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NWSL
Yolanda Thomas becomes the first Black woman to be named head coach in NWSL history after being promoted from her interim role at the Orlando Pride.
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The Orlando Pride have handed Yolanda Thomas the head coach role on a permanent basis, making her the first Black woman ever appointed to the position in the National Women's Soccer League.
Thomas, who joined the Pride in 2023, stepped into the interim role this season after Seb Hines departed in August. She had previously served as an assistant on the staff that guided Orlando to the 2024 NWSL championship, as AP News reports.
Thomas's CV speaks for itself. A former player at Oklahoma State who also plied her trade professionally in Sweden, she transitioned into coaching with stints as head coach at Rogers State in Oklahoma and with a Women's Premier Soccer League side in Tulsa. She has also coached the US women's under-23 team.
Orlando's 2026 campaign ended in disappointment, with an 11-16-3 record leaving them outside the playoff picture. Yet club owner Mark Wilf insisted Thomas's leadership and experience made her the standout candidate to take the team forward.
Thomas herself spoke of the honour of leading the Pride, expressing confidence in both the squad and the club's broader potential.
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Eva Hernández, Editor-in-Chief
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