The Orlando Pride continued to strengthen their backline with the addition of New Zealand national team defender Ali Riley.
Orlando Pride general manager Erik Ustruck said the team initially targeted Riley in 2019, but was unable to make a deal with her previous club of FC Bayern Munich in Germany. The addition of allocation money to the NWSL this year allowed the Pride to strike a deal, Ustruck said.
After being acquired through allocation money, the defender will join the Pride on a one-year contract with an additional one-year option. As a native of Los Angeles, Calif.