The Orlando Pride have secured another one of their key contributors from last season’s high-powered offense for seasons to come.
Tuesday afternoon, the Pride announced it signed Australian midfielder Alanna Kennedy to a new contract. Terms of the contract were not released, per team and league policies.
“After playing such an important role in our success last year, we’re absolutely delighted to bring Alanna back for the upcoming season,” Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said, per the team’s press release. “Alanna is the type of player who can change a game and whose versatility will, again, be extremely valuable for our squad.
“We wish her the best of luck in her upcoming matches with Australia and can’t wait to have her back with us in Orlando.”
The 23-year-old Kennedy appeared in all 25 matches for Orlando last season and made a significant impact on the offensive side of the ball, scoring five goals, including Orlando’s only goal in the National Women’s Soccer League semifinal loss to Portland Thorns FC.
Kennedy was also selected to the NWSL Team of the Month in September and earned NWSL Goal of the Week honors with a game-winner in the regular-season finale to solidify the No. 3 seed in the NWSL playoffs.
Kennedy earned her first Australian women’s national team call-up in 2012 and, since then, has remained a regular on the team. She played in both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals in both tournaments.
She is currently with the Matildas, competing in the 2018 Algarve Cup in Portugal.
Before joining Orlando, Kennedy spent her first NWSL season with former NWSL side Western New York Flash, starting all 15 of her appearances and helping lead the team to win the 2016 NWSL Championship.
Kennedy, as well as fellow Australian teammate Emily van Egmond, will join the Pride this season following the conclusion of Australia’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in mid-April.
For more on the Pride, as they prepare for their season opener on March 24, follow Sarah Kelliher on Twitter at @sarahkelliher4.
