Orlando Pride at Kansas City Current
When: Sunday, 5 p.m.
Where: Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City
TV: Paramount+ (subscription required)
Official Heineken Silver Watch Party: Kiwi's Pub & Grill (801 W State Rd 436 Ste 1017, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714)
As the Orlando Pride get back to league action on the road this weekend, here are five storylines to watch during Sunday's match against the Kansas City Current:
1. 1.21 GigaWATTs
Forward Ally Watt found the back of the net for Pride in their last match against the North Carolina Courage in the UGK NWSL Challenge Cup. The Pride earned a point to begin the tournament courtesy of a 56th-minute strike from the Texas A&M University product.
The goal counted as the first of the year for Watt across all competitions and she became the second goal scorer of the year for the Pride.
2. Summer, Summer, Summertime!
Summer Yates collected her first professional assist on the Watt goal against the Courage, while also getting her first nod in the Starting XI. Yates threaded a beautifully weighted ball through the Courage backline, which Watt was able to get on the end of.
Yates has appeared in every game across all competitions so far for the Pride and was drafted by Orlando in the fourth round, No. 39 overall, in the 2023 NWSL Draft. She signed with the Club back in March.
3. Locking in a Full Nelson
Goalkeeper Carly Nelson earned the start in between the sticks on Wednesday night, marking her debut with the Club in the 1-1 draw against North Carolina. Nelson previously played in one match for the Kansas City Current during the 2021 season.
The Discovery signing made multiple stops in the match to keep the Pride level including a point-blank stop at the near post, a full-extension diving save on a free kick and a kick save in the 88th minute on a one-on-one break. Nelson finished the night with five saves.
4. You Get a Debut and You Get a Debut!
Defender Tori Hansen earned a start in the Pride backline in the match against the Courage, which marked her first professional appearance. Hansen went the full 90 minutes in the match and helped the team earn the point. Hansen was originally drafted by the Pride with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
The match also saw forward Maliah Morris make her professional debut when she came on in the 71st minute. Morris was signed to the Pride as an Injury Replacement Player just a day prior after being a Non-Roster Invitee during the 2023 preseason.
5. Stepping In and Stepping Up
Pride defender Emily Madril is the only 2023 draftee who has played every minute of the season so far across all NWSL competitions. Madril was selected by the Pride as the third overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft out of Florida State University.
Madril finished her collegiate career with 62 appearances, 61 starts, six goals, seven assists and helped lead the Seminoles to two NCAA Championships.
Milestone Tracker
- Erika Tymrak is five appearances away from 175 across all NWSL competitions, and six from 50 with the Pride.
- Haley McCutcheon is 10 appearances away from 100 in the regular season across her NWSL career.
- Marta is 14 appearances from across 100 in her NWSL career, all with the Pride. The forward will pass Ali Krieger for third in all-time Club appearances with her next match. Both players currently hold 86 Pride appearances.
