The San Diego Wave hope to continue on their hot streak to start the 2023 season as the team, led by head coach Casey Stoney, takes on the winless Orlando Pride on Saturday, April 29 at Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave has won four of its first five matches including a 1-0 victory over NWSL defending champion Portland Thorns on April 19 in the Challenge Cup opener and is coming off a convincing 2-0 road win against Angel City FC on April 23.

“I think our results have been good, which is amazing for us. I think we can play much better than we have been, said Stoney. “I think our performances with the ball can be a lot better. I think we’ve been quite sound defensively, and that needs to continue.”

Orlando Pride is still winless this season after four games and has a -9 goal-differential over that period including a 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Current in their most recent match. In 2022, the Pride went undefeated versus San Diego Wave after a 1-0 victory on Aug. 13 at Torero Stadium followed by a 2-2 draw on Sept. 25 in Orlando.

“Yeah, obviously, Orlando last year proved a challenge for us, so we will be going in with the mindset of, first and foremost, obviously trying to get the three points,” said midfielder Emily van Egmond.

“We are at home. We want to make a statement just looking to nullify a lot of their attacking ability.” Van Egmond played for Orlando in 2021 alongside current teammates Alex Morgan and Taylor Kornieck before arriving in San Diego last season. The Wave currently sits tied for second place in the standings and will head off on a three-game road trip against the Washington Spirit, Kansas City Current, and Houston Dash after the game on Saturday with the next match at Snapdragon Stadium on May 26 versus Portland.

Player to watch: Marta

The Brazilian national team star is regarded as one of the greatest female footballers of all time. She has been named FIFA World Player of the Year six times, five of them being consecutive from 2006 through 2010 with the latest award coming in 2018. Ahead of the 2022 season, Marta was named captain of the Orlando Pride following the off-season departure of Ashlyn Harris. She suffered an ACL tear in her left knee on March 26 during the second game of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup and was placed on the club’s season-ending injury list. She has played three matches so far in 2023.