Orlando PrideFriday, November 13
The Orlando Pride name Yolanda Thomas their permanent head coach
The ORLtoday team
If you've been wondering who leads the Pride next season, now you know. The club named Yolanda Thomas its permanent head coach Thursday on a multiyear deal. She'd been interim coach since August, after Seb Hines left, and she's the first Black woman in a permanent NWSL head coaching job. She's also the club's fifth permanent head coach in its 11-year history.
- 2026 record: 10-14-3, missing the playoffs by 11 points
- Finish: 11th in the 16-team league
- Barbra Banda: extension keeps her in Orlando through 2029
- Marta, 40: set to become a free agent
Thomas has been with the Pride since the 2023 season, and she led the team to 3 wins in its last 8 matches. General manager Caitlin Carducci said she "has earned this opportunity through her expertise, tactical acumen, preparation and impact on our players and our club."
The Pride won 3 of their last 8 matches under Thomas
3 of 8
- won
- 5 did not win
Source: WKMG
View as table
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| won | 3 | 38% |
| did not win | 5 | 62% |
The job follows a down year that snapped a three-year playoff streak. Thomas, 42, was on the 2024 staff that won the NWSL Shield and championship, and she says "the potential of this club goes far beyond what we've already achieved."
The Pride finished 11th in the 16-team NWSL
The Orlando Pride's 2026 finish among the NWSL's 16 teams
11thof 16
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal
View as table
| Place | Rank of 16 |
|---|---|
| Orlando Pride | 11th |
Sources: WESH, WKMG, Daytona Beach News-Journal