The 2025 season of Orlando Pride kicked off with a 1-1 tie against Washington Spirit. In the 41st minute, Rafaelle found the net for Orlando, but they eventually fell 4-2 in penalties. Washington’s Leicy Santos scored in the 72nd minute. The initial lineup was disclosed by Seb Hines, the Head Coach of Pride.
The goalkeeper was Anna Moorhouse, and the defense line comprised Kerry Abello, Kylie Nadaner, Rafaelle, and Emily Sams. The midfield was commanded by Morgan Gautrat and Haley McCutcheon, with assistance provided by Ally Watt, Marta, and Angelina in support of Barbra Banda in the forward line.
Rafaelle made a comeback after being sidelined since July 6, 2024. Angelina was given a new attacking role by Hines, who closely monitored her performance. Hines commended Rafaelle for her efforts and stressed the gradual increase in her playing time.
He also deliberated on the strategic placement of Angelina in the attacking midfield to exploit Washington’s aggressive playstyle and underlined the significance of teamwork and positioning for upcoming matches. Washington Spirit gained an early advantage over Pride as Santos failed to convert a long-range shot. Watt came close to scoring with a chip shot but hit the crossbar. Kingsbury easily stopped Angelina’s corner kick. Ratcliffe had an opportunity thanks to Carle’s pass, but Ricketts also attempted to score, only to be stopped by Pride’s goalie.
Watt managed to steal the ball from Miura, resulting in a penalty call that was eventually overturned after a video review. Following the penalty decision being changed, Pride scored from a free kick. Rafaelle found the back of the net and showed appreciation for her team’s support.
During the first half, Watt disrupted Krueger’s rhythm, leading to a corner kick. Marta took the corner, and Rafaelle’s header towards the goal was saved by Kingsbury. Banda made a strong run into the penalty area during extra time, but McKeown challenged her without a penalty being awarded. Moorhouse blocked Hatch’s goal attempt just before halftime. Hines made halftime changes by substituting Doyle for Rafaelle, prioritizing her safety over keeping her on the field. The team was pleased with Rafaelle’s scoring.
The second half began with a long shot from Banda, while McKeown continued to play despite sustaining an injury. The opposing team made an attempt to score at the beginning of the second half but were unsuccessful. Conflict arose following a foul by Ricketts on Sams, leading to a confrontation between players before the referee intervened. Marta failed to score a goal in the 65th minute, prompting Hines to substitute Lemos for Gautrat.
The Spirit took an aggressive stance and received a free kick in the 70th minute. A shot by McKeown was stopped by a defender, resulting in her missing another chance to score. In the 72nd minute, the away team scored a goal to level the game at 1-1. Nadaner commended the opposing team for their successful goal.
The Pride attempted to regain the lead. Marta failed to connect with a header from a corner kick in the 75th minute. Hines decided to make substitutions in the 82nd minute, introducing Yates and Chilufya for Watt and Banda. Chilufya, who recently joined the team, made her debut appearance. In the final moments of the game, the Pride appeared to be on the brink of victory, but Yates’s goal was disallowed due to an offside call.
The game concluded in a 1-1 draw, leading to a penalty shoot-out. Doyle and Angelina netted the initial two penalties for the Pride, with Hatch and Bernal scoring for the opposing team. Following Yates’s botched third penalty attempt, Miura found the back of the net for the Spirit, giving them the advantage. The Pride failed to convert another penalty, allowing McKeown to seal the win for Washington with a successful penalty kick. Even though they did not win in the penalty shootout, Hines commended the team for their impressive display and bold strategies. Coming up short in the final proved to be a tough pill to swallow, but it will serve as inspiration for improvement.
The Spirit had not emerged victorious against the Pride since August 4, 2023, during the prior Challenge Cup. With a flawless performance last season, clinching both the NWSL Shield and Championship, they are eager for the upcoming NWSL regular season, kicking off against the Chicago Stars next Friday night.
