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The Orlando Pride made history Saturday night, claiming their first-ever NWSL Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium. Barbra Banda’s record-breaking goal in the first half sealed the win and capped off a dream season for the Pride.
This championship is a career milestone for Marta, the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, who finally lifted the trophy at age 38. “I’ve waited eight years for this moment,” Marta said, adding, “It’s even more special because my mom was here to see it.”
Banda Steals the Spotlight
Banda’s winning goal came in the 37th minute after she sprinted onto a perfect pass from Angelina, beat her defender, and sent a powerful shot past Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Banda’s fourth goal of the playoffs was a new league record.
“As soon as the ball came to me, I didn’t think twice,” Banda said. Her electrifying performance earned her the Championship MVP award.
While the Spirit had 26 shots and dominated possession, the Pride’s defense, led by goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, held strong. Washington star Trinity Rodman, who played through a back injury, struggled to find her rhythm, taking five shots but failing to score.
“They did a phenomenal job shutting me down,” Rodman said.
A Historic Turnaround
The Pride struggled to compete for years, with only one prior playoff appearance in 2017. But this season, the team shattered records, including most points (60), most wins (18), and longest unbeaten streak (23 games).
“To go from rock bottom to lifting this trophy is incredible,” said Pride defender Kylie Strom.
The Pride’s victory is the first championship for any Orlando professional sports team. Fans will celebrate with a parade in downtown Orlando on Monday. For Marta, this moment was worth the wait. “I didn’t want to leave Orlando without doing something big,” she said. “Tonight, I finally did.”
