Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (11-15-3, 36 points) end the season against Seattle Reign FC (13-11-5, 44 points) in the Pacific Northwest (5 p.m., ESPN). This is the second and — since the Pride won’t qualify for the postseason — final time these teams will meet this season.

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game.

History

The Pride and Reign have met 21 times in the regular season since Orlando joined the NWSL in 2016. The Pride hold a 5-8-8 record in those meetings, with an all-time record of 2-5-3 in Seattle. Orlando is 6-8-8 against the Reign in all competitions, having added a home playoff win over Seattle in the 2025 postseason.

The most recent meeting of the teams took place in the 2026 season opener on March 15 in Orlando. Jess Fishlock broke up the celebration by giving the visitors the lead in the first half. However, the Pride kept the deficit at one and — after a lengthy halftime weather delay — Barbra Banda equalized shortly after halftime. Both teams were looking for a winner, but it was a late Brittany Ratcliffe conversion that saw the Reign walk away with the 2-1 win.

The first time the teams met in 2025 happened on April 12 in Seattle. Banda was the hero of that game, netting the game’s only goal in a 1-0 Orlando win just before halftime. It extended the team’s season-opening winning streak to four games. They ended the regular season against each other on Nov. 2 in Orlando. The two clubs were playing for the right to host a quarterfinal game and the Pride were the better team in the first 45 minutes. Substitute Carson Pickett gave the Pride the lead just eight minutes after coming on, but Jordyn Bugg equalized three minutes later. The 1-1 draw was enough for the Pride to finish fourth, pushing Seattle down to fifth and setting up a rematch five days later.

It was back-to-back meetings between the teams as they met in the NWSL quarterfinals on Nov. 7. Haley McCutcheon gave the hosts the lead early, a lead the Pride held until Marta made a magnificent run in stoppage time, drawing a foul in the Seattle box. Despite being the primary penalty taker, Marta handed the ball to her Brazilian teammate Luana. The midfielder converted her first Pride goal in an emotional moment after her return from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment, sending the Pride to the semifinals for the second consecutive season with a 2-0 win.

The first meeting of 2024 occurred on May 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Emily Sams opened the scoring early and Banda doubled the advantage minutes later. However, the Reign scored on either side of halftime through Angharad James-Turner and Bethany Balcer before Banda netted the deciding goal, lifting her team to a 3-2 win.

On Nov. 2, 2024 in Orlando, Ally Watt gave the Pride the lead early, but Jordyn Huitema equalized a minute later. Kerry Abello gave the Pride the lead before halftime, and Marta made it 3-1 in the second half. Maddie Mercado got one back late, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride came away with a 3-2 win. The win capped off a historic regular season.

The first game between the teams in 2023 occurred on July 7 at Exploria Stadium and featured one of the best performances of the year for the Pride. Julie Doyle beat her defenders and found Messiah Bright, who scored the game’s lone goal early in the match as the Pride won 1-0 for their second all-time win over the Reign. On Sept. 3 in Seattle, the Pride got off to a terrible start when goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was sent off in the third minute. Carly Nelson came in and did well in relief, but Huitema scored early in the second half as the Reign won 1-0. 

The teams played for the first time in 2022 on Aug. 26 in Orlando. Meggie Dougherty Howard gave the hosts the lead, and the Pride tried to hold onto that one-goal advantage, but Megan Rapinoe found Balcer for an equalizing header. The visitors pushed for a win and Rapinoe got a goal for herself two minutes into second-half injury time, lifting the Reign to a 2-1 win, snapping Orlando’s seven-match unbeaten run.

The return game took place Oct. 1, 2022 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Pride had already been eliminated from playoff contention and it looked like it, as the team then known as OL Reign dominated the game. Rapinoe opened the scoring early, Huitema doubled the hosts’ lead soon after, and Balcer made it 3-0 just past the half-hour mark. The Pride held the Reign scoreless in the second half but fell 3-0.

The teams played twice during the 2021 season and the first game took place July 24 in Orlando. The Reign scored a goal in each half, with Fishlock scoring early and Tziarra King doubling the lead just after the break in a 2-0 win. On Sept. 26 in Tacoma, WA, Balcer opened the scoring early and Eugenie Le Sommer scored a brace, giving the Reign a 3-0 lead at halftime, ultimately beating the Pride by that score.

