ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2022) — Ahead of the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) campaign, Orlando Pride has signed midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard, as well as goalkeeper Kaylie Collins, to new contracts. Dougherty Howard rejoins the Pride on a one-year deal, with Collins placed on the side’s supplemental roster for 2022 and her deal set to run through the 2023 NWSL campaign.
“We're all very pleased to get Meggie and Kaylie back under contract for the coming season,” Orlando Pride General Manager Ian Fleming said. “Meggie did not take long establishing herself as an important and reliable part of our midfield last year and has been progressing well yet again in preseason this year. In Kaylie, we have a goalkeeper who we feel is on a very strong development path and are excited to see her grow into the player and natural leader that we have already seen the makings of since drafting and bringing her to Orlando last season. We continue to build toward a successful 2022 and beyond for our new Pride.”
Dougherty Howard, 26, returns to the Pride after making 24 appearances through all competitions a year ago, providing three assists for Orlando in 2021. In her Pride debut on April 10 in the side’s Challenge Cup opener against Racing Louisville, Dougherty Howard tallied two assists in what served as the first multi-assist performance for the Club since May 26, 2018, when Marta did the same against the Chicago Red Stars.
Prior to her time in Orlando, Dougherty Howard spent four seasons with the Washington Spirit after being taken by the side at No. 29 overall at the 2017 NWSL College Draft out of the University of Florida. From there she would appear 75 times for the Spirit in four seasons, leading the team in tackles (125) and chances created (63) in her time in the nation’s capital, while contributing one goal and one assist.
Collins, 23, rejoins the Pride after serving as a National Team Replacement Player for the side before signing a contract through the remainder of the 2021 campaign on Oct. 7.
Selected by the Pride at No. 34 overall at the 2021 NWSL Draft out of the University of Southern California, Collins earned 2018 Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year honors as a Trojan, as well as United Soccer Coaches All-America honors, a Top-Drawer Soccer Best XI nod, an appearance on the All-Region First Team and was named a two-time All Pac-12 honoree.
TRANSACTION: Orlando Pride signs midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard to a one-year contract through the 2022 NWSL season and goalkeeper Kaylie Collins to a two-year contract through the 2023 NWSL campaign.
