O-Town's 11
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Where can the Pride go? They have an explosive answer for that

• After winning it all, they’re setting more records

• Late goals are this season’s specialty

• Anna Moorhouse has the starts record
ByChuck Wharton|
Apr 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Angel City FC defender Savy King (3) defends Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Apr 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Angel City FC defender Savy King (3) defends Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Orlando Pride this season has pondered a lingering question from last season.

After winning the Shield and Championship of NWSL in 2024, what else could the team accomplish? They answered that recently in a home match against Angel City FC. That’s an opponent the Pride hadn’t ever defeated at home.

 For most of the match, the Pride trailed 2-0. Forward Riley Tiernan opened up scoring in the ninth minute with an assist from midfielder Kennedy Fuller. Then midfielder Katie Zelem scored in the 44th minute.

That’s how the score remained until the 72nd minute. The Pride players had in the back of their minds how they’d studied and drilled since the off-season. They sought an answer to what they could achieve since winning it all in 2024. In this minute, they started framing an answer.

That’s when Marta took a pass from second-half substitute Oihane and brushed it past Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, making it 2-1. Just four minutes later, forward Barbra Banda caught a cross by defender Carson Pickett and equalized the score 2-2.

Then, in stoppage time, Pickett fired the ball across the pitch, glancing off defender M.A. Vignola and into the net for an Own Goal. The Pride won 3-2.

Mart
Apr 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride forward Marta (10) takes a shot against Angel City FC during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

This is the first time that the Pride has come back to win after first going down multiple goals. Banda scored her fourth team-leading goal of the season. Oihane got her first NWSL assist on Marta’s score.

Six matches into the NWSL season, standing 5-1-0, goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse completed her 35th start, the most for the team, surpassing former Pride member Ali Krieger.

As impressive as all those accomplishments are, the Pride players worked their way to a win after getting shut out through 71 minutes. They scored all their goals late in the second half. At the match's end, they scored five goals after the 75th minute, leading the NWSL.

The Orlando Pride came from further behind than they ever had to win a match. By their overwhelming desire to win, they’ve answered the question of what heights a team might reach after winning it all a season earlier.