Celia Balf

<p>Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was named 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year, announced on Thursday at the league's Media Day. Sams becomes the first player in Pride history to earn this award.</p><p>Sams helped the Pride win the 2024 NWSL Shield by only conceding 20 goals, tied for fewest in the league. Sams was an anchor in the backline helping the team post 13 shutouts. Sams, a native of Boise Idaho, doesn't just make tough tackles, she also has a vision to play out and recorded an 88.18 percent passing accuracy, the best among Orlando Pride defenders.</p><p>The Pride will compete against the Washington Spirit on Saturday, November 30 for the 2024 NWSL Championship.</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="mobile-advert">{"type":"mobile-advert","data":{}}</script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Soak it all in, Emily Sams 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/mstWavL4eq">pic.twitter.com/mstWavL4eq</a></p>— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1859757231753060617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Orlando Pride's Emily Sams wins 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year

Orlando Pride's Emily Sams wins 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year | INDIVISA

Emily Sams becomes first player on the Pride to win the NWSL Defender of the Year award