Orlando Pride Set to Face Houston Dash at Home

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Pride (6-3-1, 19 points) are gearing up to host the Houston Dash (3-5-2, 11 points) at Inter&Co Stadium at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and streamed on NWSL+.

This game marks the first of two matchups between the teams this season, with a rematch scheduled for October 3 in Houston. The Pride have a mixed record against the Dash, with a 9-9-2 record in regular-season play since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016, including a home record of 6-4-1.

The last match between the two teams was on September 28, 2024, where the Pride secured a 3-1 victory at home. Carson Pickett and Angelina scored early, and although Yuki Nagasato got one back for Houston, Marta sealed the win in stoppage time.

Historically, the Dash have posed challenges for the Pride. The teams faced each other three times in 2019, with the Pride unable to secure a win. The 2020 season was impacted by COVID-19, but both teams competed in the Fall Series, with Houston showing strength.

In their most recent match, the Pride snapped a rough patch with Barbra Banda scoring a hat trick against the Utah Royals, showcasing her talents as the team’s leading scorer with seven goals this season. The Pride’s defense has remained strong, with limited goal concessions in their previous matches.

Assistant Coach Giles Barnes expressed confidence, stating, “It’s fantastic to be back at home… we have to prepare correctly for them.” As for Houston, they sit at the bottom of the standings but have potential threats, including rookie Maggie Graham and former Pride striker Messiah Bright.

The Pride will need to capitalize on home advantage and maintain focus on defensive coordination to combat Houston’s attack. They remain without players Simone Charley, Luana, Amanda Allen, and Rafaelle, while the Dash list Ramona Bachmann and Avery Patterson as unavailable.

With the international break concluded, match excitement builds as fans look to support the Pride in hopes of securing three points at home.