Expansion mystery
Pride face unknown challenge in opener vs. host Racing Louisville
Orlando Pride coach Marc Skinner is known as a film junkie. But in the Pride’s first match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup against Racing Louisville, the coach faces a unique challenge — a complete dearth of film on his opponent.
The expansion team is an unknown quantity in the league, introducing itself for the first time at home against Orlando on Saturday.
The match will kick off at 7 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, with a live broadcast on Paramount+ and an international stream on Twitch.
Without the typical amount of information on his opponent, Skinner said the Pride will focus on imposing their own style.
“You have to try and predict rather than prepare,” Skinner said. “We have to use our intuition; we have to use our knowledge of the league. We have to use video of players from other times. ... It’s a really unique situation this one because how many times do you play a team where you’ve never seen any video on them? It sees how quickly we can adapt to something.”
Louisville will include familiar NWSL faces, including keeper Michelle Betos and forwards
Savannah McCaskill and Yuki Nagasato.
The team utilized the 2021 expansion draft to select several players who don’t currently compete in the NWSL, including former Orlando midfielder Alanna Kennedy, American stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press and the rights to Australian star Caitlin Foord.
Although the Orlando Pride is entering its sixth year in the league, the team poses a similar unfamiliarity to opponents and fans alike.
The Pride feature 12 of the 19 players who suited up for the Fall Series, but nearly half the starting lineup — including additions Ali Riley, Jade Moore and Gunny Jónsdóttir — is completely new to Pride fans. Only seven players from the