Orlando Pride forward and National Women’s Soccer League Golden Boot leader Barbra Banda went down with an apparent noncontact injury in a 3-1 Friday night win against Bay FC and was subbed off.A Pride spokesperson told The Athletic that Banda is being evaluated and that the club is unlikely to share additional updates Friday.Banda plays for the Zambian women’s national team and currently leads the NWSL in scoring with 11 goals in 12 games. Two came in Friday’s match, which was delayed about an hour due to weather conditions. Banda’s first goal in the fourth minute was the fastest Orlando had scored all season. Bay answered three minutes later to equalize, and Banda put Orlando back ahead in the 51st. In the 54th, Pride fullback Cori Dyke locked in the victory with a third goal.
In the 78th minute, center official Jaclyn Metz paused the match when she was alerted that Banda was down. The striker was emotional, covering her tear-streaked face first with her hands, then her jersey. The Pride had already used all five of their substitutions and were unable to make any changes after Banda went off, requiring them to see out the match with 10 players.Banda returned to play this year after suffering a season-ending adductor injury last August. Pride manager Seb Hines said in a postmatch news conference that Banda’s form is “probably what everyone’s familiar with, you know, those passes through the lines and her using her pace to then put herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.”He emphasized that this season, “She’s added another level, that kind of finishing technique rather than just shooting.”After Banda missed the second half of last season, Hines called her “hungry,” which has been apparent in her performances.Friday night was the Pride’s last match before the league enters its summer break. Orlando is currently seventh in the table with 17 points. After a quiet start, the Pride finished the first part of the season on an upswing, winning their last two games. The Pride were the 2024 NWSL Shield winners and champions, and Banda scored their lone goal in the final and was named the championship MVP.This season, Banda has scored all but six of the Pride’s 17 goals.May 30, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
