LAKE MARY, Fla. — A lot has changed in the past few days for the Orlando Pride. The Club parted ways with longtime coach Seb Hines and now the team turns to assistant coach Yolanda Thomas to lead the group.
"It feels like seven months," Interim Head Coach Yolanda Thomas said of the last few days. "It's been tough, but also thankful, surrounded by an incredible group of professional women in the players, but also staff and the front office and the Club as a whole."
Thomas has spent the last four seasons alongside this group, first as an assistant and now stepping into the top role, a résumé that also includes time as both a player and a head coach with the U.S. Women's Youth National Team. It's exactly the kind of experience the club believes can carry this team into the postseason in 2026.
"[She] is a fantastic coach, fantastic human, great ambassador for our club, and has been here, knows our players, and in this moment knows what they need, and not only what they need to manage, you know, and process the decision, but also to set them up for success as we finish out the season," VP of Soccer Operations & General Manager Caitlin Carducci said in a press conference on Tuesday. "We have so much faith and belief in what Yolanda can do. Her experience, both as a player and as a coach, an assistant coach with us, an assistant and a head coach with the U.S. Women's National Team. We know that she has what it takes to be successful."
Midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has captained the Pride this season and played over 100 matches for Orlando, praised Thomas's ability to connect with players while pushing them forward.
"Yolanda and the rest of the coaching staff have done great to allow us to process whatever we're feeling, but they've really already, in the short time we've had with them, instilled belief in us and in what we can do for the rest of the season."
"She is extremely level-headed, extremely clear and direct, but in a loving way," McCutcheon added on Thomas's coaching style. "She's warranted our respect, so she can say the hard things, and you really need that in a coach and in a leader. She likes to have fun. She allows us to have joy on the field and express ourselves and our special qualities. I can't say enough good things about her."
With eight games remaining, Orlando's playoff path is still very much alive, and Thomas has made the mission clear to her group.
"I told them that the heaviest lift I'm going to ask you to do is to dare to dream," Thomas said. "If you can lift your eyes and dare to dream that we can get three points this week, then we can do it again next week."
"Yolanda has told us to dare to dream and that we can still make this season super successful," McCutcheon added. "We have the players and the people in this building to do so. I think our backs are against the wall and people are counting us out even more than they already were. We can use that as fuel."
Kickoff against the Houston Dash is set for Sunday night at 7:00 p.m.
