The Orlando Pride don't play another game for a few more weeks, but that doesn't mean stuff isn't happening with the club. Haley Carter has been busy, and we discuss the club picking up the 2026 option year for a couple of players and signing some other players to new contracts. It was a tidy run of business for Orlando.

Additionally, the club sent a whopping five players out on loan for the rest of the 2025 season. These were not Pride players who were getting minutes, so it can only help them, but it kind of feels like we'll never see some of them in Pride purple again.

This week's mailbagbox has a lot of questions. In fact, it has double-digit questions, and that was just from one of our listeners! Is it bragging to say we were up to the challenge? Well, we were, so it doesn't matter if it's bragging. At any rate, it wasn't just one person asking questions, but it was one person asking a lot of them. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we discussed Orlando's three Zambians in their Women's Africa Cup of Nations match against Morocco. Barbra Banda had a great start to the international break, while hopefully Prisca Chilufya and Grace Chanda are gaining much-needed confidence and improving their form ahead of their return to NWSL play in early August.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 93 went down:

0:15 – The Pride sign a couple of players, pick up the options on a couple of others, and loan a handful out.

17:45 - The mailbagbox is celebrating the summer break with volume, volume, volume!

48:11 - Pride players get back to international play in WAFCON.

The Orlando Pride still haven't won in Kentucky. The Pride went to Racing Louisville on Friday and struggled offensively, while giving up an easy, uncontested opening goal on a set piece and conceding a senseless penalty kick off a routine throw-in. It was a poor performance from the defending champions and another worrying sign of a team that has taken steps backward after last year's magical season.

We checked our score predictions from last week, broke down the key moments in the the game, and tried to figure out who to select for Player of the Match.

This week's mailbagbox wanted to know about Simone Jackson, whether reinforcements should be expected (and when), and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, without a match until August, we discussed Pride players who have been recalled recently by their national teams or youth national teams. It's going to be a long wait to erase the frustration of the last match of June, but in the meantime, we'll be keeping an eye on the club's international players.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 92 went down:

0:15 – The Pride did not look good on the road at Louisville. Our thoughts.

17:53 - The mailbagbox is a bright spot after a dark weekend.

35:53 - Pride players who will be representing their countries this summer.

The Orlando Pride remained unbeaten in the state of California, but it wasn't easy. Barbra Banda snapped a scoreless tie early in the second half and the Pride held on against a barrage of Bay FC attacks down the stretch to claim another road win. Anna Moorhouse played well to keep the clean sheet in Orlando's second consecutive 1-0 win and third victory in a row.

We looked back at the key moments and players, checked our score predictions from our last show, and made our selections for Player of the Match.

This week's mailbagbox wanted to know about the Pride's ideal formation, the Tampa Bay Sun winning the USL title, the recent addition of Simone Jackson, Moorhouse's performance, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we previewed the Pride's trip to face Racing Louisville on Friday in Kentucky, starting with the evenly played series history, Orlando's struggles on the road against Louisville, and the relative position of the two teams in the table. We provided our key matchups and made our final score predictions.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 91 went down:

0:15 – A look back at a wild finish that prevented a meh 0-0 draw against Houston.

24:17 - The mailbagbox is chock full of questions.

39:48 - Our preview of the Pride's trip to Lynn Family Stadium to face Racing Louisville.

The Orlando Pride returned to action after the international break and left it late before dispatching the Houston Dash 1-0. Cori Dyke was the improbable hero, scoring deep in stoppage time to snare all three points for the hometown Pride. A goal to win it late is better than no goal at all, especially when that goal is the game winner. It nearly wasn't, as Anna Moorhouse was saved blushes for a mistake by an offside flag, but in the end, even ugly wins are wins.

We look back at the key moments in the match, check our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

We also discussed Marta and Angelina being selected for Brazil's Copa America Femenina roster.

Afterwards, we jumped into this week's mailbagbox, which wanted to know about a listener's outfit, whether the Pride can just for once make things easy on themselves, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we previewed the Pride's upcoming Friday match against Bay FC. We look at both teams' 2025 seasons so far, break down the short series history, provide our key matchups for the game, and make our final score predictions.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 90 went down:

0:15 – A look back at a wild finish that prevented a meh 0-0 draw against Houston.

