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Orlando Pride head coach lost another alleged starter today – at least for a few months – as Canadian international center-back Shelina Zadorsky opted to sign a deal to stay with WSL’s Tottenham Hotspur in England until the end of the 2020-2021 season.
Tottenham post calls Zadorsky’s stint with Spurs ‘on loan’, but she is a Canadian national team player who has been credited with pride by her federation, meaning she cannot be loaned out by a team from the NWSL in the traditional sense of the term. Zadorsky, like the U.S. internationals playing in the WSL, had signed a short-term deal to play for Spurs until the end of 2020 and his new deal extends his stay until the end of the current WSL campaign.
“It was an easy decision to make,” Shelina explained. “I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season, we have so much potential as a team and I’m delighted to be a part of the trip.
“As a group, moving up the ranks and giving our fans something to be proud of are our main goals. Personally, I also want to make sure we build a solid defense and keep more of the sheets clean. “This is a new chapter for the Club, our confidence is high and our goal is to continue from here.
Tottenham are currently eighth in the 12-team WSL with nine points from two wins, four losses and three draws, and have a minus six goal differential. The club sit 17 points behind leaders Manchester United but have won their last two games after previously going without a win.
Pride acquired Zadorsky from the Washington Spirit in January 2018 in exchange for goalie Aubrey Bledsoe. She played two seasons with The Pride (2018, 2019) before signing a short-term contract with Tottenham last summer.
Zadorsky has appeared in 39 games (all starts) with Orlando, playing the full 90 minutes of her 16 starts in 2019. She has appeared in every game except one in 2018, sitting once while Tom Sermanni experimented with a back line at three players. August 5 against Sky Blue. She played 3,510 minutes in both seasons and led Pride in minutes played in 2018, with 2,070.
She scored one goal – in a 1-1 draw against Sky Blue on September 29, 2019 – and contributed two assists. Her two assists came in 2018, when she tied Ali Krieger for the most part by a pride defender. With Orlando, Zadorsky attempted 13 shots, getting three on target. Her 2018 success rate was 75.6% in 2018, but dropped to 74% in 2019, despite finishing second on the team in total attempted passes that year (583). She created eight scoring chances in her two seasons at Orlando, including a surprising seven in 2018.
Defensively, Zadorsky contributed 161 clearances, including 100 in 2018, the sixth most in the NWSL. She also recorded 22 blocks and 49 interceptions and an 81.3% tackle rate in 2018 which fell to just 60% in 2019. In her two seasons, the defender committed 19 fouls and shot 11 of opposition, collecting four yellow cards. Zadorsky hasn’t been great in the air, winning just 47.4% of her aerial duels in 2018 and just 37% of them in 2019.
The land of the mane Staff gave Zadorsky a composite rating of 6 for his 2018 season, but only 5 for his 2019 campaign, though ratings have dropped across the board for pride in 2019.
Zadorsky joins former Pride defender / midfielder Alanna Kennedy, who has also signed to stay with Tottenham until the end of the current season. Kennedy was selected by Racing Louisville in the recent NWSL expansion draft. and will now be with Spurs until the end of the season.
What this means for Orlando
The 27-year-old defender was due to be sent back to Orlando for the 2021 season and the Pride will retain its rights in the NWSL should it choose to return after Tottenham’s season. If she does, Zadorsky might not be too short of time. The NWSL Challenge Cup is scheduled to take place in mid-April and the league season is expected to begin in mid-May. Tottenham’s last scheduled game for the 2020-2021 season is May 9 against Birmingham City.
It’s not ideal for Zadorsky to miss pre-season training camp with the Pride or the Challenge Cup, but it is possible that the Canada international could fit directly into the roster in form of play. her return (if she returns) for the start of the regular 2021. season. It’s also possible that if things go well in London for the rest of the season, Zadorsky will be offered a new deal with Spurs and will choose to accept it.
Losing Zadorsky would mean Orlando would lose one less international during the Olympic break, but it also means Pride would have to replace her in the roster. It’s unclear whether 2020 draft pick Konya Plummer can take on the role, whether Toni Pressley would fill the starting XI, or whether Pride will have to look elsewhere for a replacement. Plummer has potential, but one would expect Skinner to seek an upgrade to this position. Allocation money acquired during Emily Sonnett’s recent exchange with Washington could help on this front.
While fans will have to wait and see what Zadorsky does after the WSL season, Skinner and the Pride will have to plan ahead of the season and will no doubt already have a sense of whether or not to wait for his return. If her preference is to stay in England, a move will likely be necessary.
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