This October, the Orlando City soccer team was faced with another grand addition that rallied even more fans with a new team devoted to women’s soccer. Many fans are impatiently waiting for the first game the new team will have, which will be held at Orlando Stadium in 2016.

Though the games will be held in 2016, the players are already being drafted into the team. The team will consist of some of the best players in the United States including Alex Morgan, Kalyn Kyle, and Sarah Hagen, all impressive players with a passion for the game. Morgan, who had joined legendary striker Mia Hamm as the only two American women to record 20 goals and 20 assists in the same calendar year, is expected to be the star of the field. Also, being named as the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year finalist, Morgan is expected to become a strong player and leader for the City team. Kyle helped guide her home country Canada, to an appearance in the quarterfinals in this year’s FIFA World Cup; also, new teammate Hagen signed with Orlando Pride after spending the past two seasons with FC Kansas City.

Along with fresh female players came Coach Tom Sermanni, who boasts an extensive and remarkable coaching resume in women’s professional soccer. As a player, he had over 300 professional games and 57 goals over a 16-year span for clubs in his native Scotland, England, Australia and New Zealand. As a coach, Sermanni spent much of his early career in Australia, taking the helm of the Australian Women’s National Team for the first time from 1994-1996. With Coach Sermanni as another addition to the Orlando City Soccer Club is expected to bring more attraction to Orlando.

With this upcoming craze to the franchise, the city of Orlando will see a significant increase in economic revenue. Already the team makes close to 3 million dollars, and has been increasing ever more with more with the signings of players to the team, and pre-game merchandise being sold.

Many students here at Winter Springs are excited for this new opportunity such as Sophomore Ana Grecko who said, “Having a woman team will definitely be fun. There are not tons of teams in any sport that are women teams, so it’s a big deal.”
Grecko plans to be there when the Orlando Women’s Soccer team charges the field. This new addition to the Orlando Pride team will most definitely bring economic value to the city of Orlando; more importantly however, it will bring a new refreshed spirit and love for the game itself.