It’s nearly 10 a.m. on a sweltering morning in Sanford when Orlando Pride coach Becky Burleigh takes over on the team’s portable speaker.
Burleigh is quick to note that she’s only temporarily in charge of the music. Striker Sydney Leroux will soon take over deejay duties once she arrives several songs later, switching to something a little more current.
But for now, Burleigh sets the tone for training with a classic — “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.
The song’s effect is automatic. Brazilian star Marta doesn’t even wait to get her hair pulled up into a ponytail before whipping it around, somehow managing to belt out lyrics with her head halfway upside down.