By Jim Carchidi
March 11, 2026
A longtime leader in the Orlando sports community is stepping down. Orlando City SC co-founder Kay Rawlins announced her retirement in an open letter, posted March 11 on the team website.
Creating a legacy
Images courtesy of Orlando City SC
Rawlins co-founded Orlando City Soccer Club with former husband Phil Rawlins in 2010. Home games were at the Citrus Bowl, now Camping World Stadium, and the team won three Commissioner's Cups and two league championships in four seasons as a USL Pro charter member. Orlando City made its MLS debut in 2015, won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022, and twice qualified for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Orlando Pride was announced in 2015 as an expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and made its debut at Exploria stadium (now Inter&Co Stadium) in 2016. The team won the NWSL Shield and the league championship during the 2024 season.
Both teams were acquired in 2021 by the Wilf family, owners of the NFL Minnesota Vikings. Rawlins stayed on as Senior Vice President and Club Ambassador. Orlando City SC is currently working on opening the Orlando Health Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park.
Supporting the community
Originally from the UK, Rawlins is a 20-year resident of the U.S. She began her career working for the National Westminster Bank before purchasing and operating the Stargazers Nursery school in Shrewsbury England between 1991 and 2003. Since founding Orlando City SC, her community involvement includes board seats with Central Florida Foundation, 4Roots Farm, WISE Greater Orlando, All Women Empowered, BBLI Advisory Council, and the Advisory Committee of the US Global Leadership Coalition.
Looking back, and ahead
“When I look back, I don’t just see milestones. I see people. I see moments. I see a community that believed in a vision,” Rawlins stated in her letter. “I think about those early days at the Citrus Bowl and it felt like we were building something special with our own hands. I think about the packed houses in 2015 and 2016, where tens of thousands of voices proved that Orlando was, without question, a soccer city.”
Rawlins will step down on March 13 and intends to spend more time with family and travel. But will remain a supporter of the organization she helped create.
“I will always be part of this family. And I can’t wait to stand among you in the stands, cheering for the club we built together.”
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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