Orlando Pride carries momentum and lesson into the NWSL playoffs

The Orlando Pride has finished the regular NWSL season undefeated at home, with league records set. That starts up invaluable momentum.

Skill and speed should be enough to get the Orlando Pride deep into the 2024 NWSL playoffs. They’ve accomplished much to get there.

Their first playoff match will be the team’s first-ever at home. This is the home pitch where they went undefeated during the regular season with a record of 10-0-3.

The squad finished the 2024 regular season with a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Reign FC. The match featured goals by Ally Watt, Kerry Abello, and Marta with an assist on the first score by Summer Yates.

It was Marta’s ninth goal of this season, the 40th regular season score of her career, and the 20th game-winner for the Pride. The latter extends Marta’s club record.

This 46th goal of the NWSL Shield-bearer Pride’s season sets a new club record for scores in a single season. The team also set NWSL records for most wins in a single season, 18, and points in a single season, 60.

Yet there is still one record for the Pride players and coaches to earn this season. And that is to win it all in the playoffs. Winning everything will not only make them champions this season, but will earn an honor that has escaped all Pride squads before them.

Forward Ally Watt said what will drive the players to win it all this post-season is the momentum they gathered executing their victory over the Seattle Reign. The other squad put up a significant fight, scoring two goals.

She said the two goals presented a vital lesson to the club not to take their foot off the gas during the post-season.

So, the Orlando Pride should remember the lesson of the goals. They should take the momentum of the win far into the NWSL playoffs—win it all.