Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda scored the opener as Orlando Pride beat Chicago Stars 3-0. Banda has now scored in all the opening three games of the 2026 NWSL season.
The Zambian international put Orlando Pride in the lead 13 minutes into the match after Ally Lemos poked the ball into her path, Banda beat a defender before slotting the ball past the experienced Alyssa Naeher.
Lisbeth Jacqueline Ovalle doubled the lead nine minutes later as scored with a fancy backheel flick to double the lead after getting on the end of a Solai Washington cross.
It was all Orlando Pride in the first half and Hannah Anderson made it 3-0 with a close range finish off an Ovalle well taken corner kick to open her scoring account for the Pride.
The Pride were still pushing for more goals and Banda forced Naeher into a brilliant save after unleashing a powerful strike from outside the area.
In the second half the Pride kept pushing and came close with Haley McCutcheon hitting the close bar.
Banda came close again with her header going wide after she rose highest to meet an Ovalle well taken free kick.
Banda was later withdrawn in the 82nd minute for Marta. The Brazilian had a chance to score the Pride’s fourth goal but her backheal finish was blocked in the final minutes of the match.
The win is the Pride’s first of the season and takes them to four points and moves them to sixth on the log table.
Excellent!