Match report: Orlando Pride drops the first game of the 2024 season and goes to the Portland Thorns

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 11, 2024) – The Orlando Pride (17-1-6, 57 points) The NWSL’s record 24-game unbeaten streak ended Friday night with a 2-0 loss to Portland Thorns FC (9-11-4, 31 points) at Providence Park. The loss is the Pride’s first of the 2024 season and the team’s first loss since October 6, 2023. The year began with 23 games without a loss, with the overall streak dating back to the last game of 2023.

After a week in which the Pride secured the No. 1 seed in the postseason and the club’s first NWSL Shield, head coach Seb Hines unveiled a heavily rotated lineup Friday night, making five changes from the starting XI from the previous game.

Striker Evelina Duljan made the first start of her NWSL career that evening, while defender Emily Sams made her 50th appearance in all competitions for the Pride after coming on as a second-half substitute.