Orlando Pride announced the departure of head coach Seb Hines and goalkeeper coach Paul Crichton on Thursday, bringing to a close a tenure that saw Hines become the league’s first full‑time Black manager.
Hines guided the club to a historic double in 2024, making the Pride the second NWSL team ever to achieve that feat, and his leadership helped cement the franchise’s place in league history.
During his second season the team climbed to seventh place, just one spot shy of the playoffs, while a roster stacked with star power such as Alex Morgan, Marta, Ali Krieger and Ali Riley failed to translate instantly into on‑field success.
A Historic Double and a Promising Turnaround
The arrival of forward Barbra Banda in 2024 sparked a turnaround, propelling the Pride to a semifinal berth in the 2025 playoffs and delivering the club’s first taste of postseason depth in years.
Despite the progress, the Pride remain 12th in the league, five points outside the playoff line, and have been hampered by a revolving door of injuries and a thin bench, a factor that contributed to their 2‑1 loss to Utah and exposed a defensive vulnerability in the absence of Emily Sams.
General manager Haley Carter’s exit in December further limited the club’s ability to address those gaps during the offseason, underscoring a shift toward a more results‑oriented strategy as the playoff race intensifies.
With the top seven teams already secured, Seattle Reign has held the eighth spot for three consecutive weeks, leaving the Pride to chase a narrow window of opportunity to climb the table.