By OkayGoal
The 2026 season has not been what the Orlando Pride were hoping for coming in. This prompted the club to spark some changes in the locker room, firing head coach Seb Hines after more than four years at that position.
With Hines’ position now vacant, the Pride needed a positive force to come in and serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. That’s when they turned to assistant coach Yolanda Thomas, someone the club is hoping can rejuvenate the team to close out this season, and carry momentum into the offseason.
The Playing Career before Coaching
Before dipping into the coaching waters, Thomas put together a respectable playing career. Growing up in Sweden, Thomas quickly became a name to watch, earning playing time with many of the Swedish youth national teams. This included the U-19 team at the UEFA Championships in 2002 and 2003.
Not long after, Thomas ended up in Stillwater, attending Oklahoma State on scholarship. There, she put together a great four seasons, scoring 35 goals across 86 games. Thomas racked up about as many accolades as you could ask for, ending up as a three-time All-American, as well as winning Big 12 Co-Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year once each.
Thomas’ senior career following college took her to two different clubs in Sweden, as well as to the USL W-League with the Jersey Sky Blues. Unfortunately, a back injury sustained in training halted Yolanda Thomas’ playing career suddenly– but as that door closed, the door to coaching opened wide.
Rising the Coaching Ranks in Oklahoma
Following the conclusion of her playing career, Thomas returned to Oklahoma. That is where she would spend more than a decade, starting at the University of Tulsa. There, she would serve as assistant coach for nearly three years, cementing herself in the coaching game.
Then, from 2018 to 2022, Yolanda Thomas would fully dive in the coaching game. She served as head coach for Fortuna Tulsa in the WPSL for all four years, as well as stints serving as head coach with Rogers State University and as the Director of Coaching at Tulsa Soccer Club.
Bringing Optimism to Orlando
Soon, it was time for Thomas’ biggest opportunity since starting coaching: the NWSL. She was brought on by Seb Hines as an assistant coach for Orlando in 2023, and since then, Thomas hasn’t looked back. She assisted in the Pride’s 2024 campaign, in which they ended the season with both an NWSL Championship and Shield in their hands.
Now following the dismissal of Hines, Thomas is tasked with getting the Pride back on track. Her first game as interim head coach couldn’t have gone much better, leading Orlando to a 3-1 win in Houston. Now there’s seven games left in the season, meaning Yolanda Thomas and the Pride have a chance to dare to be great.
With a strong finish to the season, Orlando could push to sneak into the playoffs. Maybe even more importantly though, Thomas could earn herself the head coach title again– but this time, without the interim tag in front of it.
Featured image via @yoknows99