ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 17, 2020) — The Orlando Pride returned to training on Monday morning, with the team resuming individual/household training at the Orlando Pride Training Ground at Sylvan Lake Park. The sessions marked the first time in nearly two months that team-sanctioned training was held, as the Pride’s last training session prior to NWSL Challenge Cup withdrawal came on June 21.
The Pride will continue training for the indefinite future as the Club awaits guidance on the future of 2020 NWSL play. However, a number of players will be joining foreign teams on loan in order to secure competitive match minutes. Previously announced loans include Ali Riley to FC Rosengard, Camila to Palmeiras and Erin McLeod to Ungmennafélag Stjarnan, with additional announcements expected in the near future.
“The Pride were in the unfortunate circumstance of being unable to compete in the NWSL Challenge Cup, and our players faced an extended layoff for both training and match play,” Orlando Pride EVP Amanda Duffy said. “Combining that with the uncertainty of the 2020 competition format that would follow the league’s tournament, we immediately prioritized loan opportunities that would secure meaningful training and match environments for our players for the remainder of the year.”
“Our focus during this next phase will be on the development of our young players, identifying new talent that can provide depth to our roster, and to provide a competitive environment to Pride players who are still in market. Our priority across all decisions during this pandemic and these unusual circumstances is to set the Pride up for success when the season begins in 2021,” Duffy added.
The Pride will start in individual/household training with the goal of returning to full team training in the near future. The Club will follow stringent safety protocols in all phases of training, designed by the NWSL, local medical officials and the league’s medical task force. These protocols include, but are not limited to, weekly COVID-19 testing, individuals/households training on assigned quadrants, daily temperature and symptom checks, and social distancing once the training facility begins to be used.
The training sessions will remain closed to external media.
