Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer, Melbourne Native Toni Pressley Diagnosed With Cancer

Pressley has begun treatment

ABOVE VIDEO: Toni Pressley – Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame 2015

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Orlando Pride defender and Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Toni Pressley has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Club announced Wednesday.

Pressley underwent surgery on Friday morning at Orlando Health and has been placed on the 45-Day Disabled List.

“We can’t imagine what Toni is going through. On behalf of everyone at the Club, I would like to extend our unconditional support to Toni, her family and the members of our Orlando Pride family throughout the entirety of the treatment process,” said Orlando Pride General Manager Erik Ustruck.

“Toni’s health and well-being is, of course, our biggest priority. We are happy to be able to provide her with the full backing of the Club, the NWSL and our partners at Orlando Health.”

“Although a cancer diagnosis of any kind can be extremely difficult, her family at Orlando Health is going to battle this disease with Toni every step of the way,” said Daryl Osbahr, M.D., team doctor for Orlando Pride and chief of sports medicine for Orlando Health.

“Toni is in great hands with the experts at the Breast Care Center at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center and we are working in tandem with her oncologists to ensure she has everything she needs to fight this disease and to return her to playing the sport that she loves as safely and quickly as possible.”

Pressley, who attended West Shore Junior/Senior High School, has made her name in the world of women’s pro soccer. In her defense position, she played for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League.

She also played with the Boston Renegades and the Washington Freedom Futures, both of the W-League.

Her rise to pro soccer began in West Melbourne, where the then five-year-old Pressley began playing soccer in the numerous youth games held at Rodes Park. It was an instant click.

“My mom had played all kinds of sports and she encouraged me,” said Pressley.

At West Shore, Pressley distinguished herself on the soccer field as team captain during her senior year, when she led the team to the Class 3A Regionals finals.

Her athletic talent earned her a spot on the 2007 NSCAA/Adidas Youth All-America Team and she received first team All-Space Coast honors. As a senior in 2008, she was named Parade All-American and a top 50 recruit by Soccer Buzz.

Soccer wasn’t the only game in town for Pressley, who also excelled on track and field at West Shore, helping the school’s 4x100m. relay team snag a district and regional championship in 2005. In 2007, she also garnered the 2007 district championship in shotput.

Pressley played for the United States’ national youth teams and was part of the under-20 team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Region III of the Olympic Development Program tapped Pressley for its talent pool from 2006 to 2008. She was the leading scorer in the Region III league in both 2006 and 2007, the same two years that she was a member of the Florida ODP team.

A native of Melbourne, Fla., Pressley joined the Pride in the Club’s inaugural season after being selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2015 NWSL Expansion Draft.

Since then, the Florida State product has made 52 appearances for Orlando, including nine this season.

Pressley, 29, has three NWSL goals to her name, with one goal during the 2019 campaign.

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