Yolanda Thomas is leading the Orlando Pride as interim head coach after the club parted ways with longtime coach Seb Hines. Thomas takes over with eight games remaining and the Orlando Pride’s playoff path still alive in Lake Mary, Fla.
Thomas has spent the past four seasons alongside the Orlando Pride group, first as an assistant coach and now in the interim head coach role. Her experience also includes serving as a player and head coach with the U.S. Women’s Youth National Team. The club believes that experience can help carry the team into the postseason in 2026.
“It feels like seven months,” Interim Head Coach Yolanda Thomas said of the last few days. “It’s been tough, but also thankful, surrounded by an incredible group of professional women in the players, but also staff and the front office and the Club as a whole.”
Orlando Pride support Thomas
Caitlin Carducci, the Orlando Pride’s vice president of soccer operations and general manager, said Thomas understands the players and what they need during the transition. Carducci also cited Thomas’ experience as a player, assistant coach and head coach in explaining the club’s confidence in her leadership.
“[She] is a fantastic coach, fantastic human, great ambassador for our club, and has been here, knows our players, and in this moment knows what they need, and not only what they need to manage, you know, and process the decision, but also to set them up for success as we finish out the season,” Caitlin Carducci said. “We have so much faith and belief in what Yolanda can do. Her experience, both as a player and as a coach, an assistant coach with us, an assistant and a head coach with the U.S. Women’s National Team. We know that she has what it takes to be successful.”
Haley McCutcheon, who has captained the Orlando Pride this season and has played more than 100 matches for Orlando, said Thomas and the coaching staff have helped the players process the change. McCutcheon said the staff has also quickly reinforced the team’s belief in what it can accomplish during the rest of the season.
“Yolanda and the rest of the coaching staff have done great to allow us to process whatever we’re feeling, but they’ve really already, in the short time we’ve had with them, instilled belief in us and in what we can do for the rest of the season.”
McCutcheon also praised Thomas’ communication and leadership style.
“She is extremely level-headed, extremely clear and direct, but in a loving way,” Haley McCutcheon said. “She’s warranted our respect, so she can say the hard things, and you really need that in a coach and in a leader. She likes to have fun. She allows us to have joy on the field and express ourselves and our special qualities. I can’t say enough good things about her.”
Playoff path remains alive
The Orlando Pride will face the Houston Dash on Sunday at 7 p.m. The source does not provide a calendar date or venue for the match. Thomas has asked the team to maintain its belief as it works through the final eight games.
“I told them that the heaviest lift I’m going to ask you to do is to dare to dream,” Thomas said. “If you can lift your eyes and dare to dream that we can get three points this week, then we can do it again next week.”
McCutcheon said the Orlando Pride will use the pressure surrounding the team as motivation. She said the players believe the group has the people in the building necessary to make the season successful.
“Yolanda has told us to dare to dream and that we can still make this season super successful,” McCutcheon said. “We have the players and the people in this building to do so. I think our backs are against the wall and people are counting us out even more than they already were. We can use that as fuel.”
Source: Original report