Orlando Pride Announce 2023 Preseason Camp Roster
The Orlando Pride began their preparations for the 2023 NWSL season with the first session held this morning at the club’s training ground at Sylvan Lake Park. The club then announced the official roster for preseason camp – the team’s first under head coach Seb Hines.
While we wait for official word on Hines’ staff, we can at least tell you which players are competing to earn starting roles and roster spots heading into the upcoming campaign.
The Pride have 28 players on the preseason roster, 21 of which are under contract for the upcoming season. Adriana, who signed the new Allocation Fee, is the only player who has not yet been reported, pending receipt of her P-1 Visa. There are three international players listed – Adriana, Haley Bugeja and Anna Moorhouse.
The thing that jumps out from the roster is that there are only five midfielders listed and two of them are non-invited. Former Pride midfielder Thais Reiss and Nicole Baxter – a former Gotham FC player – are the non-invites joining Mikayla Cluff, Jordyn Listro and Viviana Villacorta. The club decided not to bring Reiss back after the 2022 season and she went through the league’s waiver process. While the position group looks thin based on the roster numbers, there are multiple players among the 10 forwards who can play in the midfield positions if needed, including 2023 draft pick Summer Yates.
All five of the Pride’s draft picks are in camp – Yates, top pick Emily Madril, forwards Messiah Bright and Kristen Scott, and defenseman Tori Hansen. Madril is the only draft pick under contract so far, having signed a deal with the NWSL through the 2025 season.
Carly Nelson, who signed Sunday, is one of four goalies on the preseason roster, which also includes Moorhouse, Kaylie Collins and non-roster invitee McKinley Crone, a talented Maitland native who played collegiately for the University of Alabama , who recorded 21 career shutouts. and a record of 41-18-4.
There are nine defenders on the preseason roster, including Madril and Hansen, 2022 first-round pick Caitlin Cosme, veterans Megan Montefusco and Carrie Lawrence, and fullbacks Kerry Abello, Celia, Haley McCutcheon (née Hanson), and Kylie Strom.
The 10 forwards on the preseason roster are newcomers Yates, Bright and Scott, returning Pride players Bugeja, Julie Doyle, Leah Pruitt, Erika Tymrak, Marta and Ally Watt, along with newcomer Adriana.
Notable absences from the list include free-agent defender Toni Pressley and full-back/midfielder Courtney Petersen, who the club announced was in talks with about a return in 2023.
2023 Orlando Pride Preseason Schedule:
Goalkeepers (4): Kaylie Collins, McKinley Crone (NRI), Anna Moorhouse (INTL), Carly Nelson.
Defenders (9): Kerry Abello, Caitlin Cosme, Tori Hansen (DRAFT), Celia Jiménez Delgado, Carrie Lawrence, Emily Madril, Haley McCutcheon (née Hanson), Megan Montefusco, Kylie Strom.
Midfielders (5): Nicole Baxter (NRI), Mikayla Cluff, Jordyn Listro, Thais Reiss (NRI), Viviana Villacorta.
Forwards (10): Messiah Bright (DRAFT), Haley Bugeja (INTL), Julie Doyle, Adriana (NYR/INTL), Leah Pruitt, Kristen Scott (DRAFT), Erika Tymrak, Marta, Ally Watt, Summer Yates (DRAFT).
Key:
INTL: Indicates International Player
NRI: Non-Roster Invited
NYR: Not yet reported
DRAFT: 2023 NWSL Draft Pick
Here’s a look at the arrivals this morning for the first day of camp:
