It’s a prideful moment for Marta…
The 38-year-old Brazilian professional footballer and six-time world player of the year is celebrating her first-ever National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship after the Orlando Pride outlasted the Washington Spirit.
Marta’s teammate Barbra Banda‘s goal stood up as the winner to lift Orlando to their first NWSL Championship in a 1-0 victory on Saturday at CPKC Stadium.
With the win, the Pride became the first team since 2019 to follow up winning the NWSL Shield (best regular-season team) with an NWSL Championship, and the third time it has ever happened.
Marta, who has been with the Pride since 2017, couldn’t contain her emotions with her first championship-winning season.
“I f—ing waited eight years for this moment,” she said during the trophy presentation. “[It’s] most special because it’s the first time my mom is in America.”
She added after the match: “Incredible moment. Playing the championship final, take this trophy home and share this moment with my mom, it’s something in my best dream, I [can’t] believe. … This moment, it’s so special for me.”
“This moment gave me so many answers. I’ve been in Orlando for so long and I see players come and leave. We had ups and downs. Some seasons we were OK but not good enough.
“I always ask myself what I’m looking for because I stay in Orlando. I was not satisfied with all of the other seasons. I feel like I don’t want to leave this place without doing something really big. … Tonight I had all the answers.”
Banda broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when she latched onto a ball played in behind by midfielder Angelina. Banda cut back inside onto her left foot and distanced herself from Spirit defender Esme Morgan to hit a left-footed shot that beat Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
The goal was Banda’s fourth of the playoffs, setting a new single postseason NWSL record, and earned her the Championship MVP award. She also scored in all three playoff games this postseason, which is a new league record.
“That was a great moment for me,” Banda said. “As that ball came for me, I don’t hesitate. I always want to take on the defenders, so I saw that opportunity and I had to put the ball into the back of the net. I saw the positioning of the goalkeeper, so it was great for me.”
“For us,” Marta quickly interjected, drawing a laugh from the room.
This year, the Pride set multiple records, including points in a season (60), wins (18), consecutive wins (eight) and games unbeaten to start the season (23).
“I wish I could say when I got here [in 2021], I believed this club was going to turn it around, but there were times where we were at rock bottom, and I couldn’t see any light,” Pride defender Kylie Strom said.
“So, to go from that place to where we are now, I have no words to describe it. It is incredible and we’re gonna keep going. We’re never going back.”
Orlando is the fourth team in league history to win in its first NWSL Championship appearance.
Washington appeared in two previous finals, winning the title in 2021.
The Pride’s championship is the first for an Orlando professional sports team. The team will be honored with a parade in downtown Orlando on Monday.
