Lion Links: 6/26/25

It may be Thursday, but I think we can put this one in the “Friday Eve” category after Wednesday night’s Orlando City win. A midweek victory can feel like a shot in the arm during these summer weeks where the weather seesaws between unbearable heat and gray skies promising rain. Let’s keep the good times rolling with today’s links!

Orlando City Beats St. Louis City

Orlando City went on the road and won 4-2 against St. Louis City, with Ramiro Enrique and Marco Pasalic scoring braces and Eduard Atuesta providing a trio of assists. The Lions got off to a hot start, scoring twice within the first 10 minutes. A pair of goals by St. Louis right before halftime dumped a bucket of cold water on the Lions, but they did well to stop the bleeding in the second half and find an insurance goal to see things out. It’s a great midweek result and the Lions will aim to carry this momentum back to Orlando for their home game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Alex Freeman Selected for MLS All-Star Game

There will be a Lion at next month’s MLS All-Star Game in Austin, as right back Alex Freeman was selected by fan vote. The 20-year-old is the youngest All-Star this year and is the first Orlando player chosen for the event since Pedro Gallese and Nani were selected back in 2021. It’s another accolade for Freeman to be proud of during this breakout season and hopefully he can make a splash on July 23 when the MLS All-Stars take on the best from Liga MX.

Haley McCutcheon Signs New Contract

The Orlando Pride and midfielder Haley McCutcheon agreed to a new contract that will keep her at the club through 2028. She’s made 73 appearances since joining the Pride in 2022 and helped the Pride win both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship by bringing stability wherever she was needed on the field. McCutcheon’s previous contract wasn’t set to end until 2026, but the Pride have a track record of getting paperwork squared away during summer breaks and it’s great to know she’ll be on the roster for years to come.

Orlando City B Defeated at Home

The Young Lions hosted Toronto FC II and lost 2-1 due to some sloppy mistakes on both goals by the visitors. OCB had a rough start and a rough end to the game, with Toronto’s goals bookending a night to forget for the Young Lions. Jhon Solis’s prowess from set piece situations was on display throughout this one though, and he provided the assist on Orlando’s lone goal from a free kick. OCB will need to shake this loss off and tighten things up a bit before a road game with Philadelphia Union II on Monday.

USWNT Takes On Ireland Tonight

Opportunity knocks for a number of players tonight when the United States Women’s National Team plays Ireland tonight in the first of two friendlies. Pride defender Kerry Abello is right there in the mix at fullback and could continue to impress after making her USWNT debut earlier this month. Center back is also a position of interest, so hopefully Emily Sams can really cement herself in Head Coach Emma Hayes’s plans. The goalkeeping job is wide open and there are a number of midfielders and forwards who could use these friendlies to make a statement.

MLSPA Releases Player Salaries

The Major League Soccer Players Association shared the salary information for players under contract as of May 23. Luis Muriel remains the highest-paid Orlando City player with $2.5 million in base salary, with fellow Designated Player Marco Pasalic’s base salary at $1.6 million. In terms of highest total salary spending by MLS teams, Orlando is 19th on the list at $16.44 million. Inter Miami is predictably at the top at $46.83 million, with Lionel Messi making a little over $20 million. That’s right, Messi’s salary is higher than every player on Orlando’s roster combined. It makes it feel a little sweeter that the Lions are currently ahead of the Herons in the standings at least.

Free Kicks

• Here’s a nice breakdown of all the Pride players on international duty during this break in the NWSL schedule. It’s pretty cool that we’ll have players to root for in the tournaments outside of the U.S. this summer.
• Boston Legacy FC hired Filipa Patão as its first head coach. She’s been Benfica’s head coach since 2020 and was nominated for 2024 Women’s Coach of the Year.
• Charlotte FC is reportedly extending Pep Biel’s loan from Olympiacos through the end of the season.

• Atletico Madrid has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Real Betis to sign American midfielder Johnny Cardoso
• All four Brazilian clubs advanced to the Club World Cup’s knockout stage. Botafogo and Palmeiras will square off in Philadelphia on Saturday, meaning at least one Brazilian team will make the quarterfinals.
• Lille is reportedly interested in signing LAFC forward Olivier Giroud, who has only scored three goals in MLS since coming stateside.

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