Orlando Pride Falls 1-0 to Gotham FC in NWSL Playoffs Semifinals
NWSL Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Falls 1-0 to Gotham FC in NWSL Playoffs Semifinals

Published on November 16, 2025 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Orlando Pride News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - No. 4 Orlando Pride fell to No. 8 Gotham FC, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium, ending the Pride's title defense in their second straight semifinal appearance after winning the NWSL Championship and Shield in 2024.

After 90 minutes of back-and-forth play with chances on both sides, stoppage time proved decisive.

In the seventh minute of added time, Gotham earned a free kick just outside the corner of the box. Forward Jaedyn Shaw curled her shot behind the Pride's defensive line, where it bounced in the six-yard box before slipping past goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse into the bottom-right corner.

Less than three minutes later, the Pride had a chance to equalize with a free kick of their own. Marta sent the ball into the box, where defender Oihane flicked a header toward goal, but Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made a last-second stretch save to preserve the win and end the Pride's hopes of repeating as champions.

Goal Highlights:

90+7' Jaedyn Shaw - GFC 1, ORL 0

Head Coach Seb Hines:

"The result was a tough one to take. I don't think it's a reflection of the performance; I thought we were brilliant tonight. I thought, even toward the end, that we were going to be the team that scored the first goal, but it wasn't meant to be. This is a cruel game, and you don't always get what you deserve, but it's going to be a motivator for us now. We've had so many highs in the last couple of years. Obviously, this is a disappointing result, but this will motivate us to move forward, and we'll reflect. It's bittersweet because we've done so many great things this year and faced so much adversity. One thing that I'll speak highly of about this team is that we've got some grit, and we have to continue that. That's part of the culture, that's part of the togetherness, and that will never end."

Match Notes:

The match marked the Pride's second consecutive trip to the NWSL Semifinals and second consecutive at Inter&Co Stadium.

The Pride finished the 2025 campaign with 12 wins, including playoffs, which is the second-most wins in Club history, following their historic season in 2024.

Head Coach Seb Hines made no changes to the starting lineup from the Club's 2-0 win against Seattle Reign FC in the 2025 NWSL Quarterfinals. Next Match:

Teams 1 2 F

Orlando Pride 0 0 0

Gotham FC 0 1 1 Scoring Summary:

GFC - Jaedyn Shaw 90+7'

Misconduct Summary:

GFC - Emily Sonnett (Yellow Card) 35'

GFC - Bruninha (Yellow Card) 40'

ORL - Emily Sams (Yellow Card) 80'

Lineups/Substitutions

Orlando Pride âˆ' GK Anna Moorhouse; D Cori Dyke (Oihane 46'), Emily Sams, Rafaelle, Kerry Abello; M Ally Lemos (Carson Pickett 75'), Angelina, Haley McCutcheon; F Marta (c), Julie Doyle (Simone Charley 54'), Jacqueline Ovalle

Substitutes Not Used: GK McKinley Crone; D Zara Chavoshi; M Luana, Viviana Villacorta; F Simone Jackson, Summer Yates

Gotham FC - GK Ann-Katrin Berger; D Bruninha (Mandy Freeman 53'), Emily Sonnett, Jess Carter, Lilly Reale (Kayla Duran 90+1'); M Rose Lavelle (c), Jaelin Howell, Esther González; F Midge Purce, Jaedyn Shaw, Gabi Portilho (Josefine Hasbo 63')

Substitutes Not Used: GK Shelby Hogan; M Sofia Cook, Sarah Schupansky; F Khyah Harper, Katie Stengel, Ella Stevens

Details of the Game:

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Weather: Clear

Date: Nov. 16, 2025

Attendance: 15,714

Stats:

Possession:

ORL - 47.5%

GFC - 52.5%

Shots:

ORL - 11

GFC - 5

Shots on Goal:

ORL - 2

GFC - 1

Saves:

ORL - 0

GFC - 2

Fouls:

ORL - 12

GFC - 9

Offsides:

ORL - 3

GFC - 4

Corners:

ORL - 4

GFC - 4

Heineken Star of the Match: Marta




National Women's Soccer League Stories from November 16, 2025


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