Storylines | Pride at Kansas City Current

Can’t Be Beat

The Pride enter the match riding the three-game unbeaten streak dating back to July 3. In that game, the Pride played Racing Louisville to a 2-2 draw at the historic Daytona International Speedway as part of DAYTONA SoccerFest. The Pride mounted a second-half comeback which was backed by goals from Kylie Strom and Darian Jenkins. The Pride then earned their first home win of the season beating the Houston Dash 1-0 courtesy of a Dash own goal. Orlando extended its unbeaten streak to three in its previous game, playing the Washington Spirit to a 0-0 draw. This is the second time this season the Pride have sustained a three-game unbeaten streak.

The Current are also on a streak of their own, unbeaten in their last seven matches, with the team's last loss coming on May 25 against OL Reign.

Donning the Armband

Pride defender Toni Pressley started her ninth game of the season in the Club’s most recent match against the Spirit. Pressley also sported the captain’s armband for the fourth time this campaign commanding the Pride backline and leading the charge to the team’s clean sheet. 

Second-Half Thriller

In the first matchup between the two sides earlier the season, the teams battled to a 2-2 draw at Exploria Stadium. The game’s four goals all came in the second half, with two of them coming in second-half stoppage time. The Pride opened the scoring with Gunny Jónsdóttir finding the back of the net in the 51st minute. The Current would answer back in the 78th to level the game and eventually take the lead with another goal in the 91st minute. The Pride battled deep into stoppage time and were rewarded when Kylie Strom was taken down inside the penalty box and the Pride were awarded a penalty. Pressley stepped up to the spot and rocketed the ball into the roof in the match to split the points between the two sides. 

International Duty

Jónsdóttir is returning to the Club after representing Iceland in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros. Iceland went undefeated in group play, but did not make the top two in the group to advance to the knockout round. It marked the first time a team went undefeated in group play but did not advance. Jónsdóttir will be available for Pride in Sunday’s match.

The Arrival

Newly acquired Pride forward Haley Bugeja arrived in Orlando and started training with the Club this week. The Maltese international visited Exploria Stadium earlier in the week and has been training with the Club since then. The 18-year-old, who is considered one of the most promising young talents in women’s soccer, is expected to be available for the team’s upcoming match at Kansas City. 

Milestone Tracker

• Erika Tymrak is one appearance away from 160 appearances across all NWSL competitions. 
• Meggie Dougherty Howard is six appearances away from 100 across NWSL regular season competitions. 

Club Connections

• Current midfielder Kristen Edmonds played for the Pride from 2016-21, leading the Pride in goals during the team’s first season. 
• Current General Manager Cami Levin Ashton is a former Pride defender, playing for the Club during its inaugural 2016 season. She was the team’s No. 6 pick in the 2015 NWSL expansion draft. 
• Current goalkeeper coach Lloyd Yaxley led the Pride netminders from 2017-21.
• Pride forward Darian Jenkins and midfielder Jordyn Listro played for the Current during their inaugural 2021 season. 
• Midfielder Erika Tymrak was an integral part of the NWSL’s first Kansas City-based side, FC Kansas City, from 2013-17, winning 2013 Rookie of the Year before helping lead the side to back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015.