The Orlando Pride — or what’s left of the Orlando Pride, with 10 players currently abroad on loan deals or short-term contracts — will finally begin play in 2020. The NWSL announced today its “Fall Series,” in which all nine of the league’s teams will play two home and two away matches in three-team “pods.” Orlando shares its pod with the defending NWSL champion North Carolina Courage and the Challenge Cup-winning Houston Dash.
So the Pride, who have not played in 2020 due to withdrawing from the Challenge Cup, will get to square off against the league’s best team and its hottest team with several starters and key reserves away.