Orlando Pride Set to Face Utah Royals in Key Matchup

**Sandy, Utah** — The Orlando Pride (5-3-1, 16 points) visit the Utah Royals (1-6-2, 5 points) tonight, marking the first of two matchups this season, with the return game scheduled for August 3. The Royals were initially established in 2018 but were relocated to Kansas City after the 2019 season. The 2024 season marked the return of a new Royals team, and this match will be their first competitive meeting since 2019.

Historically, the Pride hold a 3-3-2 record against the Royals in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season. Notably, Orlando has won both games against the current Royals team, including one on the road. The last faceoff took place on June 21, 2024, where the Pride secured a decisive victory in Orlando. Barbra Banda and Summer Yates contributed goals, with Marta adding a brace to lead the team to success.

In their last encounter in Sandy on April 12, 2024, Marta made an impactful substitute appearance, scoring the only goal to clinch a 1-0 victory. The original Royals team faced the Pride three times during their last season, culminating in a mix of results, with Orlando emerging victorious in their final match in 2019.

The Pride are looking to bounce back from a challenging stretch in which they lost two of their last three matches, including a 1-0 defeat to the Kansas City Current last week. Head coach Seb Hines has acknowledged the team’s offensive struggles. Aside from a standout performance of three goals against Angel City FC earlier this year, the Pride have not scored more than one goal in recent outings.

The Royals, struggling at the bottom of the league, have managed to secure only one win this season and are coming off their best performance—a 3-3 draw against the Washington Spirit. This match serves as a crucial opportunity for the Pride to regain their momentum against a team that has faced difficulties both offensively and defensively.

Hines emphasized the importance of treating the Royals with respect despite their lower standing, stating, “They should be happy with their performance against a good Washington Spirit side. We can’t take them too lightly. We’re trying to bounce back from disappointing results, and this is a great opportunity for three points.”

The Pride will be without several players, including Julie Doyle, Simone Charley, and Rafaelle, while the Royals will also miss key players due to injuries and other reasons. Tonight’s match will take place at America First Field, and kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET.