Orlando Pride signs Australian international Alanna Kennedy to a new contract. Per team and league policies, terms of the contract were not announced.
“After playing such an important role in our success last year, we’re absolutely delighted to bring Alanna back for the upcoming season,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “Alanna is the type of player who can change a game and whose versatility will, again, be extremely valuable for our squad. We wish her the best of luck in her upcoming matches with Australia and can’t wait to have her back with us in Orlando.”
Kennedy, 23, appeared in all 25 matches in her first season with the Pride, becoming a staple in the midfield and leading the team to the NWSL Playoffs in 2017. Selected to the NWSL Team of the Month in September and an NWSL Goal of the Week winner, Kennedy contributed to the offense significantly, scoring five goals, including Orlando’s lone goal in the NWSL semifinal.
Prior to becoming a member of the Pride, Kennedy spent her first NWSL season with the former Western New York Flash, appearing in 15 matches and leading the team to the 2016 NWSL Championship title.
In addition to her two seasons in the United States, Kennedy has spent a significant amount of time playing in her home country of Australia for several teams in the W-League. Her accomplishments include being named Sydney FC Player of the Year in 2016, appearing in the Premiership and Grand Final as a member of the Perth Glory in 2014 and winning the W-League Championship in 2013 with Sydney FC. Most recently, Kennedy helped lead Melbourne City FC to the 2017-18 W-League Championship, the team’s third straight title win.
As a member of the Australia national team, Kennedy played in both the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals in both tournaments. Kennedy earned her first national team call-up for the Matildas under Sermanni in 2012. Since then, Kennedy has remained a regular member of the team and is currently competing with the team in the 2018 Algarve Cup in Portugal. In the 2017 Tournament of Nations, which Australia won, Kennedy helped the Matildas beat No. 1 U.S.A. and then-ranked No. 6 Japan and No. 8 Brazil.
Kennedy, as well as teammate Emily van Egmond, will join the Pride following the conclusion of Australia’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying, which runs April 6-20 in Jordan.