The Purple Canvas

March 24, 2023·1 hr 22 min·5 clips

Brie reveals how the Pride's comeback against Washington in preseason filled her with unexpected confidence for the season.

This episode features hosts Luis and Brie analyzing the Orlando Pride's preseason and roster ahead of the NWSL regular season. They are dedicated fans providing a detailed team preview. The hosts review the Pride's undefeated preseason, which included wins over NWSL teams Gotham, Kansas City, and the Washington Spirit. The Pride's 3-2 comeback win against the Washington Spirit is highlighted as a key confidence-building moment. Luis notes this was the team's best preseason since 2017, the year they made the playoffs. They discuss new assistant coach Yolanda Thomas, who holds a U.S. Soccer Federation A license and was hired by head coach Seb Hines. The hosts examine the signing of draft picks Messiah Bright and Summer Yates to multi-year deals, as well as the re-signing of veteran midfielder Michaela Clough. A significant portion focuses on the goalkeeping situation, with Anna Moorhouse, Kaylie Collins, and new signing Carly Nelson in contention. Brie expresses a desire to see Collins and Nelson get more playing time to evaluate them. The defensive line is identified as a major concern, especially with Carrie Lawrence out for the season with an ACL injury. Players like Megan Montefusco, Kylie Strom, and Carrie Lawrence are assessed for their roles and consistency. In midfield, the hosts express hope for Viviana Villacorta to stay healthy, as they view her as a game-changer. They praise Jordan Listro for her physical, aggressive style of play. The attack features the return of Marta, with Brie noting her ability to "drag us kicking and screaming to the finish line." New Brazilian signing Adriana, nicknamed "the wizard," is expected to form a potent partnership with Marta. Brie makes a season prediction that forward Ally Watt will lead the team with seven goals. She also predicts rookie Summer Yates will contribute four assists, praising Yates's physicality and versatility. The hosts debate whether the team's younger roster, a shift from past veteran-heavy squads, will lead to long-term success. They agree the first regular-season match against the Portland Thorns will be a major test for the defensive line's capabilities. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, blending fan commentary with analytical observations. This episode is ideal for Orlando Pride supporters or NWSL fans seeking a thorough, optimistic team preview. Listeners looking for high-level league news or those unfamiliar with the team's roster might find the deep dive too specific.

As heard by us

A grounded Pride check-in that keeps preseason optimism in check before Portland.

Luis and Brie return after a long break and use Pride's unbeaten preseason to sort out how much optimism is actually earned. The piece stays close to the five preseason games, the named opponents, and the questions still hanging over the opener. It does not drift into hype.

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Why you'd press play

You want a blunt Pride preseason check-in before the Portland road opener.

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