Yolanda Thomas has been named head coach of the Orlando Pride, becoming the first Black woman to permanently lead a team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The team announced Thursday (November 12) that Thomas, who served as interim head coach since August, will lead the Pride under a multi-year agreement, ESPN reported.
Thomas reflected on the significance of the appointment and the women who pursued similar opportunities before her in an interview with Andscape.
"There are many who attempted to, and the door wasn't open for them," Thomas said. "It used to feel a bit like a burden, but it feels like a privilege now, and it feels like a responsibility to make sure I'm not the last."
Thomas also recalled seeing Hope Powell, the first woman and first Black person to manage an England national football team, while playing for Sweden's national team as a teenager. She told Anscape that seeing another Black woman in a leadership role helped her envision herself in a coaching role.
Thomas joined Orlando as an assistant coach ahead of the 2023 season and was part of the staff that led the team to its first NWSL Shield and Championship titles in 2024. She became interim head coach on August 31 after the team parted ways with Seb Hines.
Before joining Orlando, Thomas played professionally for seven seasons in Sweden's top division. She also played at Oklahoma State University, where she was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year and three-time All-American.
Thomas previously held coaching positions at Oklahoma State, the University of Tulsa and Rogers State University.
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