Grace Chanda debut delayed with Orlando Pride by injury

Everything looked so fine as seven Orlando Pride squad members headed to the Paris Olympics. But one returned injured.

Spirits soared as seven players on the Orlando Pride squad headed to the Paris Olympics. Marta, Rafaelle, Adriana, and Angelina got the call from Brazil. Emily Sams went to play for the USA. And Barbara Banda and Grace Chanda proudly traveled to compete for Zambia.

Something went wrong during a Zambia game and midfielder Grace Chanda was injured. After medical attention, the report came back that she suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon in her right leg. For Grace, that ended the Paris 2024 Olympics.

What’s worse, that ends the 2024 season for her with the Orlando Pride. She was set for her team debut following her last match in the Olympics.

Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said both the Pride and Chanda will enjoy a safe and responsible return to the pitch in time to make good on her contract, which runs through 2025.

But as the Orlando Pride continued studying Chanda’s injury, more was revealed. The Pride has filed a grievance with FIFA against the Football Association of Zambia. The grievance states that the Zambia federation failed to provide a reasonable standard of care for player health and safety on behalf of Grace Chanda.

Even with the delay of Chanda’s debut in the NWSL. Orlando Pride returned to league play solidly in first place. Grace Chanda was to ensure they stayed there through the end of this season and beyond.

Chanda had tallied 19 goals in 31 appearances with her national team. She was the first Zambian player to appear in the UEFA Champions League. There, playing for BllK Kazygurt of the Kazakhstan Championship, she scored a hat trick in her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut.

So Orlando Pride and its supporters await her debut with great expectations. There is no doubt it will be worth waiting for.