Why NWSL champion Orlando Pride brought in new netminder | OneFootball

NWSL champion Orlando Pride has been stellar in the goalkeeping area. Anna Moorhouse will be in charge of mentoring the netminder just signed by the team. She’s Katherine Asman.

Asman comes to the Pride from the Portland Thorns, where she was selected in the third round of the 2024 NWSL draft – 39th overall pick.  Before the draft, she filled out a lot of her resume while playing for Penn State.

She’s signed through 2026.

She is one of just four women to win at least 50 matches for Penn State. She won 27 shutouts in 87 matches. She has 323 career college saves, where she started all four years.

Internationally, she’s been in training camps while rostered in USWNT youth levels from U-14 to U-18.

While the Pride is well-covered in their nets, the team plans to work Kat Asman into service very soon, said Haley Carter, Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director. She explained that the new goalkeeper will be given the tools and opportunity for growth. But she added that the player will have an important role in the upcoming season.

Nov 23, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse (1) makes a save against the Washington Spirit during the second half in the 2024 NWSL Championship match at CPKC Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

This season – their greatest ever – was anchored by the solid performance of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse. So reaching to their goalkeeper of the future doesn’t mean replacing the great netminder they have in Moorhouse.

Instead, this means that as great as the Orlando Pride has become, they intend to become even greater. Exposing Kat Asman to Anna Moorhouse means she will become the apprentice of one of the finest NWSL has ever seen.

At the same time, Anna Moorhouse will be exposed to Kat Asman. Carter intends this to bring an atmosphere of healthy competition to the club. Iron sharpens iron. What Asman develops will help Moorhouse stay sharp and even continue her development.

The Orlando Pride is the greatest team in the NWSL for 2024. Sharpening further means the team will be the greatest in 2025 and maybe even longer.