Nicole Payne scored her first professional goal on her full debut for Orlando Pride, helping the club secure a 1-0 victory over San Diego Wave in their NWSL clash at Snapdragon Stadium on Monday.
The Nigerian International recently returned to action after a 439-day absence due to an ACL tear she sustained in February 2025. She returned to the pitch on May 2nd, 2026, featuring for 24 minutes in a 4-2 loss to Washington Spirit.
She came off the bench once again in a 3-1 loss to Denver Summit, featuring for the entire second half. However, in her first start for the club, Orlando Pride returned to winning ways, ending a two-game losing streak.
Nicole Payne’s winning goal came on the brink of half-time. After a long ball was not cleared properly, the ball fell to the 25-year-old who made no mistake. She settled herself just outside the box, before firing the ball into the bottom corner, making it 1-0.
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It marked a special moment for the former PSG player, who was visibly emotional after getting her name on the scoresheet.
The strike proved even more crucial as it helped Orlando Pride secure all three points, taking them up to eight place. They now hold the final Championship playoff spot with one game remaining until the World Cup break.
Speaking after the game, Payne said: “It’s been a long time. It’s been over a year, so I didn’t really know how everything was going to play out.”
She also expressed her appreciation to everyone at the club for supporting her through a difficult period.
“A lot of it just goes to my teammates, the staff, everyone for believing in me and giving me the confidence to be able to be back and just play confidently.”
Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines commended Nicole Payne for her performance and the winning goal.
“I’m really pleased for her, because it’s been quite a journey for her, coming back from an ACL. Great goal and great performance from her.”
Orlando Pride will be back in action on Saturday, May 30 when they face Bay FC. After that, the league will go on a one-month break due to the upcoming World Cup.
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