Orlando Pride explains what makes Emily Sams so special | OneFootball

So what does Emily Sams mean to the Orlando Pride? It must be something special because she just signed a contract extension.

Defender Emily Sams signed a contract extension through 2027 with the Orlando Pride. This follows an outstanding 2024 season that earned her the honor of NWSL Defender of the Year.

She also got her first U.S. Women’s National Team cap.

But to get a contract extension, Emily Sams has to mean something extraordinary to the team – even more extraordinary than her best season yet in the NWSL.

The club saw something special in Sams even before her first minutes on the Orlando Pride pitch. They drafted her third in the 2023 NWSL draft.  Haley Carter, Pride Vice President and Sporting Director, said she means so much that signing the extension represents a club milestone.

Beyond her ability as a professional defender, Carter explained that Sams can read the game as each match evolves. Her presence among the squad helps drive the team culture. She is part of the reason that the entire organization understands its mission to represent the club and the community.

Sams is the first Pride player to win league Defender of the Year. In addition, she is among Pride squad members named to NWSL’s First Team Best XI. She won the monthly edition of that award in May, Sept., and Oct./Nov.

Nov 8, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams (6) and Chicago Stars forward Mallory Swanson (9) battle for the ball in the second half in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs quarterfinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

During the regular season, she played in all but one Pride match. She started 24 games including a league-record 13 shutouts and achieving 554 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal.

She finished the 2024 season ranking second in the league with 163 recoveries. She led her club in possessions in the defensive third with 108, 76 clearances and 16 blocks.

The Orlando Pride squad brought the city their first major league championship. They also won the NWSL Shield.

All Orlando Pride players achieved something extraordinary in 2024. Defender Emily Sams, with her performance and contributions beyond statistics, will help make the upcoming seasons special too.