Joining the Pride
Club support inspires new star defender
has energized defender Ali Krieger — and she’s eager to help lead the team by example.
Anyone who didn’t know Ali Krieger before, needs only to take a stroll downtown. Her face is plastered on banners attached to nearly every lamp post.
She’s used to the attention — thanks to a decade as a U.S. women’s national team defender and to having a World Cup title — but becoming a leader for the Orlando Pride this season still brought excitement and anticipation.
“It’s pretty incredible,” said Krieger, who spent the past four years playing for the Washington Spirit. “Ya know, that’s stuff that you dream about. I’m ready to come in, be a vocal leader and lead by example to help this team succeed this season.
“Just the environment, it’s night and day from where I came from. It’s just nice to come down here and train in the beautiful weather, see some of the girls who I’ve played with previously on other teams. It’s only the third day, so it can only get better.”
Krieger will be part of a defensive line that should be one of the strongest in the National Women’s Soccer League this season. She’ll be joined by Australian national team defenders Steph Catley, Laura Alleway and Alanna Kennedy. They’ll play in front of goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who is competing for the starting job with the U.S. national team.
A fortified defense will be crucial for the Pride this season as they work to replace the experience and talent of Alex Morgan on the attack. Morgan is playing in France and will not return until July.
The Pride open the 2017 season April 15 on the road in Portland and will play their home opener April 22 against Krieger’s former team, which she led to the NWSL final last season.
“I take pride in having a great, defensive, communicative back line,” Krieger said. “We’re going to stay compact, we’re going to provide all the defensive qualities we can in order for the front six to be successful. I know that I will help lead that. We will be happy when Alex gets back, but we’re going to take care of it while she’s gone.”
She also doesn’t care whether the team deploys a three- or four-person back line; She feels comfortable in both and thinks most of her teammates are flexible as well.
“A lot of these girls are very professional in that way, they can adapt to any formation [Pride coach Tom Sermanni] wants to play,” Krieger said. “So, we’re prepared for anything but we’re going to be very successful at it no matter what it is.”
The Pride returned to training Monday and still are getting back into form, but Krieger said the goal is clear: win more games. She also said Sermanni and the rest of the coaching staff are working hard to make sure everyone on the field knows their roles.
He doesn’t have to worry about that with Krieger. From the first day of training, it was clear to the club why she’s played at the highest level of women’s soccer for so long.
“Ali Krieger comes in and immediately assumes that [leadership] role, with her experience and her pedigree,” Sermanni said. “Day One, it’s difficult to see other players doing that.
“I think what we’ve done is improve the quality and the competition in the squad, and that we’ll go out there with just a better chemistry and a better overall quality. With that, hopefully we’ll be able to play a more expansive brand of soccer.”
“It’s just nice to come down here and train in the beautiful weather, see some of the girls who I’ve played with previously.” Pride newcomer Ali Krieger