SANFORD, Fla. – No two seasons are the same, and the Orlando Pride can attest to that after falling short of a repeat as champions in 2025.
The Pride kicked off an eight-week training camp Wednesday. The season opener will be at home on Sunday, March 15. Orlando won both the NWSL Shield and Championship in 2024 but were unable to get to the finals last season.
“We look back on last season and we’re disappointed,” midfielder Haley McCutcheon said after training Thursday. “That’s crazy because we made our second consecutive playoff appearance and made it to the (semifinals) and, arguably, should’ve put that game away too. While we’re disappointed, we’re also really encouraged, and we’re going to build on what we did last year and not feel that way again.”
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The Pride lost to Gotham FC in the semifinals. Gotham went on to win the 2025 NWSL Championship.
The goals in 2026 haven’t changed, even with players like defender Emily Sams leaving the club.
“We’ve set a foundation here now where we want to be competing for championships,” head coach Seb Hines said. “In order to do that, we have to get the right players in that have that same mindset and mentality.”
Hines also gave an update on forward Barbara Banda, who suffered a season-ending injury last August. He didn’t give a specific timeline as to when the star player would return to the field.
“We’ve got to be smart with her,” Hines said. “We got to make sure we’re making the right steps in order for her to perform at her highest. I know that she’s hungry to get back on to the field and compete.”
The NWSL regular season starts in March and ends in November.
[MORE PRIDE: Caitlin Carducci announced as Orlando Pride’s new general manager]