COVID canceled the teams’ meetings in 2020, but they played three times in 2019. On April 21 in Tacoma, Alanna Kennedy gave the Pride an early lead. But Balcer equalized and the teams drew 1-1. They met again on Sept. 7 in the same location. This time, the Reign took the early lead as Darian Jenkins scored twice inside the first 12 minutes. Beverly Yanez made it 3-0 soon after, effectively putting the game away early. Camila converted a late penalty, but the Reign won 3-1. The final meeting that year came on Oct. 12 in Orlando. The Pride scored first through Rachel Hill, but Jenkins and Jodie Taylor gave the visitors a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Marta equalized late and the teams drew 2-2.

The first meeting in 2018 was played in Orlando on April 28. Allie Long gave the Reign a first-half lead, but Marta equalized for a 1-1 draw. On June 3, the teams met in Seattle but neither team could find the back of the net as the game ended in a scoreless draw. The final meeting that year took place July 21 in Orlando. Toni Pressley gave the Pride a first-half lead but Taylor equalized late and the teams drew for the third time that year.

The 2017 season saw the Pride and Reign play to a pair of 1-1 draws — first in Seattle on May 21 and later in Orlando on Sept. 7. The teams split their two games in 2016, with the Pride winning 2-0 in Orlando May 8 and Seattle winning 5-2 at home on July 23.

Overview

Today marks the end of possibly the most disappointing season in the Pride’s history. They won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in 2024 and reached the semifinals as the fourth seed last year despite a season-ending injury to Banda, so there were high expectations heading into this season. But poor roster building and no consistency saw the team eliminated from playoff contention with two games remaining.

The lack of consistency that put the Pride in the position of playing meaningless games has been on display the last few weeks. They’ve alternated between wins and losses in each of the last five games, with wins over Bay FC and the Houston Dash and losses to the Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave, and NJ/NY Gotham FC.

The most recent of these games was a 2-1 defeat to league-leading Gotham FC Oct. 25. The Pride had more shots and shots on target, but Abello and Solai Washington failed to convert on golden opportunities. Already down 2-0, Washington pulled one back in the 65th minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride ended their home slate with another negative result.

It doesn’t help that the Pride have been without Banda, whose 17 goals place her second in the league and are the most for a Pride player in a single season. But her appearance with Zambia in Uganda caused a delay in her re-entry into the United States due to Center for Disease Control (CDC) regulations. Her absence has been apparent in the missed chances the team has had the last couple of weeks.

This game will likely serve as the send-off for some key players. Rafaelle announced her retirement on Oct. 24, effective following this game. Additionally, Marta’s two-year deal expires at the end of the year. Given her age and drop in level this season, it could be the last time we see the Pride’s best-ever player in the club’s colors.

Apart from the emotional send-offs, the Pride will look to end a sad season on a positive note. Yolanda Thomas has been in charge for the last eight games of the season following Seb Hines’ dismissal. This could be her last game as part of the club as well.

Standing in the way of the Pride’s celebratory ending is a team with much more to play for. The Reign sit in the eighth and final playoff spot, but their postseason appearance is far from secure. They’re just two points ahead of the North Carolina Courage and three points ahead of Denver Summit FC, two teams that play each other today. Both have a superior goal difference to the Reign, so a loss to the Pride and either team winning would see Seattle’s season come to a devastating end.

Similar to the Pride’s last opponent, the Reign are a defensive-minded team. Their 36 goals scored are 14th in the league, behind only Bay FC and Chicago Stars FC, two teams well behind them in the standings. Maddie Mercado leads the attack with 10 goals, followed by Ratcliffe and Fishlock with four each.

The defense has been another story. Seattle has only conceded 33 goals this year, fifth-fewest in the NWSL this season. That’s largely due to a consistent back line of Sofia Huerta, Bugg, Phoebe McClernon, and Ryanne Brown in front of goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. They’ve all played at least 20 games and all but Brown have started at least 20 games. That’s consistency the Pride have sorely missed on the defensive side of the field.

“Seattle’s a well-coached team and they can change on a dime what they do. So, we talked a lot of being kind of being ready for different pictures,” Thomas said about today’s game. “So, how are they setting up defesnively? How are they attacking? Who’s moving where? It will be really important that we read that in the run of play, because they’ve done it a few different ways.”

