We're in our off-season podcast schedule, which means things can be a bit unpredictable, except that you'll get a new show at least monthly before the season starts back up. We didn't have a ton of news, but circumstances warranted an episode, because we're about to lose one of our favorite people.

After we discussed Orlando's signing Monday afternoon of Wake Forest defender Zara Chavoshi, the first rookie signed since the NWSL did away with the draft, we have a special guest. Longtime Orlando City/Orlando Pride Director of Communications Jackie Maynard is leaving the club after nine seasons to take on a new challenge. She's going out a champion, but she's always been one in our book, as she's been one of the best PR people on the MLS or NWSL side for years. She has set up so many of our interviews over the years and listened in on them, so it was only right that we let her take the microphone for herself before she leaves the City Beautiful.

Jackie discusses her career in Orlando, how the club and women's soccer have evolved in her time here, some of the crazy, behind-the-scenes stuff she's had to deal with on the road, and much more. Big thanks to Jackie for all her help through the years and our deepest wishes for success in the next step of the journey, which she is not at liberty to discuss publicly just yet as of this writing, but it's a nice gig and we're happy for her.

After our chat with Jackie, we dive into our mailbagbox, which asks us what position group we'd most like the Pride to address this off-season and makes us pick an over/under on Orlando goals in 2025. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

After the mailbagbox, we discuss the Pride re-signing team captain Marta for two more seasons. As the Brazilian soccer icon prepares for her 39th birthday, she also readies herself for the first season of a new two-year deal with Orlando that will likely see out her illustrious playing career. Marta was remarkable in 2024, helping her team win two trophies, and if she can keep playing at that level, she's welcome here for as long as she likes.

Here’s how Episode 73 went down:

0:15 – The Pride add their first rookie since the NWSL dropped the draft. Welcome to Orlando, Zara Chavoshi!

8:14 – Jackie Maynard jumps on with us to discuss her nine-year career with Orlando City SC/Orlando Pride and we can't thank her enough for her time on this show and her help throughout the years.

33:47 - We open up the mailbagbox and then discuss Marta's return for two more seasons with Orlando.

Still basking in the glow of an NWSL Championship, we reconvene this week without a match to recap and little news to share. However, there was one development over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, as defender Carrie Lawrence announced her retirement from the game on Black Friday. We discuss what Carrie's retirement means for the Pride.

After the brief Pride news portion of the show, we dive straight into our mailbagbox, which is much shorter this week. During this poetic edition of the mailbagbox, we answer questions about whether we can imagine sitting next to one of our regular listeners at an NWSL Championship and if Marta could have an opportunity to right a wrong. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

After the mailbagbox, it's our annual "Stays/Goes" segment, in which we go through the entire Orlando Pride roster, looking at each player's contract situation and trying to determine which players we expect to be in purple again next season (and which ones will move on). Haley Carter and company will want to build on the best season in league history, so there are bound to be a few more departures if the club can lure even more talent to Central Florida.

Here’s how Episode 72 went down:

0:15 – Carrie Lawrence calls it a career and our mailbagbox is much more manageable this week.

20:11 – Our annual Orlando Pride roster review and projections for 2025.

Wow. As we get ready to enjoy a holiday weekend with our loved ones, the Orlando Pride have given us so much more to be thankful for this year. The Pride went to Kansas City, withstood a furious challenge from the Washington Spirit, played their usual solid defense, and captured a 1-0 win in the 2024 NWSL Championship. If the Kansas City Current and their fans thought the Pride celebrated on their field back in July, they hadn't seen anything yet.

We discuss the Pride's win over Washington, the valiant fight the other team showed, the controversy before the game's only goal, some of the remarks the Spirit made in the aftermath, and much more. We checked back on our score predictions and made our selections for Player of the Match.

After our match rewind, we opened up our mailbagbox, which was busting at the seams. Much of that came from one extremely enthusiastic listener, but we're not mad about it. We may have to break up a block of questions that big across multiple episodes in the future, but we were in a celebratory mood and answered each one. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.

After the mailbagbox, we discussed Megan Montefusco and Celia closing their careers as champions, got a quick word from Mark Wilf, the Pride's owner and chairman, and hit the high points of the team's celebration in front of City Hall in downtown Orlando on Monday.

This episode is a long one, so buckle up. Listen to it in smaller chunks if it helps.

Here’s how Episode 71 went down:

0:45 – Orlando didn't play its best (and credit much of that to Washington), but the Pride got their moment of Barbra Banda brilliance and won their first NWSL Championship.

29:39 – The mailbagbox is ridiculously full this week.

1:19:09 – Pride retirements, highlights from the Pride's victory parade and celebration, a word from owner/chairman Mark Wilf, and more.