Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Orlando Pride took another step towards defending their NWSL crown tonight, defeating Seattle Reign FC 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. Haley McCutcheon gave the hosts the lead in the 21st minute and Luana converted from the spot in the dying moments giving Orlando its fourth consecutive playoff victory over the last two seasons.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines didn’t make any changes to the lineup that drew 1-1 with the Reign Sunday evening. Anna Moorhouse was in goal behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke. McCutcheon and Angelina were the defensive midfielders behind Jacquie Ovalle, Ally Lemos, and Marta. Ally Watt was still out with an injury suffered during warmups of the previous game, so Julie Doyle started up top again.

The Pride came out strong, creating several quality chances. While Seattle held more possession and created more shots, the bend-but-don’t-break defense kept the visitors off the board. When the Reign did find a good opportunity, Moorhouse came up big, with a little help from the crossbar. In the end, McCutcheon’s goal held up, and Luana’s penalty conversion sealed the win.

While the Reign got into the Pride third multiple times in the opening minutes, it was the hosts that created the better chances. Angelina took the game’s first shot in the fifth minute. Receiving the ball near the top of the Seattle box, the midfielder took a couple of touches to create space before firing a shot right at Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.

Five minutes later, Ovalle dribbled down the left and sent a cross into the box. The ball was headed towards McCutcheon, but Jordyn Bugg got to it first, sending her clearance over the crossbar. The Pride couldn’t create anything from the ensuing corner kick, and the game remained scoreless. Ovalle tried to do it herself in the 12th minute when the Mexican international dribbled into the Seattle box and fired. However, she couldn’t get around the ball, sending it wide of the near post.

The visitors finally got their first chance in the 14th minute when Nerilia Mondesir sent a low cross into the box, where Jordyn Huitema did well to shield her defender. The ball fell nicely for Sofia Huerta, but the defender’s shot was right at Moorhouse.

The Pride had a great chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute when Dyke found Doyle open in the box. However, the forward lost her balance as she shot, scuffing the ball towards goal and allowing Dickey to make the easy stop.

In the 21st minute, the Pride scored a much-deserved goal. Doyle and Marta combined with a give-and-go, with the captain sending a great through ball to free Doyle down the right. Doyle then sent a low cross to McCutcheon near the penalty spot. It wasn’t a pretty strike, but the defensive midfielder tucked it inside the far post to give her team the 1-0 lead.

“Just being opportunistic in the box, honestly,” McCutcheon said about her goal. “And after we played them last, we talked about taking more risks. And so just shoot it on first-time bounce and good things happen.”

“The goal was everything that we talk about. Moving the ball from one side of the field to the other, some really good interchange, really good execution of the cross,” Hines added. “And a really good finish from Haley, who keeps scoring in the playoffs or towards the end of the season.”

It was McCutcheon’s third goal in her fourth NWSL playoff appearance for the Pride. She’s now scored three of her seven goals for the Pride in the postseason.

“I think I just take an extra moment to realize my role on this team,” McCutcheon said about her playoff success. “I think that we all stepped up tonight, and we all step up in the big moments. But especially for me, I’ve just tried to take on that responsibility. And I think playoff McCutchen is back and in full effect.”

The visitors tried to get back into the game, creating a chance in the 31st minute. Maddie Mercado did well to chest down a long ball into the box and lay it off for Mondesir. The attacker had time and space but didn’t get much on the shot, allowing Moorhouse to make an easy stop.

Moorhouse went down on the play, requiring treatment. When play resumed, Seattle created another chance. In the 35th minute, the Pride were unable to clear, resulting in Mercado being sent down the left. She sent a cross into the box for Huitema, but it was just beyond the striker’s reach and off Abello for a corner kick. Huitema headed down the ensuing set piece, but Mondesir was unable to control it. It fell to Huitema, who got a shot herself, but she couldn’t get much on it and Moorhouse collected.

