Orlando, FL – The Orlando Pride did it! They defeated the Kansas City Current 3-2 on Sunday at Inter & Co Stadium to secure their spot in the NWSL Championship.
The top-ranked Pride overcame the fourth-seeded Current with a combination of stellar defensive play and an explosive offensive display from Barbara Banda, Ally Watt, and the legendary Marta.
Kansas City struck first, taking an early 1-0 lead in the first half. Michelle Cooper received a pass out wide deep in Orlando’s defensive third, driving into the box before delivering a precise cross to the back post. Debinha was there to connect, slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Orlando wasted no time responding. Just eight minutes later, Ally Watt surged down the right flank, breaking past Kansas City’s defensive line. Watt cut the ball back to the center of the box, where midfielder Haley McCutcheon timed her run perfectly to meet the ball with a clinical first-time finish past goalkeeper Almuth Schult.
Early in the second half, the Pride seized the momentum. Defender Kyle Strom won possession near midfield and sent a pinpoint long ball to Barbara Banda, positioned in the heart of Kansas City’s defensive line. Banda expertly spun past her marker and unleashed a powerful strike into the lower-left corner, giving Orlando a 2-1 lead.
It was Banda’s third goal of the NWSL playoffs, making her the league’s top scorer this postseason. She also became just the third player in NWSL history to score three goals in a single postseason.
Orlando extended their lead in the final minutes of regulation. Banda’s crucial tackle set up Marta, who picked up the ball in open space. The Brazilian icon burst forward, leaving two Kansas City defenders sliding as she cut into the box. With a deft move, she rounded Schult and fired home Orlando’s third goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Kansas City managed to pull one back late. Following a video review, a handball by Kerry Abello in the Orlando box gave the Current a penalty. Vanessa DiBernardo stepped up and buried the spot kick into the top-right corner, narrowing the deficit to 3-2.
After the match, Pride Head Coach Seb Hines reflected on the victory:
“It’s great; [I can] take a deep breath now, but it’s great,” Hines said. “You put all the hard work and effort into it, obviously, in the regular season—a 26-game group stage—to then get into a three-game tournament. So, we’ve done two of them, and there’s one more to go. Obviously, the spirits are really high right now, and we’re ready to go on Saturday.”
Barbara Banda emphasized the team’s determination:
“It’s amazing, and I think we deserve it as a team,” Banda said. “We really worked so hard for it. Our mindset from training onward has been focused on reaching the finals. I’m so excited and happy about it.”
Defender Emily Sams, a rookie, expressed her pride in the team’s journey:
“It’s so special to be a part of this,” Sams said. “Coming in as a rookie and hearing about the past and the history of Orlando, then seeing how much better we did last year, and, of course, how well we’ve done this year—it’s really special.”
The Pride now advance to the NWSL Championship, where they will face the Washington Spirit in Kansas City. The match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23, at CPKC Stadium, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.