The Pride will take the field today without Banda (excused absence), Sanne Lekven (ankle), Zoe Matthews (hip), and Nicole Payne (lower leg). The Reign are without Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave) and Maddie Dahlien (knee).

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Projected Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Cosette Morche.

Defenders: Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Oihane.

Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfileders: Kerry Abello, Haley McCutcheon, Solai Washington.

Forward: Marta.

Seattle Reign FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Claudia Dickey.

Defenders: Sofia Huerta, Jordyn Bugg, Phoebe McClernon, Ryanne Brown.

Defensive Midfileders: Samantha Meza, Ansley McCammon.

Attacking Midfielders: Jess Fishlock, Nerila Mondesir, Emeri Adames.

Forward: Maddie Mercado.

Referees

REF: Calin Radosav.
AR1: Alicia Messer.
AR2: Ethan Buege.
4TH: Adorae Monroy.
VAR: Anya Voigt.
AVAR: Tom Felice.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 5 p.m.

Venue: Lumen Field — Seattle, WA.

TV: None.

Streaming: ESPN app.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, following @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

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Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

The Orlando Pride turned in one of the team’s best performances in some time but could not translate that performance into conversions in front of goal, falling 2-1 to Gotham FC at Inter.co Stadium in the club’s final home game of 2026. The Pride more than doubled Gotham’s shot total, created numerous breakaway opportunities, and put together a performance that would have been enough on most days, but poor Pride finishing helped first-place Gotham (17-5-7, 58 points) deny Orlando (11-15-3, 36 points) a final win in front of the home fans this season.

Midge Purce and Tierna Davidson built Gotham a 2-0 lead before Solai Washington’s strike spoiled the shutout on a second straight match day in which the Jamaican international could have scored numerous goals.

“The result is tough, but man, we do a lot of things really well, and their goalkeeper had a heck of a game,” Orlando Pride interim coach Yolanda Thomas said after the game. “So, really proud of how we came out and how we competed. And hats off to their goalkeeper.”

Thomas started Cosette Morche in goal behind a back line of Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Oihane. Angelina and Ally Lemos started in the defensive midfield behind an attacking line of Kerry Abello, Haley McCutcheon, and Washington with Marta up top.

Orlando started brightly, setting up two early chances for Washington, but the rookie struggled in the final third as she has so often during this 2026 season. On the first, Marta did well to get down the left side, using a stop-start run to lose her defender. The captain took the ball to the end line and sent a cross to Washington at the back post with an empty net in front of her, but the Jamaican’s volley attempt was poor and she missed the target from point-blank range in the second minute.

Two minutes later, Washington used her pace to get behind the defense down the right flank, but upon entering the box, she became indecisive and eventually lost control of the ball, allowing Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to collect it.

Gotham came close to getting players in behind the defense a few times, but the visitors’ first decent look at goal came in the 14th minute when Orlando allowed Davidson too much space outside the area. The USWNT defender blasted a shot that fizzed just over the crossbar.

Orlando had a nice attacking movement seconds later, but Marta dummied the pass to her between the centerbacks, allowing it to run through. The Pride recycled the attack on the left to Angelina outside the area but she fired well over the bar in the 15th minute.

Abello should have put the ball in the net in the 17th minute. A long ball sent the winger down the middle behind the defense. As she approached goal, she rounded Berger and with the entire net to shoot at, she missed wide of the left post. The flag came up after the play, but it appeared that video review may have overturned the offside. Either way, it was a huge missed opportunity and a costly one.

Denise O’Sullivan was sent behind the defense in the 20th minute but the Pride got away with it when she took a heavy touch that Morche was able to collect. Two minutes later, however, Gotham took the lead.

Guro Reiten wasn’t closed down outside the area on the left, sending in a perfect cross to an uncovered Purce on the right. Purce’s header found the inside of the left post, putting Gotham ahead 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

AIR PURCE ✈️

The header. The finish. The Midge Purce moment to give Gotham the 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/MmC0D0cby1

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 25, 2026

“The breakdown I was really unhappy with was actually earlier in the the play because we lost our defensive shape,” Thomas said. “So, just a lapse there in positioning and moving and shifting together more so than the final action.”

