NWSL News

Pickett Happy to Find Her Way Back to Orlando

Orlando Pride Announces Amanda Cromwell and Sam Greene Placed on Administrative Leave

August 27, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Orlando Pride News Release

You can say goodbye, and you can say hello, but you’ll always find your way back home.

This past weekend, defender Carson Pickett marked her return to the Orlando Pride, coming into the match against the Houston Dash in the 61st minute. It was a moment that felt like a homecoming for the Florida native, who played for the club in the 2018 and 2019 seasons before leaving in 2021. The veteran defender, who has spent the last few years with the North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville, joins a Pride organization that has seen a wholesale amount of changes since she was last playing in the City Beautiful five years ago.

“It’s definitely a bizarre feeling to be back,” Pickett said to Orlando-Pride.com. “But like I’ve said to so many people, it feels like such a new club. Everything has changed so much, and it feels like I’m joining a new team altogether.”

Since Pickett left, Head Coach Seb Hines and General Manager Haley Carter have worked to transform the Club, both on and off the field, breaking league records en route to an 18-game unbeaten streak. Pickett spent some time with Hines as her assistant coach in Orlando and got to know his process early in his coaching career. Now, coming back to see that in action, it’s a special full-circle moment for her.

“I think that Seb, him and Haley, have done so much to change this club, and it’s obviously showing on the field,” Pickett said. “I think it shows off the field because I think a lot of times the best teams aren’t always the best soccer teams, but it has the best culture.” ‚¬â€¹

“I felt like the second I walked in, I felt like the girls just were opening their arms to me, and it’s a great feeling knowing that you’re stepping into such an amazing culture with all that they’re doing here.”

The FSU grad’s return comes at a pivotal time for the Pride, midway through the team’s best season in club history as they look to compete for a trophy at the end of the season. Having won trophies with the Courage back in 2021 and 2022, Pickett brings much-needed championship experience to a still very young Pride squad, which she hopes to help get over the line in the final nine games and beyond into the playoffs.

“The league is getting younger, and you see amazing young talents coming through, but successful rosters have a mix of younger, middle-aged, and veteran players,” she said. “I think it’s important to have veterans…

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