23:17 - The mailbagbox is always a nice cherry on top of a Pride victory.

39:48 - A look ahead at the Pride's second-ever trip to play Bay FC.

The Orlando Pride had the weekend off for the international break, but that's the team as a whole. Nine players from the roster were away with their national teams as we recorded this week's episode, and we talked a bit about the first match from each player's perspective to kick off the show.

Afterwards, we dove straight into this week's mailbagbox, which provided a clarification from last week, asked about McKinley Crone getting some starts, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we discussed the Pride's game Saturday against the Houston Dash. The Houston-based club has been better away from home than in its own stadium this season, and Orlando can't be complacent, because the NWSL is unforgiving. So, the returning internationals have to recover as quickly as possible and get ready to face a Dash side that has been problematic over the years. We discuss the all-time series, the tale of the tape, our key matchups for the game, and our score predictions.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 89 went down:

0:15 – A look at the Pride players on international duty and then straight into the mailbagbox!

20:57 - The Houston Dash visit this weekend and they are better on the road than at home this season. We preview!

The Orlando Pride stopped their skid with a 3-1 win at Utah, but it was far from a crisp performance, even if they outplayed the Royals in the first half. The second half was about managing things and fighting the effects of the altitude, but there wasn't much to say about it other than it took place and no more goals were scored. Friday's performance was a step in the right direction entering the international break, but more must be done to prepare for tougher games ahead.

Barbra Banda scored the first hat trick in club history to lead the way, and the only other true threat to the goal was Ally Watt — off the rebound of a saved Banda shot. The offense still needs some work, and not all defenses will allow Banda the acres of space the Royals provided for the star striker to run into. Still, it was a win by multiple goals on the road, and that's always a good thing.

We break down Orlando's win on Friday in Utah, look back at our surprisingly accurate (for one of us) score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match. I know you'll be shocked by our decision on that front.

There are a couple more Orlando players on their way to their national teams, as Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were named to the USWNT for the upcoming window. Will Emma Hayes finally give Sams some minutes? Will Abello get a runout for the senior team? We'll see.

This week's mailbagbox wants to know about the Pride's chances if Banda and Marta play average soccer, what will happen if and when Rafaelle is fully healthy, our thoughts on Mystery Science Theater 3000, something about furries, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Following our mailbagbox segment, we finished! There is no Pride game this weekend, but they'll be back in early June with a home game against the Houston Dash. We'll preview that for you next week.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 88 went down:

0:15 – It's Bandamonium as the Bandawagon pulls out of the station following the Zambian's three-goal performance at Utah.

18:19 - The mailbagbox has an unorthodox selection for Player of the Match

The Orlando Pride may not be exactly in free fall, but when compared to last season, the team certainly seems to be struggling — at least on the offensive end. The club's 1-0 home loss to Kansas City could have been a productive result if not for a defensive error that handed the league's most dangerous attacker a 1-v-1 against the goalkeeper. Alas, Friday's game wasn't an aberration. The Pride have scored once in the last three matches, and that lone goal was an extremely fortunate one in stoppage time at North Carolina.

We break down Orlando's home loss in Friday's NWSL battle for first place, discuss the game's important moments, check on our score predictions from last week, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

This week's mailbagbox wants to know about the Pride's attack, which players might provide some solutions if they transfer to Orlando, whether Haley Carter has something up her sleeve, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Following our mailbagbox segment, we look ahead to the Pride's road trip to Utah to face the Royals. While Orlando has a good record against Utah, the Royals are coming off a hard-fought, high-scoring draw against Washington, so there are no gimmies in the NWSL. We look back at the series history, check out where the two teams are relative to each other, provide our key matchups, and make our score predictions.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 87 went down:

0:15 – The Pride's warning sirens are getting louder after a third consecutive match without a win.

13:19 - The mailbagbox has some concerns about the Pride's offense.

