This week, the Orlando Pride named Yolanda Thomas its official fulltime head coach, making her the first Black female head coach in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history.
Since late August, Thomas was the team’s interim head coach after the Pride fired former head coach Seb Hines. Now she’s the franchise’s fulltime leader and a history maker for both the league and team.
“This is a deeply meaningful moment for me both professionally and personally,” said Thomas in a statement after her trailblazing appointment.
Orlando’s new head coach is originally from Sweden and played collegiately at Oklahoma State, where she was a 2x Big 12 Player of the Year, three-time NSCAA All-American and finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2009. From there, Thomas played professionally in the Damallsvenskan, Sweden’s top division.
After her pro career, she took up coaching, holding assistant coaching roles at Oklahoma St. and the University of Tulsa, and becoming the head coach at Rogers State University in Oklahoma.
From there, Thomas headed to the pro teams, holding leadership positions in Tulsa with the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). She led player development and helped guide the team to postseason appearances and conference titles, and in 2019, she was named WPSL Red River Conference Coach of the Year.
Her experience and success is what attracted the Pride, and are reasons why the team hired her as an assistant coach in 2023.
“She has already played an important role in the success this organization has achieved, and we are excited to see her lead the next chapter of the Pride,” said Mark Wilf, Orlando Pride Owner & Chairman.
“Yolanda has earned this opportunity through her expertise, tactical acumen, preparation and impact on our players and our club,” said Caitlin Carducci, Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations & General Manager. “She is an exceptional coach who understands the importance of culture and what people need in different moments, and she has earned the trust and respect of our players and staff through her work over the past several years.”
Thomas helped the team win its first-ever NWSL title in 2024, which was the city’s first-ever professional sports championship. Now, with a multi-year deal, she becomes the franchise’s fifth head coach in history.
“I am honored to lead a club that I care so deeply about and a group of players I believe in wholeheartedly. What we’ve built together over the last several seasons is just the beginning of something special,” said Thomas. “We have established a strong foundation and a championship standard, and I believe the potential of this club goes far beyond what we’ve already achieved. We see an opportunity for the Orlando Pride to become a global leader in women’s football, and I look forward to working with Caitlin and our entire program to help lead us there.”
