Once again, the NWSL season kicked off with the Challenge Cup: one game, two contenders, one trophy. A must-watch clash. On March 7— just a week before the 2025 season opener— Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit renewed their rivalry in a highstakes rematch broadcast on Prime Video.
The matchup was more than an appetizer. It was a preview of the battles ahead.
Orlando, the defending champions, took the field looking to reaffirm their supremacy. Washington came determined to challenge it.
Orlando Pride are coming off one of the great campaigns in league history— just two losses in 26 games, a Shield- Championship double, and a first-ever NWSL title.
Marta, at 38, turned back the clock with a vintage season, while Barbra Banda— hailed by USWNT coach Emma Hayes as“ the best striker in the world”— proved unstoppable up front.
Head coach Seb Hines has now added Spanish World Cup winner Oihane Hernández to a defense that was already the best in the league.
Washington Spirit, meanwhile, enter 2025 looking to cement themselves as a true powerhouse. Trinity Rodman is expected back after a nagging back injury kept her out of several USWNT camps.
The Spirit also reloaded with key signings: Japan midfielder Narumi Miura and Mexico captain Rebeca Bernal add both quality and leadership.
Both clubs reloaded, adjusted, and prepared for new challenges in the 2025 and the Challenge Cup posed the big questions:
Will Orlando’ s dominance carry over into 2025? Can Washington finally break through and capture silverware? Does Orlando have the depth and edge to defend their crown?
Because the Cup isn’ t just about a trophy— it’ s about sending a message.
The last time these two sides met, the stakes couldn’ t have been higher: the 2024 NWSL Championship.
That night, Barbra Banda’ s first-half strike— a flash of individual brilliance— delivered a 1x0 win, crowning the Pride as champions and sealing their historic double.
For Orlando, it was a culmination. Most points, most wins, most clean sheets, and now, the ultimate prize.
For Washington, it was heartbreak. One goal short of forcing penalties, one moment away from their second title since 2021.
That unfinished business lingered. The Challenge Cup gave the Spirit a shot at redemption— and they arrived in Orlando hungry.
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