\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Orlando Pride have grown familiar with dealing with pressure. After concluding a historic 2024 season, which saw the Pride claim both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, the pressure of being the underdogs amid the record-breaking season was there. As Orlando prepares for a second consecutive playoff appearance on Friday against the Seattle Reign, the pressure to win the whole thing and repeat as champions is also there. \u201cI think last year we were still the underdogs even though we were killing it,\u201d Pride left back Carson Pickett told WESH 2 this week. \u201cEvery game that we won, it wasn\u2019t a shock for us, but a shock for other people when we won the shield, and people thought we might not win the championship.\u201d The Pride culminated the 2024 season with a historic double, winning the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, and NWSL Championship after defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the league final. The NWSL Championship was the first major league title for the City of Orlando. But following a topsy-turvy 2025 season, which saw the Pride battle through player injuries and winless runs, Orlando (11-8-7, 40 points) made it back to the postseason after finishing fourth in the standings. \u201cThis year there\u2019s huge pressure to repeat,\u201d said Pickett. \u201cEveryone wants to go back-to-back, everyone wants to double down on what they\u2019ve done, and to become a winning club you have to do it multiple times.\u201d To get back in the postseason picture, though, the Pride had to deal with a period of adversity this season. Star forward Barbra Banda was placed in August on the season-ending injury list after suffering a full-thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus.And that happened amid a winless run that went nine games, and saw Orlando fall in the standings to seventh place in the standings. The Pride signed Jacquie Ovalle for a record $1.5 million transfer fee from Tigres UANL during the summer. The 9-game winless skid snapped when Orlando came back to defeat the San Diego Wave 2-1 on the road on Sept. 26. That was followed by a draw and win before a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18 at Audi Field. Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines credits his players\u2019 resiliency toward the latter part of the regular season for getting the team back into the playoff picture for a second consecutive year. \u201cLast year was a really unique year, and it will be very difficult to emulate that season again,\u201d Hines told WESH 2. \u201cTo replicate that was close to impossible, but our objective was always to get into the postseason and know once you\u2019re in the playoffs, anything can happen.\u201d Match DetailsOrlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign Location: Inter&Co Stadium Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ETBroadcast: Prime Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Orlando Pride have grown familiar with dealing with pressure. <\/p>\n
After concluding a historic 2024 season, which saw the Pride claim both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, the pressure of being the underdogs amid the record-breaking season was there. <\/p>\n
As Orlando prepares for a second consecutive playoff appearance on Friday against the Seattle Reign, the pressure to win the whole thing and repeat as champions is also there. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think last year we were still the underdogs even though we were killing it,\u201d Pride left back Carson Pickett told WESH 2 this week. \u201cEvery game that we won, it wasn\u2019t a shock for us, but a shock for other people when we won the shield, and people thought we might not win the championship.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Pride culminated the 2024 season with a historic double, winning the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, and NWSL Championship after defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the league final. <\/p>\n
The NWSL Championship was the first major league title for the City of Orlando. <\/p>\n
But following a topsy-turvy 2025 season, which saw the Pride battle through player injuries and winless runs, Orlando (11-8-7, 40 points) made it back to the postseason after finishing fourth in the standings. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis year there\u2019s huge pressure to repeat,\u201d said Pickett. \u201cEveryone wants to go back-to-back, everyone wants to double down on what they\u2019ve done, and to become a winning club you have to do it multiple times.\u201d <\/p>\n
To get back in the postseason picture, though, the Pride had to deal with a period of adversity this season. <\/p>\n
Star forward Barbra Banda was placed in August on the season-ending injury list after suffering a full-thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus.<\/p>\n
And that happened amid a winless run that went nine games, and saw Orlando fall in the standings to seventh place in the standings. <\/p>\n
The Pride signed Jacquie Ovalle for a record $1.5 million transfer fee from Tigres UANL during the summer. <\/p>\n
The 9-game winless skid snapped when Orlando came back to defeat the San Diego Wave 2-1 on the road on Sept. 26. That was followed by a draw and win before a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18 at Audi Field. <\/p>\n
Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines credits his players\u2019 resiliency toward the latter part of the regular season for getting the team back into the playoff picture for a second consecutive year. <\/p>\n
\u201cLast year was a really unique year, and it will be very difficult to emulate that season again,\u201d Hines told WESH 2. \u201cTo replicate that was close to impossible, but our objective was always to get into the postseason and know once you\u2019re in the playoffs, anything can happen.\u201d <\/p>\n
Match Details<\/p>\n
Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign <\/p>\n
Location: Inter&Co Stadium <\/p>\n
Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
Broadcast: Prime <\/p>\n
Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X <\/a>and Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t