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Orlando Pride enter victorious playoff path against Chicago Red Stars

• Pride blaze winning path through the playoffs
• Powerful tone set in first match victory
• Pride keep setting league firsts

By Chuck Wharton

Nov 8, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride forward Marta (10) celebrates with midfielder Coriana Dyke (31) after scoring a goal against the Chicago Red Stars in the second half in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs quarterfinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride forward Marta (10) celebrates with midfielder Coriana Dyke (31) after scoring a goal against the Chicago Red Stars in the second half in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs quarterfinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images / Mike Watters-Imagn Images
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Orlando Pride entered the NWSL playoffs still gathering regular-season honors. Yet they didn’t rest on them as each post-season match is like a season.

Orlando Pride, in their first NWSL home playoff match, defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-1. The victory featured a brace by Barbra Banda – in the 39th minute and first-half stoppage time – assisted respectively by Emily Sams and Ally Watt.

These are Banda’s first NWSL playoff goals. Also, this brace is the first NWSL playoff brace, as well as the first by an international player.

The assists by Watt are her first in the playoffs.

The Pride entered the playoffs recognizing league regular-season honors earned by Sams. She was named to October and November NWSL Best XI. Now Sams is earning post-season honors with her teammates. It begins with this initial win.

Ally Watt also earned an assist this match on a score by Haley McCutcheon in the 26th minute. It was the first home playoff goal in team history.

The fourth score was by Marta on a penalty kick in the 57th minute.

Haley McCutcheon
Nov 8, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride midfielder Haley McCutcheon (2) controls the ball in the second half against the Chicago Red Stars in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs quarterfinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images / Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Chicago’s lone goal came in the 60th minute by Jameese Joseph.

What drove the powerful playoff performance by the Orlando Pride is setting the tone of the match early, said Head Coach Seb Hines. He described the collective tone of the players as a hunger.

Barbra Banda added that the high energy the players brought to the pitch came from their high morale. Driven by their morale, the tone they set for this match is the tone they bring to their entire playoff drive.

This drive means they found the patch to success against one of the finest goalkeepers in NWSL, Alyssa Nahaer of the Red Stars. They also stayed focused in their attack to the advantage of another top NWSL keeper, the Pride’s own Anna Moorhouse.

This path the NWSL Shield-bearing Orlando Pride is on will lead to playoff success. They will win the league championship.

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