Barbra Banda, the captain of the Copper Queens and a striker for the Orlando Pride, has suffered a full thickness avulsion of her right tendon and will miss the entire season, the team said on Saturday.
The incident happened during the club’s recent match against Kansas City Current according to Haley Carter, Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director.
When the right adductor longus tendon is fully pulled away from its attachment site, it is referred to as a full-thickness avulsion.
“Barbra Banda suffered a soft-tissue injury during our recent match against Kansas City Current,” said Carter.
Banda will work with the Pride’s medical team and partners at Orlando Health to put together a recovery and rehabilitation program.
“Barbra has been instrumental to our success and losing a player of her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization. Her contributions to this team both on and off the field have been immeasurable, and we know she will approach her rehabilitation with the same determination and professionalism she brings to everything she does.”
The 2024 NWSL Championship MVP recently earned her second Ballon d’Or nomination.
She was also a finalist for the overall NWSL MVP award in 2024 and 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team honors.
Banda will miss the Copper Queens’ match against Namibia in the final round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers in October.
This match is also part of the qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
