Goalkeeper and forward join as Pride Brazilian duo depart for FIFA Women’s World Cup
ORLANDO, Fla. – With forwards Marta and Adriana being named to Brazil’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster, the Orlando Pride have signed forward Maliah Morris and goalkeeper McKinley Crone to National Team Replacement Player contracts. The pair will occupy roster spaces for the Pride during the international stretch, with both available for selection starting with Orlando’s midweek Challenge Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Wednesday, June 28.
“Maliah and Mac have been putting in a tremendous amount of work this season and we are proud to see their hard work rewarded with these contracts,” Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said. “We’re excited for Maliah to add another element to our attack, while Mac will continue pushing our goalkeeping corps as she has done since joining us in preseason.”
Morris re-joins the Pride after having signed as an Injury Replacement Player earlier in the season. Over that span, Morris made two appearances during the UKG Challenge Cup, totaling 48 minutes. A graduate of Clemson University, Morris was named 2022-23 All-ACC Academic Team, 2022 Third Team All-ACC, 2022-21 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Atlantic Region, and was twice named ACC Offensive Player of the Week.
Crone has been training with the Pride throughout the season, now earning her first professional contract. A native of Maitland, Fla., Crone finished her career at the University of Alabama as the NCAA record holder in career goalkeeping minutes (9519.77) and the school’s all-time leader single-season wins (10) and shutouts (23), as well as career wins (41). Crone played the first two years of her career at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to Tuscaloosa.
The Pride return to action on Wednesday, June 28 against NJ/NY Gotham FC in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff, with tickets available at Orlando-Pride.com/tickets.
TRANSACTION: Orlando Pride sign forward Maliah Morris and goalkeeper McKinley Crone as National Team Replacement Players.
Maliah Morris (muh-LEE-uh)
Number: 36
Position: Forward
Height: 5-5
Born: Dec. 31, 2000 in Germantown, Md.
Hometown: Germantown, Md.
Citizenship: USA
McKinley Crone (muh-KIN-lee chrone)
Number: 40
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-7
Born: October 20, 1998 in Maitland, Fla.
Hometown: Maitland, Fla.
Citizenship: USA
