While still awaiting the full 2017 calendars, the Orlando Pride announced their first two matches of the season. Their first match will be an away game, against the 2016 NWSL Shield Winners, the Portland Thorns. Their first home match-- their second match of the season-- will be against the Washington Spirit, who last year made it to the NWSL Championship.
The Orlando Pride played their first match against Portland last season, during the team’s inaugural campaign. This match is where Defender Steph Catley scored the Pride’s first team goal, off a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. This match will provide the team with the opportunity to prove their strength early on against one of the best in the league. That match will be the Week One Game of the Week on Lifetime, and will take place at 3:00pm ET on Saturday, April 15th.
The Pride’s home opener will be against the Washington Spirit. It will be the first time that Ali Krieger faces off against her former team, a team that was noticeably weakened in the offseason with the loss of players like Krieger, Diana Matheson, and Crystal Dunn. This match will be the first time that fans get to see new Pride players such as Krieger, Alanna Kennedy, Camila, and Chioma Ubogagu, and it will be the first match that the Pride plays in their new stadium. That match will take place on Saturday, April 22nd at 4:00pm.
Both of these matches provide the Orlando Pride with early opportunities and lots of excitement. It could be a bit of a challenge-- the players won’t have any opportunity to slack, but that should serve as good motivation in the preseason. The matches won’t lack in energy and passion, with players ready to prove themselves and show their worth against the best of the best.
The 2017 Orlando Pride campaign starts here.
