We're back with our first show of the 2026 calendar year and there's a lot to talk about. We start things off with the bad news: Emily Sams has played her last game with the Orlando Pride (barring some wacky future return). The Pride traded Sams — at her request — to Angel City, and even though the club got a pile of intraleague transfer funds in return, it just doesn't feel like enough. We discuss the disarray now prevalent in the center back position group with the Sams departure and Kylie Nadaner's pregnancy.

We also discussed two new arrivals who can play center back even though they should probably stick to fullback. The Pride brought in Hailie Mace and Hannah Anderson to help on the back line. Both are versatile, but neither is Sams at center back.

Our mailbagbox is a short one this time out, as we're asked if more Pride players will depart or arrive between now and the start of the season. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

After our mailbagbox, we spend slightly less time discussing Grace Chanda's departure than Chanda spent on the pitch for the Pride. That's a little bit of an exaggeration, but not as much of one as you'd think.

Finally, we discussed the big news: Orlando has found a new vice president of soccer operations and general manager to replace Haley Carter. Stepping into the role is former Kansas City Current GM Caitlin Carducci, who brings a wealth of experience in various disciplines to Orlando in much the same way Carter did. If it also makes the Current weaker, it's twice as good of a hire as it appears to be on the surface.

We're in our off-season schedule now, so we'll be back at least monthly, and as often as news requires.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 112 went down:

0:15 – Sams is gone, as we start the show on a down note for the second consecutive episode.

19:41 - Our mailbagbox seems nervous about players leaving.

28:05 - Grace Chanda departs but the Pride have a new GM, so perhaps a replacement on the roster won't be far away.

[Note: This episode was recorded Monday night, prior to the Pride signing Hailie Mace on Tuesday.]

The Orlando Pride are coming off back-to-back NWSL semifinal appearances, and much of the credit for that just walked out the door. Haley Carter is leaving her post as the club's vice president of soccer operations and sporting director to pursue other opportunities. It was not welcome news, as Carter has done well to help install the right kind of culture with the Pride — one that shows the utmost respect for the players and protects them from the kind of things that have given the NWSL a few black eyes over the years. Her legacy is turning Orlando into a place players want to play and turning a perennial doormat into one of the better clubs in the league, both on and off the pitch.

After our discussion about Carter's departure, we discussed Emily Sams playing for the USWNT in her club's home stadium and her thoughts on Carter's departure.

Our mailbagbox basically just wants to dunk on the Washington Spirit for this episode, but at least Washington got to the final game. That said, it probably hurts worse to lose a final than a semifinal, so...yeah. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

After our mailbagbox, we went through the Pride's end-of-season contract status update. Orlando has 23 players under contract for 2026 (24 with Tuesday's signing of Hailie Mace), and we tell you who is and isn't on the squad at the moment. There weren't a ton of surprises, but we will miss Carson Pickett's golazos and Simone Charley's fire.

We're in our off-season schedule now, so we'll be back at least monthly, and as often as news requires.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 111 went down:

0:15 – Haley Carter built a thing and then let it go, because if you love something, you set it free. Yeah, let's go with that.

11:53 - Our mailbagbox just wants the Washington Spirit to feel shame.

21:52 - All player contract statuses are accounted for. We wish Ally Watt good luck in Denver (except when she plays Orlando).

[Note: This episode was recorded Monday night, prior to the news late afternoon that Haley Carter is leaving the Pride's front office to pursue other opportunities. We will, rest assured, address that news on our next show.]

The Orlando Pride just couldn't score. The team played well against Gotham FC, particularly on the defensive end and in the middle of the pitch, but the team's inability to find a goal — coupled with a late set piece goal conceded off an iffy foul call just outside the area — ended Orlando's bid to repeat as NWSL champions. The game could have gone either way, but it went the wrong way. We break down the heartbreaking loss, check on our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match (we split the vote this time).

The Pride may also be on the move in terms of training location. We briefly discussed the club's intentions to put everyone at the same facility at Osceola Heritage Park, which would be a boost in the facilities arms race for Orlando.

Our mailbagbox wants to know if the NWSL will follow MLS in changing to a fall-to-spring schedule, if the Pride's attendance will keep going up, if Marta should become a super sub, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

After our mailbagbox, we briefly talked about Luana's new contract before going player by player through the Pride's roster and determine whether we think that player will stay for next season or go, and whether or not we want them to stay or go. Listen in real time as I struggle to remember who Kat Asman is, and as we forget Cosette Morche and Elyse Bennett completely. Yeah, we were not ready to do stays/goes yet.

We're in our off-season schedule now, so we'll be back at least monthly, and as often as news requires.

If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 110 went down:

0:15 – The Pride didn't score, so the Pride didn't win. It's as simple as that. But it's also not. The team played well apart from lacking goals.

20:28 - Our mailbagbox is searching for answers.

36:00 - Stays/goes time. We discuss contract situations and try to predict how the 2026 roster will shake out.