BARBRA BANDA COMMITS FUTURE TO ORLANDO PRIDE WITH NEW DEAL THROUGH 2029
14.09.2026 | Football DNA
Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda has committed her long-term future to Orlando Pride after signing a new contract that will keep her at the NWSL club through the 2029 season.
Orlando Pride announced on Monday that the new agreement had secured the services of one of the club’s most influential players for the next three seasons.
Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf described Banda as a transformational player whose influence went beyond her goals. He said the Zambian international represented the ambition, excellence and winning culture the club wanted to maintain, adding that securing her future demonstrated Orlando’s commitment to competing for championships.
Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Caitlin Carducci also described Banda as a cornerstone of the club’s project. She said the forward had made an extraordinary impact since arriving in Orlando and that her decision to extend her stay reflected the culture and ambition established at the club.
Banda expressed her delight at extending her stay, thanking her teammates, coaches, staff and supporters for their continued backing. She said Orlando had become a special place for her and that she was looking forward to helping the club compete for more trophies.
Banda's remarkable Orlando Pride journey
The 26-year-old joined Orlando Pride in March 2024 and immediately established herself as one of the NWSL's leading forwards.
During her debut campaign, Banda recorded 13 goals and six assists in the regular season, before adding four goals in the playoffs. She scored the match-winning goal in the 2024 NWSL Championship Final and was named Championship MVP as Orlando completed the NWSL Shield and Championship double.
She followed that up with eight goals in 16 regular-season appearances in 2025 despite spending time on the sidelines through injury.
Banda has taken her performances to another level in 2026, scoring a club-record 16 goals across all competitions, while adding three assists. The tally surpassed the previous Orlando Pride single-season record of 13.
Across her three seasons with the club, the Zambia captain has now registered an impressive 41 goals and 11 assists in 62 appearances across all competitions.
Flying the Zambian flag
Banda has continued to deliver for the Copper Queens on the international stage. At the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, she finished as Zambia's leading scorer with five goals and one assist in three matches.
Her performances for club and country have earned her international recognition, including the 2024 BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award, two consecutive selections in the FIFPRO Women's World 11, and a third consecutive Women's Ballon d'Or nomination in 2026.
Before moving to the United States, Banda starred for Chinese side Shanghai Shengli, where she scored 41 goals in 52 appearances.
With her future now secured through 2029, Orlando Pride will continue to build around the Copper Queens skipper as they pursue further domestic honours.
For Zambia, the new contract represents another major milestone for one of the country's biggest football exports.
Congratulations, Captain Fantastic!
Comments