ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 25, 2022) - Orlando Pride (5-5-6, 21 points) is set to host OL Reign (6-4-6, 24 points) back in front of the hometown fans at Exploria Stadium on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with the match available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. and internationally on Twitch.
“It will be a great game because both teams like to play,” acting head coach Seb Hines said. “They are a top team. They have got probably one of the deepest squads in the league with some exciting players. It will be a really good test for us, just to see where we are at. With the momentum we are showing and the confidence we are showing, it will all come into play against Seattle on Friday.”
Friday’s match, presented by Walt Disney World, will mark Mission W night as part of the Club’s Mission Program. In recognition of the anniversary of the 19th Amendment and National Women’s Equality Day, the Club will honor women in Central Florida that have broken barriers and will also use the match to pay tribute to the women’s equality movement. The night will also feature special appearances from Disney favorites Minnie and Daisy.
The Pride are coming off their second consecutive road win after beating NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-1 at Subaru Park outside of Philadelphia thanks to goals from Celia and debutant Ally Watt. Along with Watt, defender Haley Hanson also made her Pride debut after both players were recently acquired via trade from the OL Reign and Houston Dash, respectively. The Pride also totaled a season-high 17 shots on the night to go along with eight shots on target, which tied a season high.
Orlando are currently riding a season-high seven straight games unbeaten. With the most recent victory, the Pride hold a 3-0-4 record during the run and have scored 10 goals during that stretch. Friday’s match will also serve as just the second home match for the Club in their last six matches. The Pride have taken a combined 14 points this season on the road, which is second-most in the league behind the Houston Dash who have 17.
OL Reign are coming off a 4-1 victory over NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, Aug. 14. The Reign were backed by a brace from USWNT veteran Megan Rapinoe as well as a goal from Rose Lavelle and a Gotham own goal. It was a dominant Reign performance that led to their 4-1 win, a result that helped them bounce back from a loss at home against the Houston Dash. The Reign currently sit in fifth place in the standings and are only three points in front of the Pride as the playoff push continues.
Following Friday’s match, the Pride will receive a brief break in action before taking on the Portland Thorns at Exploria Stadium on Friday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for the game are available at Orlando-Pride.com.
