The Maryland Pride was an WPSL club based in

Howard County, Maryland Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, the population was 287,085. As of the 2020 census its population rose to 328,200. Its county seat is Ellicott City. Howard County is included in the Baltimore-Colu ...

. The team changed ownership in mid-season 2007 when the Thunder Soccer Club in Columbia, Maryland took over the team. The club was originally named the Lady Bays and began play in 1994 when the United Soccer Leagues (USL) organized a pilot season to test the demand for a national women's soccer league. The Lady Bays advanced to the first unofficial national tournament, where they were eliminated by Sacramento, California, the eventual 1994 champion. In 1996, playing as the Pride, the team set a goal of winning the national title. After compiling an 8-1 regular-season record, the Pride rolled to the national title by defeating three opponents by a combined score of 9–0 at the 1996 national championship tournament. Maryland finished an undefeated season in 2001 and won the regular season championship. The Pride have advanced to national playoffs seven times in their 16 years of operation. On January 18, 2011, the team announced that they would not play in 2011 and has been discontinued.

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Soccer clubs in Maryland Women's soccer clubs in the United States USL W-League (1995–2015) teams Women's Premier Soccer League teams Women's sports in Maryland 1994 establishments in Maryland Association football clubs established in 1994 2011 disestablishments in Maryland Association football clubs disestablished in 2011 {{Maryland-footyclub-stub