ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2026) – The Orlando Pride today announced the appointment of Yolanda Thomas as head coach, signing her to a multi-year agreement to become the fifth permanent head coach in club history.
Since first joining the Pride as an assistant coach ahead of the 2023 season, Thomas has played an integral role in one of the most successful periods in club history, helping guide Orlando to an NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, delivering the first major professional sports championship in Orlando history. Thomas’ coaching impact also extends to the U.S. Soccer player pathway, where she led two U.S. Women’s Under-23 National Team camps in 2025 and continues to identify emerging talent as a scout. Thomas has served as the Pride's interim head coach since August. At that time, she became the first Black female head coach in National Women's Soccer League history and now becomes the first Black woman to be appointed to the position on a permanent basis.
"We are committed to providing our players, staff and supporters with a championship-caliber organization, and selecting our next head coach was one of the most important decisions for the future of the Orlando Pride,” said Mark Wilf, Orlando Pride Owner & Chairman. “Throughout this process, it was clear that Yolanda’s leadership, experience and character made her the strongest individual to lead our club moving forward. She has already played an important role in the success this organization has achieved, and we are excited to see her lead the next chapter of the Pride."
“Yolanda has earned this opportunity through her expertise, tactical acumen, preparation and impact on our players and our club,” said Caitlin Carducci, Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations & General Manager. “She is an exceptional coach who understands the importance of culture and what people need in different moments, and she has earned the trust and respect of our players and staff through her work over the past several years. While her familiarity with our organization is a strength, what stood out throughout our global search process was her vision, her depth of experience and her ability to bring out the best in those around her. We are confident she can build on the foundation we've established and lead this club to continued success.”
“This is a deeply meaningful moment for me both professionally and personally,” said Thomas. “I want to thank Mark Wilf, Caitlin Carducci and the entire organization for their trust and belief in me. I am honored to lead a club that I care so deeply about and a group of players I believe in wholeheartedly. What we've built together over the last several seasons is just the beginning of something special. We have established a strong foundation and a championship standard, and I believe the potential of this club goes far beyond what we've already achieved. We see an opportunity for the Orlando Pride to become a global leader in women's football, and I look forward to working with Caitlin and our entire program to help lead us there.”
Thomas holds a USSF A License and is in the process of completing her USSF Pro License, bringing more than a decade of coaching experience across professional, youth and national team environments.
Prior to joining Orlando, Thomas held a variety of leadership positions with Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) sides Tulsa Soccer Club and Fortuna Tulsa, including Sporting Director, Director of Coaching and Head Coach. During her tenure, she helped oversee the growth of the club's player development model while guiding Fortuna Tulsa to multiple postseason appearances, including two conference championships and trips to the National Final Four, National Elite Eight and Regional Championship. Under her leadership, Tulsa Soccer Club was recognized as WPSL Franchise of the Year in both 2019 and 2021, while Thomas was named the 2019 WPSL Red River Conference Coach of the Year.
Thomas' coaching resume also includes extensive collegiate experience in the women’s game, serving as an assistant coach at both Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa, as well as head coach at Rogers State University.
A native of Uppsala, Sweden, Thomas played professionally for seven years in Sweden’s top division, the Damallsvenskan. That followed a collegiate career at Oklahoma State where she was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, three-time NSCAA All-American and finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2009. Internationally, Thomas represented Sweden at multiple youth national team levels.
