Trinity Rodman, Marta the Silva and Other Players to Watch at 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup

“New year, new Challenge Cup champion,” read the official post regarding the Orlando Pride taking on the Washington Spirit at the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup. While that statement certainly rings true, this upcoming Pride vs. Spirit contest is a grudge match. And what better way to kick off a brand-new season of soccer than a championship rematch? The NWSL certainly thought there isn’t one.

That’s why women’s soccer fans only had to till the off season ended before getting the rematch they’ve been waiting for since last season. After all, a single goal between the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit decided who became last year’s NWSL Champions. So as the NWSL Champions prepare to defend their pride and the Spirit aims to take the throne, here are the stars who you should watch out for on Friday.

The standouts representing the League Champions

The upcoming 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup clash isn’t just a rematch between two clubs, but one between the players as well. Stars from both teams will be facing one another for the first time since their NWSL Championship finals clash. Marta Vieira da Silva, or just Marta (As the official Orlando Pride website lists it) is among those familiar stars who lead the team from the midfield.

Despite an illustrious 25-year career behind her, Silva’s passion for the game has not waned one bit. “I still have this feeling, I wake up early in the morning and run 5 or 10k, because I want to be able to keep playing, do what I did last year and keep helping this club make history,” she told Orlando-Pride.com in January. So the Brazilian icon is bound to bring that intensity on March 7.

Thankfully, the NWSL Challenge Cup contender will have a familiar face to pass the ball in Barbra Banda. Another integral member of the Orlando Pride roster, Banda shared a spot on the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 with Marta Silva. As one of the two Pride players who earned the prestigious distinction, the forward from Zambia is always searching for the back of the net.

With a 100% penalty kick percentage, Banda will be one to watch when the two teams meet at the Challenge Cup. Meanwhile, Barbra Banda will have fellow forward Ally Watt for support. Who better to describe Watt’s impact on the team than Orlando’s VP of Soccer Operations, Haley Carter?

“Ally Watt has been an integral part of our team, bringing incredible pace, energy, and determination to the pitch,” the Sporting Director said. On March 4th, Watt and the team exercised her mutual option for 2026. The NWSL Challenge Cup contender scored three goals and four assists for Orlando last season. That doesn’t sound impressive, right? Here’s the kicker. She did in the only game she played.

So Ally Watt will definitely be a player to keep your eyes on. Finally, we come to the defensive side of the Orlando Pride. And it would be a huge miss not mentioning Emily Sams. Selected as the third overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, Sam has been a reliable defensive force to reckon with for the Pride. Look out for Sams to combine with Kylie Nadener and Carson Pickett to hold down the Washington Spirit’s offense. Talking about the Spirit, last year’s league runner-ups have stars of their own.

The other NWSL Challenge Cup contenders

Washington’s competitive spirit wasn’t enough for them to win last year’s NWSL Championship title. However, the 2025 Challenge Cup just gave them a chance at revenge. While winning the supercup won’t make them the new NWSL League champions, it’ll be a title victory over their rivals. Yet for that to happen, the Spirit’s stars will need to show up.

Thankfully, the team has no shortage of soccer standouts in their roster, either. First up is Trinity Rodman, a star who needs no introduction. Averaging 0.66 goal contributions per 90 minutes, Rodman’s highlight came as part of the USWNT roster at the Paris Olympics. Not only did she score for Team USA, but went all the way to the finals, beating Brazil to the gold medal.

And if you’re wondering whether Marta Silva was part of the Brazil squad Rodman helped beat, then the answer is yes. While we don’t know if history will repeat itself at the NWSL Challenge Cup, we know that Rodman will have Ashley Hatch beside her. A crucial part of Washington’s offense, Hatch surpassed the 50 career goals mark last year.

“I obviously love scoring goals, but most importantly, I love playing for this team,” Hatchy said after crossing the 50. That mentality remains the same as we head for the Challenge Cup. Next on the list of Washington’s stars is Tara McKeown. With 68 headed clearances and sporting an 86% passing accuracy last season, McKeown tends to show up in the big moments.

So the NWSL Challenge Cup should be the perfect moment for the defender to show her consistency. Last but certainly not the least is the Spirit’s last line of defense, Aubrey Kingsbury. Despite conceding the sole goal in the 2024 NWSL Championship match, Kingsbury was the reason the Spirit even made it to that final.

The Spirit goalkeeper was the hero of the semifinal, saving three consecutive penalty kicks during the shootout. Will the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup require similar heroics from Kingsbury and the other stars on this list? Only time will tell.