Orlando Pride’s leading scorer, Bar Brabanda misses the rest of the national women’s soccer league season with a hip injury.
Pride announced on Saturday that Banda had maintained “full thickness detachment of her right adductor longus tendon.” In other words, the tendons were completely separated from the bone.
Zambia International’s Banda was injured during a Pride match against Kansas City Current on August 16th. She scored eight goals this season.
Banda was named the most valuable player in the NWSL Championship Game last year, scoring his only goal in a pride victory over the Washington Spirit. She had 17 goals last season.
“Barbra has contributed to our success and losing a player in her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization,” Orlando’s vice president of soccer operations and sports director Haley Carter said in a statement. “We know she’ll approach her rehabilitation with the same determination and professionalism that she brings to everything she does.”
Barondo nominee Banda has been playing for Zambia’s national team since 2016. She had hat-tricks at the Tokyo Olympics and at the Paris Games last year. In 2024, she was named African Women’s Player of the Year and BBC Women’s Football Player.
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