ORLANDO, Fla. — Six members of the Orlando Pride will compete for their national teams at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Marta, who recently announced this year will mark her final one in international play, Rafaelle, Adriana and Angelina were selected for Brazil's women's national team, and Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda will take the field for Zambia.

Marta, 38, will make her sixth Olympics appearance. If she scores a goal, she would become the first soccer player with a goal in six Olympics. She started her career with the senior women's team in 2002, when she was 16 years old. Over her international career, she has scored 119 goals in international competitions.

"It's always a pleasure to be with the national team," Marta said. "And to have the opportunity to play one more Olympics is something that is extra special for me because it will be my last one. I'm looking forward to enjoying every moment and try to win this time because it's going to be the last one. It's now or never."

She said she never imagined she would play in six Olympics.

"I feel very comfortable because I've been in this situation a few times," Marta said. "I'm looking forward to, of course, do my best as a player but also to help the young players develop."

She said she's very proud that so many of her Pride teammates also are going to the Olympics.

"What we did until now with the Pride reflects back to the national team, too, and that's why they have the opportunity," Marta said.

She said she just decided that it's time to step away from international play because she can't play forever, and she hopes to play another year or two with the Pride. Not having international play to train for will help her be better prepared to help Orlando continue to win and develop, she said.

Rafaelle, 33, also played for Brazil in the 2016 and 2020 Games. Adriana was supposed to take the field for Brazil at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo but was injured before the Games began. Brazil’s national team selected Angelina, who made her debut for that country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as one of four alternates for the tournament. She will travel with the team to Paris and could play if one of her teammates is injured.

"Every time you step on the field playing with Marta by your side is such a big responsibility," Rafaelle said. "She's a great player, and we have to play for her now.....Playing with her is now is like a dream for me, too. I feel like her jersey represents a lot, too."

Angelina, 24, said it is astounding that Marta has been great the entire time she has played. "To keep that consistency just tells how great she is," Angelina said. "It's just amazing for us to have the opportunity to live with her and be able to learn from her every day."

Brazil will start in Group C, with matches against Nigeria on July 25, Japan on July 28 and Spain on July 31. 

For the Zambian team at the 2020 Olympics, Banda became the first player in Olympic history to score back-to-back hat tricks and the first to total two hat tricks over one tournament — against the Netherlands and China.

Banda said her game has improved, and, "I'm hoping I will do much better this time." 

Chanda was the top goal scorer for Zambia with eight goals at the 2020 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament and helped Zambia advance to its first Olympics. She also appeared in this Olympic qualification cycle, appearing in both qualifying matches against Morocco. 

She is set to join the Pride following Zambia’s run in the Olympics after signing with the club on May 30. 

Zambia is in Group B and is set to face the United States on July 25, Australia on July 28 and Germany on July 31 in the group stage

Banda acknowledged that Zambia is in a tough group.

"But to be the best, you've got to beat the best.....So, we have to take our preparations seriously and try to beat the best teams."

The National Women’s Soccer League has scheduled a break from regular-season play from mid-July to Aug. 18 during the 2024 Paris Olympics. During that time, the league will organize a tournament, featuring international participants and all 14 NWSL clubs.