The Orlando Pride fell 5-2 to Chicago Stars FC on the road on Sunday afternoon.
The Pride, winners of the 2024 NWSL Championship, drop to 8-7-4, while Chicago improved to 2-9-8.
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After a scoreless first half, both teams found the net early in the second. Carson Pickett scored for the second straight match, following her goal against LD Alajuelense earlier in the week. Haley McCutcheon added her third goal of the season. Jacqueline Ovalle, acquired last month from Tigres UANL Femenil for a then world-record transfer fee, made her Pride debut, entering at the start of the second half.
“A disappointing result. Credit to Chicago, they executed in the final third,” Pride coach Seb Hines said. “We move on. We will reflect. We will review. I apologize to the fans that were watching at home, and I apologize to the fans that were here with their support. That was not us today and we have to get it right. We have to stick together, be a collective and move on to the next game.”
Orlando returns home to face Bay FC on Saturday, Sept. 13.