After 45 minutes of action, Seattle had the advantage in possession (55%-45%), shots (6-4), shots on target (3-2), and passing accuracy (84%-78%). Meanwhile, both teams attempted seven crosses and won one corner kick.

The Pride looked to start the second half strong, creating a chance inside the first minute after the restart. Ovalle received a throw-in and dribbled inside before finding Lemos approaching the top of the box. The young midfielder shot from distance, forcing Dickey to dive to her right to make the stop.

It appeared as though the Reign might find an equalizer in the 54th minute when Ainsley McCammon sent Jess Fishlock behind the Pride back line. The halftime substitute had a breakaway, sending her shot wide. It wouldn’t have counted anyway as the flag went up for offside.

Angelina fouled Fishlock in the Pride third in the 59th minute, giving the visitors a free kick. It was taken short, eventually ending up back with Fishock, who shot from the top of the box. However, Rafaelle got a piece of the ball, sending it wide. The Reign were unable to create anything from the ensuing corner kick, ending the threat.

Two minutes later, Fishlock laid the ball back for Mercado and the attacker was fouled by Lemos. The stoppage saw Sally Menti come on for McCammon and it was nearly a genius change by Reign Head Coach Laura Harvey. Menti stepped up and sent her free kick off the crossbar, inches from tying the game.

Hines made his first change of the game in the 65th minute. It was a defensive change as right back Oihane came on for Doyle.

In the 73rd minute, Fishlock played a beautiful diagonal ball across the field for Maddie Dahlien making a run down the left. The second-half substitute got into the box, taking a shot that was blocked by Dyke. It went right back to the attacker, who shot again, but this one didn’t cause much trouble for Moorhouse.

Moorhouse was called into action in the 76th minute when Mercado received a long diagonal ball as she entered the Pride box. The attacker turned Dyke to create a shot on goal, but Moorhouse got her left foot to the ball, blocking the attempt.

Rafaelle’s clearance was right back to the Reign, who mounted another attack. Huerta found Mercado in the Pride box, and the attacker turned Dyke again. This time the shot was right at Moorhouse, ending the attack.

Hines made his second change of the game during the next stoppage, replacing Dyke with Carson Pickett.

Marta intercepted a pass in the 82nd minute and dribbled towards the end line. Jordyn Bugg caught up with the Pride captain, putting her arms around Marta’s waist. The attacker went down and wanted a penalty, but referee Abdou Ndiaye disagreed.

Hines made his final two changes immediately after the no-call, replacing Lemos and Ovalle with Luana and Simone Charley.

Charley had a chance to put the game away in the 86th minute when Marta brought down a ball and was knocked forward by a defender. Charley was behind the back line, but Menti did well to catch up and send the ball over the end line for a corner kick. Luana lost the ensuing short corner out of play, ending the attack.

Charley had another chance in the 88th minute when Angelina sent her down the right. The forward cut back when she reached the end line, creating enough space for a shot. However, the attempt was wide of the near post.

Dahlien sent a cross into the box for Menti in the 90th minute, but as the attacker wound up for a volley, Abello stepped in front. Menti’s leg slammed into Abello as the left back cleared the ball, ending the attack.

The fourth official showed five minutes of second-half stoppage time, and Seattle stayed on the attack, desperately looking for an equalizer. Late substitute Emeri Adames took a chance in the fourth minute, releasing a shot from distance. It didn’t cause much concern for Moorhouse, who made the easy stop.

A long ball into the Pride box in the sixth minute of stoppage time was headed out by Pickett, falling to Marta’s feet. The Brazilian sprinted the other way, apparently looking to run the clock out. But it was more than that as she fought through traffic to maintain possession.

She darted towards the other end of the field, tapping the ball past former Pride defender Phoebe McClernon to get behind the back line. As she entered the box, shielding the ball from McClernon, Samantha Meza tripped her. Ndiaye pointed to the spot immediately, awarding the Pride a very late penalty.

