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The Orlando Pride, already in desperation mode trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, will have to face the challenge of reaching the postseason without their best player.
Barbra Banda, the second leading scorer in the NWSL with 17 goals, will not be in action Sunday when the Pride visit the Houston Dash.
The star forward played an international match for her native Zambia in Uganda on Oct. 8 as part of 2028 Olympic qualifying and must wait 21 days before reentering the United States, according to a news release from the league.
As explained in a report on ESPN.com, the CDC currently bans entry to the U.S. by foreign nationals who have been in Uganda in the past 21 days, because of ongoing concerns around an Ebola outbreak earlier this year. The restrictions also apply to Congo and South Sudan.
Without any exceptions issued by the government, the ban would last until about Oct. 30. The NWSL regular season ends Nov. 1. The NWSL issued the following statement Friday:
“Following their participation with the Zambian Women’s National Team during the recent international window, several players are currently observing U.S. government public health re-entry protocols required for travelers returning from the East African region.
“The NWSL is working with its clubs and U.S. immigration to ensure the players’ safe return; all players are in excellent health.”
Zambia played a two-legged series with Uganda. The first match was in Uganda, where there were 20 confirmed cases of Ebola this summer. Zambia fell 2-1 in the first match in Kampala, but won the second leg 4-1 at home that advanced Zambia 5-3 on aggregate.
The current Ebola outbreak was declared in mid-May after spreading in a remote part of eastern Congo. The nation’s Health Ministry recently reported 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths. Last week, Kenya became the second country after Uganda to report an Ebola case imported from Congo.
Back on the pitch, the Pride (10-13-3, 33 points) take on the Dash (8-13-6, 30 points) at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston at 1 p.m. Orlando is not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but the Pride are nine points below the playoff line with three games left and could be officially knocked out of playoff contention this weekend, depending on results.
Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas said there is still much to play for.
“Most of our focus has been on how do we now handle, both emotionally and tactically, the reset we’re having to do because we’re in a difficult position,” Thomas said. “We always want to represent this city and this club with pride. And at the end of the day, people like to say that pressure builds character, but I’d say that pressure reveals character.
“And my expectation and goal for the team has been that when we walk away from the game, the character that’s been revealed is one that we’re proud of.”
While making the postseason seems unlikely, there are still plenty of reasons for the Pride to want to win out the rest of the way. Building up momentum heading into the offseason is crucial. That starts with finding ways to score without relying on Banda.
Banda has 17 of Orlando’s 36 goals this season. The only other player who has scored more than three is defensive midfielder Haley McCutcheon, with six. Jacquie Ovalle has scored three times, with seven other players scoring two or fewer. Players like Solai Washington and Sanne Lakven have potential, but they need to establish consistency if the Pride want to evolve beyond a one-dimensional attack.
The Pride have also been uncharacteristically porous in defense, allowing 43 goals in 27 games. The introduction of keeper Cossette Morche into the starting lineup has helped, but a constantly shuffling back line has made stability and stoutness difficult to maintain. These final three matches allow Thomas to build more cohesion across the back to give the team a better baseline next year.
The Prides are determined to finish strong, and they have a chance to do that against a Houston team they beat 3-1 in September. Regardless of postseason ramifications, the Pride know they need to show what they are capable of if they want to return to being title contenders in 2027.
“We know the stance that we’re in and where we’re at on the table, and so we want to make sure that we leave no regrets,” said Orlando defender Hannah Anderson. “That’s the one thing that I think we all carry with us, just as people and as players, and how we want to represent the club. We want to finish strong no matter what. So we’re going to Houston wanting to get three points, striving for that, and we’re ready for it.”
Orlando’s next match is the club’s final home game of the season, against Gotham FC on Oct. 25.
Lemos to compete in skills challenge
Orlando midfielder Ally Lemos has been named a participant in the 2026 NWSL Skills Challenge, the league announced Thursday.
Part of the league’s 2026 NWSL Championship Week celebrations, the fourth NWSL Skills Challenge will take place Nov. 20 and feature three skills — Gauntlet, Breakaway Circuit and Precision Point — with a $35,000 prize pool, courtesy of CarMax. The live event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and will be nationally broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Nov. 28, at 2 p.m.
Lemos, 22, has appeared in all 27 matches for the Pride this season, with 24 starts. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft has three assists in 2026 and scored her first career NWSL goal Sept. 19 against Portland.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
