The 2025 season has not quite lived up to high bar set in last year’s historic run, but the Orlando Pride have still been one of the best teams in the NWSL. Now the Pride head into the postseason looking to defend their title against some tough competition.
Orlando’s first match is a rematch of last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Seattle Reign FC, at Inter&Co Stadium on Friday at 8 p.m.
“It’s postseason tournament football. Must-win games. We want to make the most out of the home-field advantage in front of our own fans,” Orlando head coach Seb Hines said. “We hope that a lot of fans come out and turn up and support the team. So we’re all excited for the prospect ahead of us.”
Orlando is unbeaten in its past four matches against Seattle, but that doesn’t mean Hines and company will be resting on their laurels. It’s rare for two teams to face each other in the postseason immediately after ending the regular season against each other, but for Orlando, it is an opportunity to learn from the draw.
“It’s a unique situation. It doesn’t come around often, probably only in this country that this happens, where you finish the season, and then you go into a postseason, and you’re playing the same team,” Hines added. “It’s exciting. We get to replay it. It becomes a bit of a chess match. What lineups present themselves, little nuances of how a team sets up. But yeah, it’s fresh in our memories, how Seattle played in the last game.”
The difference for Orlando this season is that it no longer has a target on its back, or at least not as big a target as it did when it won the NWSL Shield. Most of the pressure for the Pride is coming from within the team, as they strive to meet the lofty expectations they have set for themselves.
“Without stating the obvious, last year we were the No. 1 team. We won the Shield. So there’s that added pressure of, ‘Can you go again?’ ” continued Hines. “But obviously, we’re in a different position, finishing in that fourth spot. But yeah, it’s tournament football. Home, away, it doesn’t matter, you just gotta handle your business.”
For the players, it’s impossible not to think about the historic success of last season. Repeating as champions is never easy in any sport, but Pride midfielder Haley McCutcheon believes the team has what it takes to do it.
“I think we’ve been in really good form going into these playoffs, and so that’s given us confidence,” McCutcheon said. “We’ve overcome a lot of obstacles this year, so that gives us confidence as well.”
In order to get past Seattle, Orlando will need players to step up and fill the void left by the absence of injured Barbra Banda, as well as Ally Watt, who was removed from the starting lineup in the regular season finale after a knock in the warmup. Orlando is a team that relies on pace to unlock the opponent’s defense, but the Pride will need to pivot and rely on creativity instead of pure speed.
Jacquie Ovalle is the most likely candidate to help the Pride find goals in the postseason. Her ability on the ball is world-class, as shown by her assist in the goal against Seattle last weekend. Marta will also be expected to step up, something the Brazilian captain has done throughout her time with the Pride.
The Pride have plenty of experience to lean on, but it all starts with getting past Seattle at home. If they can do that, there is plenty of confidence that they have what it takes to go all the way and repeat as NWSL Champions.
Orlando Pride forward Jacquie Ovalle follows a play during the second half against Seattle Reign FC, on Sunday in Orlando. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)