Orlando continued to get forward in the attack but do little with its chances. McCutcheon found herself in space outside the area in the 24th minute, but sent a shot at Berger that was so little trouble that the Gotham keeper chested it down rather than catching it. Two minutes later, Marta slipped Abello in behind the defense. This time Abello fired on target but right at Berger.

The Pride continued wasting promising chances after the first-half hydration break, starting with Washington firing well over the bar from the right in the 35th minute.

Gotham nearly doubled the lead a minute later. Another good cross in from the left found Sam Kerr in front. Kerr headed her shot on target, but Morche was there. Tess Boade was first to the rebound just a foot or so in front of the goal line, but again Morche got over to block it to keep it at 1-0.

Last line of defense comes up strong for the Orlando Pride 🧱 pic.twitter.com/3PDIFGiHGb

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 25, 2026

The Pride immediately turned the ball over and Boade fired off target from the top of the box.

Marta sent Washington behind the defense in the 40th minute and the midfielder tried to round Berger but got too close and had the ball taken off her foot. The play was just offside anyway, and Berger needed a visit from the trainers after the play but was able to continue.

Washington, who was dangerous until the final moment all half long, did well to cut inside Davidson in first-half stoppage time, heading toward the box. Davidson pulled her down, earning a yellow card and setting up a Pride free kick just to the right of the area. Angelina touched the ball forward for Marta to drive a low ball in front of goal. Oihane reached it first but sent her shot just wide of the right post, wasting yet another great scoring chance.

Two more late crosses right at Berger — one by Washington and one by Oihane — and the half came to an end with the Pride looking up at a 1-0 deficit that easily could have been a multi-goal lead.

Gotham dominated first-half possession (62%-38%), won more corners (1-0), and passed more accurately (84%-74%). The Pride attempted more shots (8-6), while both teams put three attempts on target.

“It was a hard game, but I think we had very good moments, and if we had put the ball in the net in those moments, those situations that we created, especially in the first half — we had a couple in the second half too — the game probably should be like very different for us,” Marta said.

Orlando fashioned the first look at goal in the second half in the 51st minute. Mace intercepted a ball and bombed forward. She didn’t like her options and wasn’t closed down, so the fullback sent a weak shot at Berger that didn’t trouble the keeper.

A minute later, Kerr blasted a shot just over the crossbar from close range but the flag came up anyway.

Marta got into the box after a Pride takeaway in the 56th minute and went down in the box from contact she sustained while shooting a soft shot at Berger. The referee took a look but awarded nothing despite the Brazilian’s protests.

Reiten fired just wide of the left post from the right on a corner Gotham took short in the 58th minute.

The back-and-forth play continued at the other end with Marta getting into the area again and she again tried and failed to round Berger.

“Of course, she is a very good goalkeeper,” Marta said. “We just need to read a little bit faster the situation and do better. I think like she’s so confident in so many moments, and we need to be more confident in them.”

“A player like Berger is why they are where they are in the table and why they are teeing themselves up to not just win the shield but compete for a championship when you have performances like that,” Thomas said. “We were prepared and our forwards knew what they were facing, and (Berger) makes incredible plays, and that changes the momentum. If we score early on, it’s a different game, right?”

Gotham went back the other way and Morche did well to tap a shot onto her crossbar and out for a corner. But the Pride’s shoddy set piece defending throughout the season appeared again on the ensuing corner. The ball went right to left to a completely unmarked Jaelin Howell, who headed it on frame. Morche got a touch to it to keep it out but Davidson tapped in the rebound to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute.

O Captain! My Captain 🫡

Tierna Davidson puts Gotham up 2 in the second half! pic.twitter.com/cHe5C0aSL8

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 25, 2026

“The second goal is a set piece, and they’re always going to be dangerous,” Thomas said. “But the way we reacted when the ball drops down is not good enough.”

Orlando pulled the goal back three minutes later. A poor back pass from Howell ended up on Washington’s foot, and the attacker used her pace to blaze behind the Gotham back line. This time, Washington picked out her spot before Berger could come out to challenge her and found the inside of the left post to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.

