Overview
- The Pride announced on Nov. 12, 2026 that Yolanda Thomas signed a multi-year contract to become the club’s permanent head coach.
- Thomas, who served as interim coach after Seb Hines was fired on Aug. 31, 2026, takes over following a season in which Orlando finished 11th with an 11-16-3 record and missed the playoffs.
- Her promotion makes Thomas the first Black woman to hold a permanent head-coaching post in NWSL history and drew public endorsement from owner and chairman Mark Wilf.
- Thomas brings head-coaching experience in the WPSL and at Rogers State, assistant roles at Tulsa and Oklahoma State, work leading two U.S. women’s U23 camps in 2025, and seven professional seasons in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.
- Key roster notes to watch under her tenure include Barbra Banda’s extension through 2029 and veteran Marta’s looming free agency, both of which will shape the club’s short-term rebuild and roster strategy.