss and Rafaelle (Brazil); Caitlin Cosme (Puerto Rico); and Viviana Villacorta (Peru).
Tener el Coraje
In the Pride’s most recent match against the OL Reign, goalkeeper Carly Nelson stepped up in just the second minute of the match after starting goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse received a red card. Nelson made the most of her opportunity and kept the Pride in the match, making a career-best six saves. Nelson was signed by the Pride in the offseason after spending the last two seasons at FC Nordsjælland of the Danish top flight.
Srta. Confiable
Defender Emily Madril is one of seven players in the NWSL to play every minute of the 2023 regular season so far. She is also the only NWSL rookie and Pride player to hold this achievement. The No. 3 overall 2023 NWSL Draft pick has been a staple in the back line of the Pride defense that has seen four different pairings so far this season. In her 18 games this season, she has also received just two yellow cards.
Dándole Con Todo
The Pride sit just four points below the playoff line with four games left of the regular season, with three of those matches all coming against teams that are above them in the standings. The Pride are one of four teams in the NWSL to have at least five wins at home, with the five wins at home being the most the Pride have had since the 2017 season where they had six. Two of the Pride’s final four games will be played at the friendly confines of Exploria Stadium, where the Pride will look to earn the most home wins in Club history on their way to clinching a playoff spot.
Representado el País
The upcoming international window will see four Pride players selected to their respective international sides in the first matches after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Brazilian internationals Marta, Adriana and Rafaelle were all selected to training camp after all three appeared in every match for Brazil in the World Cup. Forward Mariana Larroquette was also called into Argentina’s camp and will join them for an international friendly against Japan.
Marea Carmesí
The Pride recently signed goalkeeper McKinley Crone through the rest of the 2023 season. Crone has been training with the Pride all season long and had two previous stints with the Pride as a National Team Replacement Player. A local native of Maitland, Fla., Crone holds the NCAA record in goalkeeping minutes (9519) and set the University of Alabama’s single-season records in shutouts (10), single-season wins (32) and career wins (41). With the signing, Crone becomes the second Alabama player on the roster, joining defender Celia who was the first Crimson Tide player signed to an NWSL contract.
Yendo a Australia
This week, the Pride announced new contracts for defender Tori Hansen and goalkeeper Kaylie Collins, signing both through the 2024 seasons. Hansen, a rookie out of the University of North Carolina, was subsequently loaned to A-League Women side Melbourne Victory FC. Collins, a third-year goalkeeper, will also head to Australia, joining Western Sydney Wanderers FC where former Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni now serves as the Head of Women’s Football.
Milestone Tracker
- Forward Marta is two appearances away from 100 across all competitions as a member of the Pride. The Brazilian is on track to become the first Pride player to hit the century mark milestone for the Club.
- Marta is one start away from tying the Club record for most career starts (81, Ashlyn Harris)
- Marta’s next goal will mark her 30th with the Club.
- Celia is two appearances away from 30 appearances with the Pride and three appearances away from 50 across all NWSL regular seasons.
- Erika Tymrak is one goal away from 20 across her NWSL career.