Solai Washington answers back for the Pride and cuts the Gotham lead in half! pic.twitter.com/GcrcxWgBMr

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 25, 2026

“She’s found a way to to figure out how to be an impactful player for 90 minutes now,” Thomas said of Washington’s emergence the last few games. “Earlier in the year, she had periods and then she she dropped off. So, she’s a young player with incredible potential and it bodes well for the Pride organization going forward.”

Gotham did its best to slow the game down from that point on but the Pride had their chances. Second-half sub Jacquie Ovalle made a nice switch of play in the 68th minute, picking out Lemos on the right. Lemos likely fired way too early in the amount of space she had, and the midfielder sent her shot well over the goal and up into The Wall.

Washington tried to beat Davidson right to left again in the 81st minute. She got a shot off but it took a deflection and was an easy collection for Berger.

Defender Kylie Nadaner and midfielder Viviana Villacorta made their 2026 season debuts down the stretch as the Pride looked for an equalizer.

The two best chances to equalize were sent off target on good crosses. On the first, Washington made her best cross of the day to pick out McCutcheon, who sent her header wide of the right post in the 88th minute. A minute later, Ovalle sent a gorgeous back-post ball from the left to Washington at the right post, but she made poor contact with it and sent it wide.

A final mad scramble in the box fell at McCutcheon’s feet but a defender on the ground blocked it. It fell to Luana, who couldn’t pull the trigger in traffic and Gotham eventually cleared, ending the final attack.

At full time, Gotham FC held the advantage in possession (60%-40%), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (82%-76%). Orlando fired far more shots (19-9) and put more on target (8-6).

“I feel like we played well. We just couldn’t like capitalize,” Rafalle said. “We had a few chances, but I think like the goalkeeper did a great job today, not letting us score more than one goal.”

Despite not having much left to play for, the Pride’s performance against the league’s best team was not lost on their coach.

“Where we are right now isn’t good enough for this club, but for us, the journey we’ve been on, I was just incredibly proud because not just of what they were able to produce footballing-wise, but I know what it took, energy and emotionally for them to put that together,” Thomas said. “And so,I’m happy for them because they can walk away feeling like this is who we are. We’re capable of playing and they needed that.”

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The Pride will close out their 2026 season on the road at Seattle Reign FC a week from today.

Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (11-14-3, 36 points) complete their home schedule against NJ/NY Gotham FC (16-5-7, 55 points) in a matinee at Inter.co Stadium (3 p.m., CBS Sports Network). This is the second and final time these teams will meet this year.

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game.

History

The Pride have faced Gotham 29 times since joining the NWSL in 2016, facing each other 23 times in the regular season. The Pride are 9-8-6 all-time in the regular season series, with a 4-5-2 record at home. Counting all competitions, Orlando is 9-12-8 against today’s visitors, including a 4-9-2 home mark.

The most recent meeting between the two teams took place on March 29 in New Jersey. With the exception of Gotham’s 61% possession, it was an even game. In the end, neither team was able to convert, resulting in a scoreless draw.

The first matchup of 2025 was held on March 23 in New Jersey. An early Lilly Reale own goal gave the Pride the lead and Marta doubled it from the spot just after halftime as the Pride won 2-0. On Aug. 29 in Orlando, Esther Gonzalez gave the visitors the lead early and Jaelin Howell doubled the advantage just before halftime. Gotham defended well in the second half, leaving with a 2-0 win.

The teams met again in the NWSL playoff semifinal on Nov. 16 in Orlando. The game was a scoreless draw heading into injury time and appeared to be headed into an extra 30 minutes — so much so that Marta admitted postgame she was preparing for extra time. But Jaedyn Shaw put a stop to those thoughts by converting on a set piece in the seventh minute of stoppage time, ending the Pride’s season and their quest for a repeat NWSL Championship.

The first meeting of 2024 occurred Sept. 1 in Orlando and was delayed by inclement weather, but the Pride took control when it began. Adriana gave the Pride the early 2-0 lead with a brace inside the first 20 minutes. Those were the only two goals, as the Pride won 2-0. On Oct 20, 2024 in New Jersey, Sam Hiatt gave the hosts the early lead before Adriana equalized just past the half-hour mark. However, Gotham scored on either side of halftime with goals by Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens to win 3-1.

