The Orlando Pride Gain and Lose a Star

The Orlando Pride Gain and Lose a Star

This week, the Orlando Pride were looking to make some moves to strengthen their team as they look to make another run for the NWSL title. Their search brought them to Mexico international and Tigres star midfielder Lizbeth Ovalle. Ovalle has been making a name for herself both for her club and country the past few years and has been in rumored talks with multiple clubs before the season. It was Orlando, though, that came through with a record-setting,$1.5 million transfer fee that both Ovalle and Tigres could not resist. The $1.5 million is a new record transfer fee in women’s soccer, beating out Olivia Smith, who moved to Arsenal a few months ago for $1.2 million. The great news broke the internet, with NWSL fans discussing how stacked the Pride were, but just as the good news settled in, the bad news arrived. Friday, Orlando Pride announced that their star forward Barbara Banda sustained a right adductor injury against KC last weekend and will be out for the remainder of the season. A blow that Orlando was not expecting, which makes the signing of Ovalle that much more valuable. Orlando is currently sitting in fourth place in the league standings and hopes to catch fire in the last couple of months of the season.

Paige Bueckers scores a record high, but the Dallas Wings are still eliminated

On Wednesday night, the Dallas Wings took on the LA Sparks in what was a do-or-die night for the Wings. Paige started the night fresh and got hot immediately, shooting from the floor. It got to a point where Paige wasn’t missing shots and everything was going in. As the game went on, it was clear Paige was on a different level that night, and when the final whistle blew, she ended the night with 44 points and went 17/21 FFG, an 80% shooting percentage. She became the first rookie to score 40+points with an 80% shooting percentage. She is also the third rookie in WNBA history to score 40+ points in a game, joining the likes of Candace Parker(2008) and Cynthia Cooper (1997). This record is just a few history-making moments that Paige has set in her rookie season, putting her at the top of many people’s lists for rookie of the year. Unfortunately, though, Dallas Paige’s 44 points were not enough as they ended up losing not only the game but their last hope of making the WNBA playoffs. Dallas joined the Chicago Sky as the first two teams to not have a chance to make the playoffs. A tough end to a great rookie season for Paige Bueckers.

NWSL Weekend Recap

• Chicago 3-3 NC Courage, the scoreline doesn’t do this game any justice. What was a 2-0 lead for the NC Courage turned into a crazy comeback story for Chicago as Ludmila scored a hat-trick in just 10 minutes.

• Washington 3-2 Bay FC; Bay FC set the new attendance record for any women’s pro league in the US with 40,091 fans at the first game held at Oracle Park baseball stadium.

• Gotham 0-0 Utah

• KC 2-0 Portland

• Houston 1-1 Seattle

• San Diego 0-1 Louisville