Orlando Pride fire Seb Hines, name Yolanda Thomas interim coach

The Orlando Pride parted ways with head coach Seb Hines, effective immediately, the club announced Monday. Assistant coach Yolanda Thomas has been named interim head coach, while goalkeeper coach Paul Crichton is also leaving the club.

In announcing the move, Pride vice president of soccer operations and general manager Caitlin Carducci said the club believed it was “the appropriate time for a leadership change” as it looks toward its long-term objectives.

Hines was promoted to the permanent job in November 2022 after first serving as Orlando’s interim coach. He led the Pride to the most successful season in club history in 2024, when Orlando won its first NWSL Shield and first NWSL Championship.

But the team’s results had declined since then. Orlando went 12-8-9 in 2025 and was 8-2-12 through Aug. 31, 2026. The Pride averaged 2.25 points per match in 2024, 1.52 in 2025 and 1.18 through Aug. 31 this season, according to NWSL analytics data covering completed matches with expected-goals coverage.

Thomas joined the Pride as an assistant coach ahead of the 2023 season. She also served as head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Women’s Youth National Team during two camps in 2025.

Thomas will take charge for the first time Sunday against the Houston Dash, with Orlando beginning the final stretch of the season five points behind eighth-place Seattle in the playoff race.