“I hate to kick the ball to nobody, so I like to have the ball with me,” Marta said. “I prefer to hold the ball. And, sometimes, you just need to make a way, or find a way, to keep the ball and be strong. At that time, it was more mental than physical, and I did this stuff many times in my career. So there was nothing that I never did before. And it’s nice to show that I can still can do that. Because I don’t know if people believe or think that I can still do stuff like that. So maybe they’ll keep giving me space and let me stay in situations like that. And then I’m gonna keep improving and try to help my team.”

“It’s crazy. Like, that was crazy,” McCutcheon added. “If that’s not on all of the highlights and the top 10 whatever, she is unbelievable. And I think that at that moment in the game too, we’re just looking for any possibility to shut out the game and to have her run, I don’t even know, 80 yards and beat three defenders and win a pen. And then, not to mention, give that to Lou (Luana) and let her have that moment, just the awareness and the love that she has for her teammates, it’s everything to this group, and it drives this group.”

“Yes, she could have kicked it away and we squeeze up and then try to defend a throw-in. Or, you know, another ball that gets kicked along into our box,” Hines said. “But to carry it from the distance she did, and ultimately win a penalty as well, that’s who she is. That’s why she’s arguably the greatest player in the world. And to do that in the 95th minute, when we were hanging on towards the end. She wants to show that she’s still got it. She’s still trying to show that she is the player that she was years ago. So, to have that player that can carry the ball and lead — those sorts of actions are really impressive. And I’ve said this multiple times, we’re just pleased that she’s here representing the club.”

Marta initially picked up the ball as the Pride’s primary penalty taker, but immediately handed it to Luana. Handing the ball to her club and country teammate was something she was happy to do.

“I was looking to do something for Luana, not only in this game, but before too. So I had the opportunity to give the ball to her and let her take the penalty,” Marta said. “Also, I know she’s an amazing penalty taker. She does well. She did tonight. You guys saw it. And I just come to her and told her take and finish this f***ing game. And I’m so happy that she converted the penalty, and we ended the game this way. She deserves it. We deserve it.”

“Handing the ball over to Lou epitomizes Marta as an individual,” Hines said. “You know, not putting herself above the team and giving the ball to Lou to have her moment. So, it’s a really inspiring moment for the team and everyone associated with the club.”

The Brazilian stepped up and put her attempt into the left corner of the goal, sealing the victory and scoring her first career NWSL goal.

Luana on target 🎯

A storybook moment for Luana who came back after fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma to make the penalty for Orlando pic.twitter.com/MEuag8PkD5

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 8, 2025

At full time, Seattle had the advantage in possession (54.7%-45.3%), shots (17-9), shots on target (8-4), crosses (14-10), and passing accuracy (80.1%-76.7%). The Pride ended the game with more corner kicks (3-1) and, most importantly, more goals.

“Really good performance from start to finish,” Hines said. “It was a very unique situation, playing a team that we only just played last week, trying to figure out if Seattle would change anything, whether it’s system or personnel. But I thought we managed it really well in all phases of play. Credit to the players, because they’ve worked so hard to get to this point. They’ve faced so many challenges along this journey to get to the postseason. A big objective of ours was to host a playoff game, finish in that top-four spot, and take value in that top-four spot. So, everyone plays a part, from the players, the staff. The crowd was phenomenal tonight and really got behind the team. And it took everyone, it took a village to get three points tonight.”

“What a performance from the whole group from start to finish,” McCutcheon added. “I think we were just locked in and to have that late penalty and have Luana have that moment, it’s just a dream come true for us. So we’re excited.”

With the quarterfinals behind them, the Pride will now wait to see who, when, and where they’ll play next. If NJ/NY Gotham FC knocks out the top-seeded Kansas City Current, the Pride would host Gotham in the semifinal. If the Current win, the Pride travel to Missouri to face Supporters’ Shield-winning Kansas City.

Regardless, the Pride season extends to next weekend, when they’ll play for an opportunity to compete in their second consecutive NWSL Championship Game.