Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride
Full name Orlando Pride
Founded October 20, 2015 (2015-10-20)
Stadium Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
Stadium
capacity		 61,348
Owner Flávio Augusto da Silva (majority)
Phil Rawlins (minority)
Head Coach Tom Sermanni
League National Women's Soccer League
Website Club home page

The Orlando Pride is a professional women's soccer team based in Orlando, Florida. The team joined the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top level of women's soccer in the U.S., for the 2016 season.[1][2] The tenth team to be added to the league, they are affiliated with the men's team Orlando City SC in Major League Soccer.[3] They play their home games at Camping World Stadium, and will do so through 2016, before transitioning over to the Orlando City Stadium once it opens. The Pride hold the record for hosting the largest attendance in National Women's Soccer League history, with 23,403 on hand to witness the Pride's inaugural home game, a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dash on April 23, 2016.[4]

A NWSL record crowd of 23,403 at the Florida Citrus Bowl on April 23, 2016 of the franchise's first Home Game.

History

Following the 2015 NWSL season, it was rumored that the Orlando City SC ownership group would be adding an expansion team to the women's professional league.[5] On October 20, 2015, a press conference was held at Lake Eola Park where Phil Rawlins unveiled the team name, logo, and colors.[6] Former head coach of the Australia and U.S. national teams Tom Sermanni was announced as head coach.[7]

On October 26, 2015, the Pride announced that they had made the first player acquisitions in team history; they acquired forward Alex Morgan and Kaylyn Kyle from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the Pride's #1 picks in the 2015 NWSL Expansion Draft and the 2016 NWSL College Draft as well as an international roster spot for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, and also acquired Sarah Hagen from FC Kansas City and FCKC's second-round College Draft pick in exchange for the Pride's 2017 second-round College Draft pick.[8]

Team name, crest, and colors

The name Orlando Pride was announced on October 20, 2015 by founder and president Phil Rawlins. He noted that the name "captures how we all feel about the City of Orlando, as well as firmly tying into the Lions family."[6] The team colors are purple and light blue. The logo features an illustration of the famous fountain at Lake Eola Park.[9][10]

Stadium

Main article: Orlando City Stadium
Camping World Stadium, Orlando City's home venue until 2017

The Orlando Pride will play at Camping World Stadium, the same venue as Orlando City SC during the 2016 season. The team is slated to move with Orlando City SC to Orlando City Stadium, a new soccer-specific stadium being built and expected to open in 2017.[11]

Camping World Stadium (formerly Orlando Stadium, Tangerine Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl and Orlando Citrus Bowl) is an outdoor-sports stadium in Downtown Orlando. The stadium has a seating capacity of 60,219. The playing surface is large enough for use in international soccer matches, and was a venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In 1996, Olympic soccer matches in both the men's and women's competitions were held at the stadium.[12]

Year-by-year

Year League Regular Season Playoffs Avg. Attendance
2016 NWSL 9th Place Did not qualify 8,785

First team roster

As of November 3rd, 2016
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Harris, AshlynAshlyn Harris      United States
2 Defender Levin, CamilleCamille Levin      United States
3 Defender Pressley, ToniToni Pressley      United States
4 Forward Fields, JamiaJamia Fields      United States
5 Defender Alleway, LauraLaura Alleway      Australia
6 Midfielder Kyle, KaylynKaylyn Kyle      Canada
7 Defender Catley, StephSteph Catley      Australia
8 Forward Hagen, SarahSarah Hagen      United States
9 Forward Bélanger, JoséeJosée Bélanger      Canada
10 Forward De Vanna, LisaLisa De Vanna      Australia
11 Defender Krieger, AliAli Krieger      United States
12 Defender Edmonds, KristenKristen Edmonds      United States
13 Forward Morgan, AlexAlex Morgan      United States
16 Defender Berryhill, McKenzieMcKenzie Berryhill      United States
17 Midfielder Weatherholt, DaniDani Weatherholt      United States
18 Defender Evans, MaddyMaddy Evans      United States
19 Goalkeeper Bledsoe, AubreyAubrey Bledsoe      United States
21 Defender Hickmann Alves, MonicaMonica Hickmann Alves      Brazil
23 Forward Spencer, JasmyneJasmyne Spencer      United States
26 Defender Witteman, SamSam Witteman      United States
{{{no}}} Forward Burkenroad, ChristinaChristina Burkenroad      United States

Staff

Executive
Owner and chairman Flávio Augusto da Silva
Owner and president Phil Rawlins
Owner John Bonner
Chief executive officer Alex Leitão
Coaching staff
Head coach Tom Sermanni
Assistant coach Khano Smith
Goalkeeping coach Marcos Machado

[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tenorio, Paul (20 October 2015). "Orlando City set to announce National Women's Soccer League franchise". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Murray, Caitlin (September 14, 2015). "MLS's Orlando City set to expand into NWSL for 2016". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (20 October 2015). "Orlando Pride named 10th NWSL team for 2016". The Equalizer. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Orlando Pride rolls to 3-1 win before record crowd in home debut". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Report: Orlando City SC to announce NWSL expansion". Sports Illustrated. September 14, 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Orlando Pride women's soccer team to join NWSL in 2016". Bay News 9. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Wahl, Grant (20 October 2015). "Former USWNT manager Sermanni to coach new Orlando team in NWSL". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Orlando Pride Acquires Alex Morgan, Kaylyn Kyle and Sarah Hagen". Orlando Pride. October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ Etzler, Allen (20 October 2015). "Orlando City Officially Awarded NWSL Expansion Team, Names Club Orlando Pride". The Mane Land. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Rothschild, Ty (October 20, 2015). "Behind The Scenes: Creating The Orlando Pride Logo". Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "'We are going MLS!' Pro soccer stadium is coming to Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ "World Cup Champion USWNT to face Brazil at Orlando Citrus Bowl on October 25". Orlando City SC. August 10, 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Orlando Pride Staff". Orlando Pride. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Board of Directors". Orlando City SC. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
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