Orlando Pride Complete Signing of Super Falcons Defender Nicole Payne

Orlando Pride, a club in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have officially signed Super Falcons defender Nicole Payne ahead of the upcoming season, CompleteSports reports. Payne joins the Pride as a free agent after parting ways with Portland Thorns FC.

The 24 year old left-back spent the 2024 season with Portland Thorns, where she made 19 appearances before a preseason injury sidelined her in 2025. Prior to her time in the NWSL, she featured for Paris Saint-Germain in France’s top division.

Before turning professional, Payne played college soccer at the University of Southern California, scoring three goals for the Trojans. After representing the United States at youth level, she switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2021 and has since earned caps for the Super Falcons — Africa’s most decorated women’s national team.

Her signing adds defensive depth and international experience to the Pride’s roster as the club prepares for its 2026 campaign following a productive offseason of building on recent successes.

EDITORIAL

Nicole Payne’s arrival at Orlando Pride carries a resonance that transcends mere roster reinforcement. In the modern women’s game — where tactical flexibility and defensive solidity underpin success a left-back of her experience plugs not just a positional gap, but a strategic ambition. At 24, Payne represents that ideal intersection of potential realised and promise yet to fully unfold.

Her journey from the storied pitches of Paris Saint-Germain to the intense competitive rhythm of the NWSL — is illustrative of a player whose career has been shaped by contrasting football cultures. France offered refinement and positional discipline the NWSL has demanded pace, physicality and relentless intensity. To graft those experiences together into reliability on the flank is no small feat.

What makes this signing particularly compelling is not just Payne’s résumé, but her adaptability. For a club like Orlando Pride — which has recently tasted domestic success and continues to pursue excellence in a league brimming with talent a defender who can read the game, contribute to build-up play and withstand the rigours of elite competition is invaluable. Her US collegiate grounding adds another layer, suggesting a robust understanding of the game’s transitional demands.

In this move, Pride’s recruitment ethos is evident blend seasoned professionals with dynamic, evolving talents. Payne’s addition reflects a broader narrative in women’s football one where international experience and tactical versatility become the currency of competitive advantage. For Nigeria, her progression into the NWSL spotlight is a reminder that the Super Falcons’ influence continues to expand across the globe. And for Orlando, this signing could prove to be as much about shaping future seasons as it is about immediate performance.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Nicole Payne played for Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL, making 19 regular-season appearances before her 2025 preseason injury halted her campaign.
2. She previously represented the United States at youth level before switching her international allegiance to Nigeria in 2021, joining the Super Falcons setup.
3. Payne’s collegiate career was at the University of Southern California, where she scored three goals for the USC Trojans.
4. Orlando Pride recently announced multiple new signings, including goalkeeper Cara Martin and forward Seven Castain, as it builds its squad for the 2026 season.
5. The Orlando Pride won the 2024 NWSL Championship and Shield, marking the club’s most successful season before Payne’s signing.