Photo Copyright Mike Watters for USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Pride enter Friday night’s matchup against Kansas City in foreign territory.
Sitting atop the National Women’s Soccer League standings, the Pride are in unfamiliar territory carrying a record 20-game unbeaten streak that stretches back to last season. Winners of their last six and already qualified for the NWSL Playoffs, the Pride are also a far cry from the team that they were just two years ago.
The team’s last – and only – NWSL playoffs appearance came in 2017. In the years that followed, they struggled, with 2019 being the team’s worst season yet. They finished that year with a 4-4-16 record, conceding 53 goals and finishing ninth in the league.
Then-coach Marc Skinner took over midway through the 2021 season, and recorded just nine wins during his tenure. Two interim coaches, one other head coach, and just five wins total later, the club brought in Seb Hines in June of 2022.
In the time since, the club has been on an upward trajectory…
