Amid her NWSL debut Saturday on the sidelines of WakeMed Soccer Park, Orlando Pride interim coach Becky Burleigh still was figuring out a few things — substitutions, to be specific.
In her 26 years of coaching the Florida Gators, Burleigh always was allowed unlimited substitutes under NCAA rules. Now she was a little turned around.
Goalkeeper coach Lloyd Yaxley had just explained she had three changes, but Burleigh swore the NWSL allowed five substitutes. It took a few moments for the pair to get on the same page, with Yaxley explaining that five substitutes are allowed at three change points in the match.