Two out of three isn’t bad in the latest eruption of transactions for the Orlando Pride.
The Orlando Pride lost solid defender Emily Sams to a transfer. They gained a defender from Hannah Anderson from the Chicago Stars FC.
Sending Sams to Angel City FC yields $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds, which rang three signal bells across the NWSL. The first bell was because this is the second-highest amount in league history. Second, it's the highest paid for a defender.
Of course, third, it’s the club-record intraleague transfer payment for the Orlando Pride.
Of course, the Hannah Anderson transfer also commanded a transfer fee. That one triggered the Pride front office to send out $70,000. So, getting a defender back still leaves the club with a balance of $580,000.
But what kind of performance legacy is left by Sams?
Sams appeared in 86 matches across all competitions since her selection third in the 2023 draft. That’s seventh-most in club history. She is one of the reasons the Pride earned the 2024 NWSL Shield and Championship.
She was on the pitch during matches where the club set NWSL records. Those include most clean sheets in a single season, 13, and most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, 554.
She was NWSL 2024 Defender of the Year. She means so much to the club that she started 2025 with a contract extension through 2027.
Yet, Sams expressed to the club that she wanted to try her talents in another organization. The club agreed and sent her to Angel City.
With this done, Anderson comes in.
The Stars drafted her in 2024 out of Texas Tech. With two NWSL seasons under her belt, she’s gathered 28 appearances with one assist. The scouting report by Pride Head Coach Seb Hines assures supporters she’ll make an impact on their pitch.
She brings physicality, intelligence, and consistency, he said. At age 24, what Hannah Anderson has left to accomplish in the NWSL will come due to the tremendous upside noted in the scouting reports.
So the Orlando Pride has two defender transactions – one leaving and the second incoming. With Hannah Storm bringing tremendous upside and leaving a positive financial balance, the 2026 NWSL season is looking up.