The first meeting of 2023 was a regular-season clash on April 15 in Orlando. It looked to be headed for a draw, but Gotham struck twice in the dying minutes. Midge Purce converted a penalty 10 minutes into stoppage time and then assisted on Lynn Williams’ goal seven minutes later, setting a record for the latest goal in NWSL history as the Pride fell 2-0. They played again on May 14 in New Jersey, when the Pride were the better team and created more chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

The Pride and Gotham met twice in the NWSL Challenge Cup following those regular-season matchups. The first of those took place July 23 in Orlando. A Megan Montefusco header gave the Pride an early lead, but they were unable to hold on. Jenna Nighswonger converted a penalty later in the first half and Gotham took over in the second half with goals by McCall Zerboni and Yazmeen Ryan, beating the Pride 3-1. On Aug. 9 in New Jersey, Messiah Bright gave the Pride the lead in the first half, but Meleana Shim equalized in second-half stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

The two teams met four times during the 2022 season — twice in the NWSL regular season and twice in the Challenge Cup. The first was a Challenge Cup meeting March 30 at Exploria Stadium. It looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw before Purce scored a late winner. The teams next met in the Challenge Cup on April 23 at Red Bull Arena. Gunny Jonsdottir gave the Pride the lead, but Toni Pressley got tangled up with Ifeoma Onumonu, resulting in a penalty. Kristie Mewis leveled the game from the spot just before the half. Neither team could find a winner and it ended 1-1.

The teams met in the 2022 NWSL regular-season opener on May 1 in Orlando. After two close matchups in the preseason tournament, this one was all Gotham, as goals by Zerboni, Purce, and Mewis lifted the visitors to a 3-0 win. On Aug. 20, they played at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Celia and Ally Watt built the Pride a 2-0 lead. Mewis got one back for the hosts, but the Pride held on for a 2-1 win.

The Pride and Gotham also met four times in 2021, with the first coming in the Pride’s inaugural Challenge Cup campaign. On April 14, Paige Monaghan’s goal lifted Gotham to a 1-0 win. The first regular-season game that year came on June 20 in Orlando. The visitors took the lead through Caprice Dydasco, but Courtney Petersen equalized for a 1-1 draw.

On Aug. 29, 2021, the teams played at Red Bull Arena. Erika Tymrak’s long-range goal lifted the Pride to a 2-1 win. The teams played one final, high-scoring game on Oct. 9. It was a bad start for the Pride as Gaetane Thiney scored a brace and Purce made it 3-0 late. The Pride came storming back with goals by Tymrak and Marta, falling just short in a 3-2 final.

The Pride and Gotham were in different groups for the 2020 Fall Series, so the last time they met prior to 2021 was in 2019, when the New Jersey-based club was still called Sky Blue FC. They first met that year on June 22 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. Chioma Ubogagu gave the Pride the lead from the penalty spot and Sarah Killion equalized. The difference was a Gina Lewandowski own goal as the Pride won 2-1.

The teams met at Exploria Stadium on July 20, 2021. Marisa Viggiano’s goal won it for the Pride, 1-0. The final meeting of 2021 occurred Sept. 29 in New Jersey. Shelina Zadorsky gave the Pride the lead, but Carli Lloyd equalized in a 1-1 draw.

The teams met three times in 2018, starting on June 16 in Orlando, when a Sydney Leroux brace led the Pride to a 3-2 win. They met again in Orlando on Aug. 5, with the Pride giving up a 1-0 lead after Marta’s opening goal. But Dani Weatherholt equalized in a 2-2 draw. The final meeting in 2018 came on Sept. 8 in New Jersey — the final game of the season. There was only one goal in this one as Lloyd won it for Sky Blue FC.

The 2017 season saw the Pride and Sky Blue meet three times, with the New Jersey-based club winning at home, 2-1 on May 27, and the Pride winning 3-2 in New Jersey on June 28 and 5-0 at home on Aug. 12 in Orlando.

The 2016 season was the first time the two teams met, with the inaugural game coming on Sept. 7 in New Jersey. Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr swapped goals in a 1-1 draw. They met again three days later in Orlando, with Sky Blue winning, 2-1.

