Lion Links: 12/21/23

How’s it going, Mane Landers? This week has been hectic for me and shows no sign of slowing down, but I’m looking forward to the holiday weekend. I’ll be spending it with my family and friends in my hometown, so hopefully it will be a nice chance to recharge before ending the year. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

2024 MLS Schedule Revealed

Orlando City’s full 34-game schedule for the 2024 MLS season was released and the Lions will open their season at home for the 10th straight year. Orlando’s season opener will take place on Feb. 24 at Exploria Stadium against CF Montreal. The Lions will finish the season with a rivalry match against Atlanta United on Decision Day on Oct. 19 at Exploria Stadium. As for the Tropic Thunder rivalry, Orlando will first play Inter Miami on March 2 in Fort Lauderdale and then host Miami on May 15 in a midweek match sandwiched between trips to Philadelphia and San Jose. Be sure to check out the full schedule and mark your calendars!

Orlando Pride Sign Haley McCutcheon to New Deal

The Orlando Pride’s busy off-season continued, as they signed defender Haley McCutcheon to a new contract that will last through the 2026 season. McCutcheon joined the Pride in August of last year through a trade with the Houston Dash, and she was re-signed by the Pride following that 2022 season. She joined the team as a defensive midfielder but has held down the right back position with Head Coach Seb Hines at the helm. With this latest move, the Pride have cemented their back line for the next couple of years, as Kylie Strom and Emily Madril signed extensions this off-season.

U.S. Soccer Weighs In On MLS U.S. Open Cup Involvement

The United States Soccer Federation released a statement that it has recommended that the MLS request for its clubs to be replaced by affiliate MLS NEXT Pro teams for the 2024 U.S. Open Cup be denied. Major League Soccer’s initial announcement that it will pull its first teams from the competition was met with plenty of backlash. The league released a statement in response to the USSF’s, citing schedule congestion and better youth development as reasons it wanted MLS NEXT Pro teams to play in the U.S. Open Cup. While MLS NEXT Pro teams won’t be included in the 2024 edition of the U.S. Open Cup, we’ll see if more MLS clubs just use their younger players throughout the tournament.

Lorne Donaldson Hired as Chicago Red Stars Head Coach

The Chicago Red Stars have named Lorne Donaldson as their next head coach and he will join the team next month before the NWSL Draft takes place. Donaldson joins the Red Stars after an impressive stint with Jamaica that included a run to the knockout stage in the recent Women’s World Cup. While this will be his first time coaching in the NWSL, the 68-year-old has helped develop many Americans at the youth level with Real Colorado and also co-founded the Black Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has his work cut out for him with a Chicago team that finished last in the 2023 standings and conceded 50 goals. We’ll see if he can get Chicago’s defense to perform as well as Jamaica did during the World Cup. Welcome to the NWSL!

Free Kicks

• LAFC signed Head Coach Steve Cherundolo to a multi-year contract extension, although the exact length wasn’t disclosed. The club also announced that LAFC2’s head coach, Enrique Duran, will become an assistant coach with the first team.
• Bay FC received a decent sum of allocation money from OL Reign to swap picks in the fourth round of the upcoming NWSL Draft.

• The San Diego Wave made a splash by signing midfielder Savannah McCaskill to a three-year deal.
• In more NWSL transfer news, Casey Krueger is reportedly close to joining the Washington Spirit and Kristie Mewis will reportedly leave NJ/NY Gotham FC for a move to West Ham.
• Neymar will not play for Brazil in this summer’s Copa America due to the ACL injury he suffered in World Cup qualifying.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!