San Diego Wave lose to NWSL champs Orlando Pride

ORLANDO, Fla. -- San Diego Wave’s first out-of-state road match of the season ends in defeat against the reigning NWSL champions Orlando Pride 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

A true test for the Wave as their visit to Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida was met by the red-hot Pride continuing their championship form to begin the 2025 NWSL season as Orlando looked to extend their 21 home match unbeaten streak. 

The Wave coming off a 3-2 home opening victory against the Utah Royals last Saturday looked to continue their unbeaten streak to start the season.

Away from home, the Orlando Pride defeated Gotham FC 2-0 last Sunday finding victories in their first two matches of the 2025 NWSL season. 

The Orlando Pride sat at the top of the NWSL standings, starting where they left off last season as the top-performing team. Leading the league in goals scored with eight netted in and without a goal conceded in the first two games.

Last season's meetings between the two clubs saw the Pride take four points out of the two matches. With Orlando defeating San Diego 1-0 at Inter & Co Stadium on April 19, the June 7 return leg at Snapdragon Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw. 

The first 45 minutes was a possession battle with both clubs lacking in offensive threats and attempts. 

San Diego finished the first-period having slight control with a 57%-43% possession advantage. 

Both teams finished the half on three shot attempts with no shots on target being recorded. Little to no action for both goalkeepers Wave’s Kailen Sheridan and Pride’s Anna Moorhouse not required to make a save within the first 45 minutes. 

The opening minutes of the second half saw Orlando create pressure in the offensive third. Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was called on early in the second half to make a pair of saves pushing both shots out for corners. 

The second of the corners saw a ball delivered in the penalty box bounce off multiple players as the loose ball found Pride defender Haley McCutcheon waiting near post as she tapped in the opening goal into the uncontested net at the 50-minute mark.

Pride’s Haley McCutcheon recorded her second goal of the 2025 NWSL season.

At the 60-minute mark, Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall brought on three teenage substitutes, Melanie Barcenas, Kimmi Ascanio and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, to apply speed and energy in search of an equalizing goal. 

It only took two minutes for Wave 19-year-old Nigerian forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu to find the net to level the match at 1-1 in the 62 minute. 

Coming off a cross into the penalty box by midfielder Kenza Dali, Okwuchukwu met the pass with a headed shot into the goal as Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse wasn’t able to collect or contest the shot in time. 

A day to remember for Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, scoring her first career NWSL goal in her debut match.

This also marked the first goal conceded for the Orlando Pride in the 2025 NWSL season.

After Pride forward Barbra Banda was taken down in the box, an awarded penalty saw Pride’s star Brazilian forward Marta step up for the chance to retake the lead.

Marta’s 73-minute penalty attempt was unsuccessful as her shot hit off the left post. Following the attempt, encroachment was called as Wave players entered the box before the penalty was taken and a penalty retake was awarded. 

Marta wouldn’t miss twice as she netted in the retake attempt with a panenka shot that clipped the middle of the crossbar and bounced into the goal for the 2-1 lead at the 76-minute mark. 

Marta’s second goal of the 2025 NWSL season.

Orlando saw the rest of the match out for the 2-1 victory as they extended their home match unbeaten streak to 22 games in all competitions and remain on top of the NWSL standings.

“I think you need to punish them when you got your momentum and we didn't do that,” Wave midfielder Kenza Dali said. “Then we concede on one mistake and that's why when they're not in a good day, they know how to win. This is what good teams do. 

“But I'm so proud of the way we play, we gave everything, I think we were the better team today,” Dali said.

Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall spoke at the post-match press conference on his team's performance against the Orlando Pride and the progression of the squad.

“I think we're controlling the game in a good manner most of the time,” Eidevall said. “It's important when we come here that we don't make the game too transitional because we know Orlando have a strong team on that.”

“So there is positives, there is signs of progression in the way that we play,” Eidevall said. “We need to take them with us and be a little bit irritated that we didn't get any points with us today and turn that irritation and frustration into positive energy in developing us further.” 

The Wave claimed their first loss of the 2025 NWSL season, with a win, draw and loss result for their first three league matches, sitting on four points in the standings. 

“We know that there is spacing behind and around the Pride defending line and she's also a good player in the air,” Eidevall said on Chiamaka Okwuchukwu's debut performance. “And those two things contributed in positive ways. It seemed like it was a good game for her to come in and get her first minutes for the season.”

With the Women’s International Break coming up, the San Diego Wave returns to the pitch in two weeks. Their next NWSL match is a home game at Snapdragon Stadium on April 12 as they face the KC Current at a 7 p.m. kickoff time.