The Orlando Pride hosted the Houston Dash at Inter&Co Stadium on June 7 for its annual Pride in Our City Night. But if the celebrations in the stands started long before kick-off, it took until stoppage time—and the very last kick of the game—for a team to start celebrating victory. Orlando’s defender Cori Dyke scored her first professional goal in the 99th minute to grant her team the 1-0 win against Houston.
The Celebrations
From Pride-themed graphics to Pride jersey numbers shining on the back of players’ jerseys, Orlando celebrated its 2SLGBTQIA+ fans in many ways. “It’s…a night to celebrate the strength, beauty, and resilience of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community,” Orlando’s communication staff stated in a newsletter sent to fans before the match. The whole team stepped out for warm-up in special Pride t-shirts, which were also worn by the Orlando staff throughout the game. Orlando further showcased their commitment to celebrating the beauty of diversity by inviting Orlando native and special guest Ginger Minj from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to deliver the ball ahead of the start of the game.
For the occasion, the Orlando front office transformed the stadium into a real Pride celebration. Corner flags were replaced with pride flags, while the concourse was decorated with a balloon arrangement and PRIDE letter lights as a photo backdrop for fans.
The stadium also holds a permanent memorial of 49 rainbow-coloured seats, honoring the 49 individuals who lost their lives during the 2016 Pulse shooting. “Their memory lives on in our hearts, in our city, and in everything this club stands for,” commented the team before the game. Pride in Our City Night allowed this Orlando team to shed light on the crimes committed against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the importance of advocating for more diversity and inclusivity.
“ It’s…a night to celebrate the strength, beauty, and resilience of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community.”
A Strong Message
While all of the NWSL Pride games are important, the match between Orlando and Houston was even more significant. In the past few months, Orlando’s star player and 2024 NWSL Championship MVP, Barbra Banda, was the target of transphobic comments after receiving the BBC Women’s Football of the Year Player award. This Orlando team witnessed firsthand the importance of celebrating differences and fighting ignorance. With the Pride in Our City match, the Orlando Pride showed public support for community members who face disparaging comments.
On top of Orlando having one of its players directly affected by the transphobic and homophobic comments, the game between Orlando and Houston also showcased a matchup between two teams from southern United States. With the political climate becoming more socially conservative, especially in the south, Orlando and Houston had the chance to recognize the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, who not only are the victims of an increased intolerance towards them, but who also see their rights being threatened.
The matchup between the two teams proved that, no matter what happens outside of the league, the NWSL, its teams, and its players are committed to advocating for women’s soccer to remain a space where all are included, no matter the gender or sexual orientation. Celebrating Pride is “something bigger than the game,” Orlando’s newsletter also said, and two southern teams playing each other on Pride Night showcased just that.
Pride Across The League
Orlando is not the only NWSL team to celebrate its 2SLBTQIA+ community. Every NWSL team will dedicate a game to the cause. “Each celebration reflects the NWSL community's enduring commitment to visibility, allyship, and love in all its forms,” the NWSL posted on their website.
The league also mentioned that, while some teams may celebrate Pride later this season, every team will wear the league’s Pride-themed numbers for one of their games, an initiative the league says allows for teams to “honor and uplift the LGBTQ+ community together.”
The Houston Dash had its own Pride Night on June 13, as they hosted the San Diego Wave at Shell Energy Stadium. The Dash had planned activities for fans to celebrate Pride Month at the game. The celebration was yet another occasion for an NWSL Southern team to showcase what their organization and city stand support.
