Mark Wilf, co-owner of Orlando Pride, reflects on the team's remarkable rise in women's soccer. He shares how the club has grown from early struggles to winning major titles.
Mark Wilf is the chairman and co-owner of Orlando Pride. He has always loved sports. He remembers feeling nervous when he watched his daughter play soccer in middle school. Years later, he felt the same excitement when the Pride won the NWSL Championship. The winning goal was scored by Barbra Banda.
Mark Wilf grew up in New Jersey. Sports were important in his family. His father, who survived the Holocaust, loved American football. He took the family to games. They even saw soccer legend Pelé play for the New York Cosmos in 1977.
In 2005, Mark and his family bought the Minnesota Vikings for 550 million EUR. They worked to improve the team's facilities to show fans and players that they cared about success. In 2021, they expanded their ownership to include Orlando City and Orlando Pride for about 370 million EUR.
When Wilf joined the Pride, he saw that the team needed changes. They upgraded their facilities and hired new staff, including head coach Seb Hines and general manager Haley Carter. These changes helped the team perform better on the field.
The 2024 season was a turning point for the Pride. They signed Barbra Banda for a record transfer fee of 680,000 EUR. With Marta back from injury, the Pride had a strong season and won their first major trophy.
Even after their success, the 2025 season has been tough. The team is working hard to reach the playoffs again, even after losing key players to injuries. Fan support has grown, with more season tickets sold than in previous years.
Wilf is also focused on improving the NWSL as a whole. He believes that women's soccer in the U.S. has great potential. He is committed to making it a world-class league. The Pride recently signed Jacqueline 'Jackie' Ovalle for a record 1.4 million EUR transfer fee.
