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Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was placed on the season-ending injury list, the team announced on Saturday. This comes after the Zambian attacker suffered a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon during last weekend’s game at KC Current. “Barbra has been instrumental to our success, and losing a player of her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization,” said Haley Carter, the Pride’s VP of soccer operations and sporting director. “We are committed to providing her with the highest level of care and support throughout her recovery. Her contributions to this team both on and off the field have been immeasurable, and we know she will approach her rehabilitation with the same determination and professionalism she brings to everything she does.”The injury is a major blow to the Pride’s offense this season. Orlando is winless in its last five games — two losses and three draws — and have scored only twice and conceded 5 goals during that stretch. Banda, 25, currently leads the Pride in scoring with 8 goals this season. She was the team’s top scorer with 17 goals in 2024, which also saw the Pride win a historic double with the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. Since her arrival in Orlando last year, Banda has scored 25 times and has produced seven assists in 41 matches played in all competitions. Her 2024 NWSL Championship MVP performance earned her a nomination to the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or earlier this month. Related: Orlando Pride, Barbra Banda, Marta earn Ballon d’Or nominations The Pride (8W-5L-4D, 28 points) currently sits in fourth place in the standings with nine games left in the 2025 NWSL regular season. Orlando hosts Gotham FC on Friday at 8 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2 News, who has covered Orlando City SC since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was placed on the season-ending injury list, the team announced on Saturday.
This comes after the Zambian attacker suffered a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon during last weekend’s game at KC Current.
“Barbra has been instrumental to our success, and losing a player of her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization,” said Haley Carter, the Pride’s VP of soccer operations and sporting director. “We are committed to providing her with the highest level of care and support throughout her recovery. Her contributions to this team both on and off the field have been immeasurable, and we know she will approach her rehabilitation with the same determination and professionalism she brings to everything she does.”
The injury is a major blow to the Pride’s offense this season. Orlando is winless in its last five games — two losses and three draws — and have scored only twice and conceded 5 goals during that stretch.
Banda, 25, currently leads the Pride in scoring with 8 goals this season. She was the team’s top scorer with 17 goals in 2024, which also saw the Pride win a historic double with the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.
Since her arrival in Orlando last year, Banda has scored 25 times and has produced seven assists in 41 matches played in all competitions.
Her 2024 NWSL Championship MVP performance earned her a nomination to the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or earlier this month.
Related: Orlando Pride, Barbra Banda, Marta earn Ballon d’Or nominations
The Pride (8W-5L-4D, 28 points) currently sits in fourth place in the standings with nine games left in the 2025 NWSL regular season.
Orlando hosts Gotham FC on Friday at 8 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium.
Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2 News, who has covered Orlando City SC since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.
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