Orlando Pride Wins First NWSL Championship in Historic Season

Barbra Banda’s decisive goal and Marta’s leadership cap a record-breaking year for the Pride, securing their first league title after years of struggle.

• The Orlando Pride defeated the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the NWSL Championship, with Barbra Banda scoring the winning goal and earning MVP honors.
• This marks the Pride's first league title and follows their first-ever NWSL Shield win earlier this season, capping a record-breaking 23-game unbeaten streak.
• Marta, the team’s 38-year-old captain, celebrated her first club title since 2011, symbolizing a triumphant end to the Pride’s years of underachievement.
• The Pride’s success has been attributed to strategic investments, including the signing of Banda for the league’s second-highest transfer fee and strong leadership under head coach Seb Hines.
• The team’s defense, led by Emily Sams and Kylie Strom, played a pivotal role throughout the season and in the championship game, limiting the Spirit to five shots on target despite 26 attempts.

38 Articles

EssentiallySports Orlando Sentinel Orlando Sentinel The Guardian Washington Post Orlando Sentinel CBC Orlando Sentinel ESPN Al Jazeera Forbes Deadspin CBC The Japan Times CNN EssentiallySports EssentiallySports EssentiallySports CBS News EssentiallySports Associated Press ESPN Associated Press CBC The Kansas City Star EssentiallySports The Guardian ESPN Washington Post EssentiallySports EssentiallySports EssentiallySports The Guardian Newsweek USA TODAY EssentiallySports