Overview

The Pride entered last weekend on the verge of being officially eliminated from playoff contention. They were given a gift on Saturday night when both the North Carolina Courage and Denver Summit FC lost. They took advantage of that opportunity by defeating the Houston Dash 2-1 on Sunday in Texas. However, a 3-1 Seattle Reign win over the Chicago Stars saw any hope of a third-straight playoff appearance dissipate.

The 2026 season has been a huge disappointment with the Pride struggling to maintain any consistency. They only won multiple games in a row once, defeating San Diego Wave FC on May 24 and Bay FC on May 29. In all but two cases, a win was followed by a loss. That’s what’s kept the Pride below the playoff line and, heading into this game, in 11th place.

The primary bright spot this season has been the play of striker Barbra Banda. The Zambian led the league in goals for the first half of the season until North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez went on a hot streak. Despite playing five fewer games, Banda’s 17 goals place her just three behind Sanchez’s 20. However, due to representing Zambia against Uganda, Banda is banned by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from re-entering the country for 21 days, keeping her out for this game.

Banda’s absence will be noticeable as the Pride have only scored 38 goals this year and she’s scored nealy half of those. In most cases, the other goals have come from unlikely sources, such as Haley McCutcheon’s eight goals. In Houston, Luana converted a penalty and Solai Washington scored her first professional goal to lift the team to three points.

The Pride have also struggled defensively, conceding 44 goals. That’s largely due to Kylie Nadaner’s absence on maternity leave and Emily Sams departing for Angel City FC during the off-season. The front office did little to replace those key pieces, resulting in the team conceding the fourth-most goals in the league.

Fortunately for the Pride, tonight’s opponent isn’t one of the top attacking teams. They’ve scored 35 goals this year, ranking 13th in the league. Gotham is led by Shaw with 10 goals this year. She’s followed by Gonzalez (no longer with the club) with six, Lavelle, Kerr, and Jordynn Dudley with four each, and Purce with three goals.

Gotham’s strength has been its defense. The club has only conceded 22 goals this year, topping the NWSL. German number one goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger is second in the league with a goals-against average of 0.88 through 25 games. However, that success is largely due to the team’s defense. Berger’s only made 74 saves, ranking 10th in the league.

The team’s defensive success is largely due to the center back pairing of Jess Carter and Tierna Davidson, who have started 28 and 27 games this season, respectively, giving Berger a consistent pair in front of her.

Today’s opponent has the added incentive of fighting for the NWSL Shield. The league leaders sit just one point ahead of San Diego Wave FC and three ahead of the Washington Spirit, making three points essential in the quest.

“We’re competitors. So, if we can’t compete for playoffs, we want to compete for something else,” Pride interim head coach Yolanda Thomas said about tonight’s game. “We want to play games that matter, and while they may not matter for our destiny, they matter. So, it absolutely adds just a bit of additional motivation.”

The Pride will play tonight without Banda (excused absence), Sanne Lekven (ankle), and Zoe Matthews (hip). Gotham will be without Bruninha (knee), Dudley (foot), Kayla Duran (knee), Lavelle (neck), Shaw (knee), and Emily Sonnett (knee). Sofia Cook (ankle) is listed as questionable.

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Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Cosette Morche.

Defenders: Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Oihane.

Defensive Midfileders: Angelina, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfielders: Kerry Abello, Haley McCutcheon, Solai Washington.

Forward: Marta.

Bench: Cara Martin, Hannah Anderson, Zara Chavoshi, Kylie Nadaner, Luana, Viviana Villacorta, Julie Doyle, Summer Yates, Jacquie Ovalle.

NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger.

Defenders: Leila Auahabi, Tierna Davidson, Jess Carter, Mandy Freeman.

Defensive Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan, Jaelin Howell.

Attacking Midfileders: Guro Reiten, Tess Boade, Midge Purce.

Forward: Sam Kerr.

Bench: Shelby Hogan, Teagn Wy, Sofia Cook, Talia Sommer, Andrea Kitahata, Taryn Torres, Savannah McCaskill, Meredith Speck, Olivia Wingate.

Referees

REF: Jaclyn Metz.
AR1: Max Smith.
AR2: Sharon Gingrich.
4TH: Jorge Escobar.
VAR: Joshua Encarnacion.
AVAR: Seun Yinka-Kehinde.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 3 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: CBS Sports Network.

Streaming: None.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, following @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

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Enjoy the game. Go Pride!