For the Orlando Pride, it was supposed to be a fresh start. The commencement of the NWSL season offers a fresh chance to get off on the right foot after a poor 2021 season and the 2022 Challenge Cup. The Pride were defeated 3-0 by Gotham FC on Sunday night at Exploria Stadium after conceding three goals in the closing 17 minutes of the first half. The Pride surrendered the most goals on opening day in franchise history, and they are yet to win their first regular-season game in their seven-year history.

Those wasted opportunities set the tone for the Pride, who lost a set-piece goal to McCall Zerboni in the 29th minute. It became worse only two minutes later when the Pride enabled Midge Purse to run in unchallenged on goal and score a 2-0 lead past keeper Erin McLeod on a throw-in. Kristie Mewis scored the third goal right before halftime, taking advantage of Pride's botched marking. Former Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was no match for Orlando's replacements in the second half.

Caption by the Orlando Sentinel

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Georgia Soares]