Orlando Pride clinch their first NWSL title with Barbra Banda's early goal.

 Banda scores as Orlando defeats Washington 1-0 in NWSL final – lreaction. 

In a league known for its volatility, the Orlando Pride have long been a model of disappointment—until now. After years of underperformance, the punchline has changed, and the Pride have secured their first NWSL Championship.

Since joining the league in 2016, Orlando had only made one previous playoff appearance, back in 2017, and had finished in the top six just once. But this season, everything was different. Orlando dominated the regular season, securing the NWSL Shield with a record 60 points, highlighted by a 23-game unbeaten run and an eight-match winning streak. On Saturday, they capped off their remarkable year with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit, becoming the first Shield winners to also claim the Championship since the North Carolina Courage in 2019.

The Pride’s triumph on a chilly night at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City is a testament to the leadership of Seb Hines, the 36-year-old head coach who has turned the team into a resilient force. A former England youth international and Orlando City player, Hines is in his first managerial role, having taken over as head coach in 2022 after serving as an assistant. His tactical nous and team-building skills have been instrumental in Orlando's transformation.

Key players have played their part, of course. Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, called the final the most important match of her career, a statement that carries weight given her storied international career, which includes World Cup and Olympic appearances with Brazil. Her mother was in the crowd, witnessing Marta's pursuit of a long-awaited final victory. Though Marta didn't score and had little involvement in the match, her presence was felt. Instead, it was the rising star Barbra Banda who made the difference.

The Spirit were the slightly better side in a quiet first half, but Banda delivered the decisive blow in the 37th minute. The 24-year-old Zambian forward, signed in March for a hefty $740,000 from Shanghai Shengli, powered down the right wing, cut inside, and rifled home a low shot from close range for her 17th goal of the season—and her fourth in the playoffs. There was a potential foul by Orlando's Angelina on Leicy Santos in the buildup, but the goal stood, and Banda's strike proved to be the match-winner.

With that, the Pride's long wait for a Championship ended, and a new era was born in Orlando....Read More