30:30 – The Pride head to Utah looking to get back on track.

The Orlando Pride continued to struggle to put the ball in the net Saturday at North Carolina, but at least they only allowed the Courage one goal. Prisca Chilufya's improbable header off a corner kick somehow found a spot where the goalkeeper couldn't get to it, allowing Orlando to escape Cary, NC, with a 1-1 draw and a vital road point in a tight NWSL race. But the Pride have just one win in their last four matches, which is a far cry from their form in the first half of 2024.

We break down Orlando's road draw, discuss the game's big talking points, check on our score predictions from last week, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

This week's mailbagbox wants to know about the Women's Club World Cup and the Harlem Globetrotters of soccer. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Following our mailbagbox segment, we look ahead to the Pride's home match against the first-place Kansas City Current Friday night. The Pride and Current have developed one of the league's more organic rivalries over the course of the last year, when both teams were among the league's best. That's the case again this year, but the Current enter the weekend in better form than Orlando and a two-point lead in the standings. We discuss the series history, the tale of the tape, our key matchups, and our score predictions.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 86 went down:

0:15 – The Pride slipped out of first place with a last-gasp draw in North Carolina.

22:35 - The mailbagbox question factory shipped us a few new ones to test drive.

34:16 – The Pride prepare to host Kansas City on Friday night with a lot on the line.

The Orlando Pride have not played well for 2.5 of the last three matches, falling 1-0 on the road at Portland Saturday night. Scoring is an issue, as is breaking out of their own end. The Pride simply aren't creating enough clear-cut scoring chances, and when they do, they're not being clinical with those opportunities.

We break down Orlando's second loss of the season — tying last year's total already — discussing some of the game's big moments, looking back at our predictions from last week, and making our selections for Player of the Match.

This week's mailbagbox wants to know about NWSL announcers and officials, Pride cohesion, and the season-ending injury list. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Following our mailbagbox segment, we look ahead to the Pride's trip to North Carolina to take on the Courage. It's a tough place to get a result and a quality opponent for Orlando, but you have to play everyone in their place at some point. A result against North Carolina might be just what the doctor ordered for the Pride to get back on track and go on a run after falling in two of the last three games. We break down the all-time series, preview the Courage, provide our key matchups in the game, and try to predict the final score.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 85 went down:

0:15 – The Pride are not in the best form at the moment, but they're still in first place, so there's that.

17:26 - A bunch of questions were found in this week's mailbagbox, so we answered them.

35:30 – The Pride head to another difficult place to get results with a trip to North Carolina on the schedule for Saturday. We preview!

The Orlando Pride looked for all the world like they were about to sustain a two-game home losing streak. Down two goals to Angel City — a team the Pride had never beaten at Inter&Co Stadium — and looking hardly in the mood for the first half, the Pride came out of the locker room rejuvenated. Still, it took a while to break through and climb back into the match. Once that happened, Orlando always looked capable of going on and picking up all three points, which is what transpired. It was not only the Pride's first home win over Angel City (and the first win by the home team in the all-time series), but it was also the club's first multi-goal comeback victory.

We discuss the game's talking points and big moments, check our score predictions from last week, and make our selections for Player of the Match in the Pride's 3-2 home win over Angel City.

This week's mailbagbox wants to know about expected goals, NWSL parity, the Pride's choice of starters, underrated moments in the match, a second division in the women's game in North America, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

Following our mailbagbox segment, we break down Orlando's upcoming trip to Portland. The Pride have a terrible record at Providence Park (as most teams other than the Thorns do), but can Orlando exact some revenge for the Thorns ruining their unbeaten record late last season? We dive into the series history and the tale of the tape, provide our key matchups for Saturday night, and make our predictions for the final score. We're coming to the realization that we normally predict pretty much the same few scores over and over. Soccer!

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 84 went down:

0:15 – The Pride looked like they were about to take a second straight loss, but in the second half, they decided to win instead.

18:21 - Our listeners must know things. And we're here to help with that need to know in our mailbagbox segment.

41:30 – The Pride head to a difficult place to get results with a trip to Portland coming up this weekend.