Carson Pickett, Angelina, and Marta scored to help the Orlando Pride secure a victory against Houston, maintaining their unbeaten status. The Pride (16-0-6, 54 points) have not lost in a league-record 23 consecutive matches, a streak that began with last year’s season finale.
Yuki Nagasato netted a goal for Houston (4-13-5, 17 points), which has now fallen to last place in the 14-team league. Pickett opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a goal set up by a long cross from Cori Dyke. Orlando doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Angelina delivered a right-footed shot from outside the box into the top left corner, marking her second goal of the season.
Houston reduced the deficit just two minutes later, as Nagasato scored her second goal of the season with a left-footed shot into the right corner of the net.
In another match, Mya Jones and Melanie Barcenas scored to lead San Diego to a win over Portland. Jones found the net in the 69th minute, followed by Barcenas five minutes later, helping the Wave (5-10-7, 22 points) secure their second victory in three matches. Kailen Sheridan recorded her sixth shutout of the season with six saves.
Christine Sinclair, a star player for Portland, received a warm ovation when she exited in the 82nd minute. The six-time Canadian World Cup participant announced her retirement at the end of the season. The four-time Olympian and three-time NWSL champion, now 41, witnessed Portland (8-10-4, 28 points) drop to 0-5-1 in their last six matches, with Mackenzie Arnold making two saves.
In other action, Ana Tejada scored the only goal in the 78th minute, lifting the Utah Royals to a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC in Sandy, Utah. Tejada sent a booming shot into the left corner of the net after a quick exchange with Claudia Zornoza, ending a three-match losing streak for the Royals (5-14-3, 18 points) and moving them out of the NWSL basement. Katie Lund had four saves for Louisville (6-9-7, 25 points), snapping their two-match winning streak.
