The defending champions, Orlando Pride, kicked off their National Women’s Soccer League season with a commanding 6-0 victory at home against the Chicago Stars. Barbra Banda was on fire, scoring twice for the Pride, who matched their club record for the highest number of goals in a single match.
On the league’s opening night, another clash saw the Washington Spirit narrowly defeating the Houston Dash with a 2-1 scoreline.
The Pride wasted no time as Haley McCutcheon struck in the seventh minute with a left-footed effort that slipped past Chicago’s goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher. Orlando’s lead was doubled in the 36th minute when Ally Watt converted Marta’s corner kick into a near-post header.
The second half started disastrously for Chicago with an own goal by Hannah Anderson just 90 seconds in. Orlando’s substitute, Julia Doyle, then netted Orlando’s fourth goal calmly from the center of the box in the 65th minute.
Banda, the top scorer for Orlando in 2024 with 17 goals, added to her tally with goals in the 80th and 87th minutes. Her second was a spectacle, delivering a powerful shot from 25 yards out that sailed over Naeher’s reach.
Unfortunately for Orlando, Doyle was forced to leave the field with an injury in the 74th minute, not long after entering the game. This match marked the worst defeat in Stars’ history, being only the second time the team conceded six goals in one match. Notably absent from Chicago’s lineup was key player Mal Swanson, who missed the game for personal reasons, although defender Sam Staab returned following a rupture in her Achilles that she had suffered in July.
Prior to kickoff, Orlando celebrated last year’s Shields and Championship triumphs by unveiling two banners at Inter & Co Stadium.
In another match, the Washington Spirit, last season’s runners-up, began their new campaign with an away victory. Makenna Morris capitalized on a rebound opportunity in the 16th minute after Houston’s goalkeeper, Jane Campbell, managed to save a header from Ashley Hatch.
In the 33rd minute, Chloe Ricketts’ shot hit the crossbar and seemed to cross the line before Hatch followed through to tap it in, reinforcing Washington’s lead. The Dash managed to find a response in the second half when Avery Patterson’s cross found Ryan Gareis, who headed it towards Maggie Graham, who added the final connection to make it 2-1.
Overall, the matches showcased the competitive spirit and talent prevalent in the NWSL.
