The 2016 season was Orlando Pride's inaugural season. The team competes in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Team launch The team was launched at a press conference held at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando on October 20, 2015. At that time, it was announced that Tom Sermanni, previously the manager of both the Australian and United States women's national teams, would be the team's first manager. It was also announced that the team would share its home with Orlando City SC, beginning at Camping World Stadium in 2016, and eventually moving to Orlando City Stadium.

Squad information

Coaching staff

Roster The NWSL held an Expansion Draft to populate the Pride's roster on November 2, 2015. The Pride held the first pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, though it traded that pick to Portland Thorns FC in exchange for Alex Morgan and Kaylyn Kyle. It will get the first pick in the subsequent rounds of the College Draft. Orlando will also receive top priority in player discovery and the waiver wire.

Number Nat. Player Position Date of birth Previous club 2016 NWSL appearances 2016 NWSL goals 2016 NWSL assists Notes Goalkeepers 1 Ashlyn Harris GK Washington Spirit 10 0 0 – 19 Aubrey Bledsoe GK Fortuna Hjørring 1 0 0 injured 25 Kaitlyn Savage GK Glenfield Rovers FC 2 0 0 – Defenders 2 Camille Levin DF Sky Blue FC 3 0 0 – 3 Toni Pressley DF Houston Dash 8 0 0 – 5 Laura Alleway DF Melbourne City 9 0 0 - 7 Steph Catley DF Melbourne City 11 1 1 – 9 Josée Bélanger DF FC Rosengård 11 0 0 – 12 Kristen Edmonds DF Western New York Flash 12 3 1 - 21 Mônica DF Flamengo 11 0 0 – Midfielders 6 Kaylyn Kyle MF Portland Thorns FC 10 0 0 – 14 Becky Edwards MF Western New York Flash 11 0 0 – 16 Leah Fortune MF Charlotte Lady Eagles 2 0 0 – 17 Dani Weatherholt MF Santa Clara Broncos 5 0 0 – 18 Maddy Evans MF Boston Breakers 10 0 0 – 26 Samantha Witteman MF California Golden Bears 11 0 0 – Forwards 4 Jamia Fields FW Western New York Flash 7 0 0 – 8 Sarah Hagen FW FC Kansas City 11 1 1 – 10 Lianne Sanderson FW Apollon Limassol 8 2 1 transferred 10 Lisa De Vanna FW Melbourne City 3 0 0 11 Christina Burkenroad FW Cal State Fullerton 5 0 0 – 13 Alex Morgan FW Portland Thorns FC 10 4 1 – 23 Jasmyne Spencer FW Western New York Flash 13 4 1 –

Preseason non-roster invitees No.PositionNationPlayer

NWSL College Draft Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2016 NWSL College Draft was held on January 15, 2016. Orlando had three selections.

RoundPickPlayerCollegeStatus110 Samantha WittemanDF University of California, BerkeleySigned215 Christina BurkenroadFW Cal State FullertonSigned431 Dani WeatherholtMF Santa Clara UniversitySigned

Match results

Preseason

National Women's Soccer League

All times in regular season on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00).

It was announced on February 17, 2016, that the Pride would open their inaugural season on the road on April 17 at Portland Thorns FC, and would host Houston Dash for their home opener on April 23. The remainder of the schedule was released the next day.

The Pride's "local opponent" by league definition is the Houston Dash. They will play the Dash four times this year, and every other team home-and-away.

Results summary

Results

League standings

Honors and awards

NWSL Awards

NWSL Team of the Year Team Position Player Ref. Best XI Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris

NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

Player Saves Goals-Against-Average Appearances Ref. Ashlyn Harris 62 1.33 15

NWSL Weekly Awards

NWSL Player of the Week

Week Result Player Ref. 12 Kristen Edmonds

NWSL Goal of the Week

Week Result Player Ref. 1 Steph Catley 5 Alex Morgan 10 Jasmyne Spencer 12 Kristen Edmonds 17 Alex Morgan

NWSL Save of the Week

Week Result Player Ref. 2 Ashlyn Harris 3 Ashlyn Harris 4 Ashlyn Harris 6 Ashlyn Harris 8 Ashlyn Harris 9 Ashlyn Harris 10 Ashlyn Harris 18 Ashlyn Harris

Media All NWSL matches not aired through their national contract with Fox Sports 1 are livestreamed on the NWSL's YouTube channel. Orlando Pride home matches are being called by Orlando City play-by-play announcer Jeff Radcliffe and color commentator Becky Burleigh, head coach of the Florida Gators women's soccer team.

Squad statistics Source: NWSL

5DFLaura Alleway 11 9 781 0 0 0 6 3 50% 0 1 0 4 3 2 09FWJosee Belanger 14 14 1084 0 0 0 3 1 33% 2 0 0 13 13 2 019GKAubrey Bledsoe 1 1 90 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0 011MFChristina Burkenroad 7 2 253 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 4 1 0 07DFStephanie Catley 11 11 990 1 1 0 9 6 67% 11 22 1 8 10 0 010FWLisa De Vanna 3 2 154 0 0 0 3 1 33% 0 0 2 1 3 0 012MFKristen Edmonds 19 19 1701 6 2 0 30 16 53% 6 41 1 8 22 1 014MFBecky Edwards 16 10 808 0 0 0 4 2 50% 0 0 0 13 7 1 018DFMaddy Evans 16 12 1108 0 1 0 9 3 33% 2 0 0 15 15 2 04MFJamia Fields 12 6 627 0 1 0 6 1 17% 6 0 3 8 3 0 016FWLeah Fortune 3 0 43 0 1 0 1 0 0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 08FWSarah Hagen 17 8 587 2 2 0 9 7 78% 0 0 1 2 6 0 01GKAshlyn Harris 15 15 1350 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 1 0 021DFMonica Hickmann 16 15 1376 0 0 0 4 2 50% 2 0 0 7 0 0 06MFKaylyn Kyle 18 16 1436 0 0 0 5 1 20% 0 1 5 18 9 2 02DFCami Levin 10 9 836 0 1 0 2 1 50% 2 0 2 1 5 0 013FWAlex Morgan 15 15 1350 4 1 0 44 20 45% 3 0 10 7 19 1 03DFToni Pressley 14 11 1027 0 0 0 8 1 13% 0 5 1 12 4 2 010FWLianne Sanderson 8 3 419 2 1 0 7 3 43% 2 12 1 5 11 0 026GKKaitlyn Savage 4 4 360 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0 023FWJasmyne Spencer 20 17 1564 4 0 0 30 18 60% 7 0 15 12 33 2 017MFDani Weatherholt 12 9 786 0 0 0 7 3 43% 2 0 0 9 5 0 026DFSam Witteman 16 12 1070 0 0 0 7 4 57% 7 0 0 8 17 0 0Team Total 20 — 19800 19 11 0 194 93 48% 52 82 44 155 187 15 0

19GKAubrey Bledsoe 1 1 90 2 2.00 0 0 11 4 2 50% 0 01GKAshlyn Harris 15 15 1350 20 1.33 1 1 161 82 62 76% 0 025GKKaitlyn Savage 4 4 360 8 2.00 1 1 50 26 19 73% 0 0Team Total 20 — 1800 30 1.50 2 2 222 112 83 74% 0 0

Images

Notes

References

External links