Orlando Pride will host its first match in the Club’s new downtown soccer stadium on Saturday, April 22, against the Washington Spirit. The match against the 2016 NWSL runner-up will kickoff at 4 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.

The Pride begin their campaign one day shy of the anniversary of its inaugural home match, when the expansion side broke the league’s single-game attendance record with 23,403 fans at the former Orlando Citrus Bowl. This year, the Club will look to break its own benchmark and fill the 25,500-seat venue.

The match will mark the first time Orlando defender Ali Krieger faces her former team after being acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Spirit on Nov. 2, 2016. Krieger will join returning players, including Ashlyn Harris, Kristen Edmonds and Jasmyne Spencer, as well as fresh faces Alanna Kennedy, Camila and Chioma Ubogagu.

The home opener comes a week after the Pride open the 2017 NWSL season on the road, traveling to face Portland Thorns FC on Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m. ET.

The Week One match will mark the debut NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime, when Orlando travels to face the 2016 NWSL Shield winners.

It will be the second straight season the Pride travel to the Rose City for the season opener. Thorns FC hosted Orlando for its first-ever NWSL game on April 17, 2016, when Steph Catley scored the first goal in Club history in the 12th minute.

Through the NWSL’s partnership with A+E Networks, Lifetime will broadcast an NWSL Game of the Week every Saturday to provide fans throughout the country the opportunity to watch some of the best players in the world. A 30-minute pregame show will kick off each weekly broadcast.

The NWSL will play a 24-game regular season schedule and compete in a single table, with the teams each playing 12 home and 12 away games.

Single-game ticket information and remaining kickoff times will be announced at a later date.

Information provided and article written by Orlando City Soccer Communications Department.