Lion Links: 8/1/25

Happy Friday! The weekend is in sight, and with it comes plenty of Orlando soccer to enjoy. I’ll be spending most of the weekend working, but I am hoping to catch some soccer and get some reading done over the next few days. Let’s go ahead and jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando Pride Host the Utah Royals on Sunday

The NWSL returns this weekend and the Pride are back in action on Sunday at 6 p.m. with a home game against the Utah Royals. The two teams previously squared off May 23 in Utah, where Barbra Banda scored the first hat trick in club history en route to a 3-1 win. The Royals have only won once this season, so hopefully Sunday’s match will be a good opportunity for the Pride to get back in the swing of things.

As for other NWSL matchups to check out this weekend, it will be interesting to see if Racing Louisville can make a statement when it hosts the Kansas City Current on Friday night. The other match on Sunday featuring the Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns should also be a good one between two probable playoff teams.

Marta Earns Recognition as an NWSL Playmaker

Orlando Pride midfielder Marta was noted as a playmaker to watch over the course of the second half of the NWSL season by ION analyst Jordan Angeli. The 39-year-old may only have three goals and an assist so far this season, but she is still dangerous when pulling the strings of Orlando’s attack. She’s been doing well in Ecuador this summer at the Copa America Femenina as well, providing an assist and a goal in Brazil’s semifinal win over Uruguay. Marta keeping the goal contributions going when she returns to Orlando would go a long way towards the Pride realizing their aspirations this year.

Storylines Heading Into NWSL’s Second Half

We’ve reached the midpoint of the NWSL season and things are fairly tight in the middle of the league standings. The gap between the second-place Pride and first-place Current is eight points, which is more than the seven-point difference between the Pride and the ninth-place North Carolina Courage. The MVP and Golden Boot races should also be interesting, with Banda certainly in the mix. NJ/NY Gotham FC may start climbing the table if Esther Gonzalez maintains her form, while the Spirit’s chances may hinge on Trinity Rodman’s availability as she deals with a back injury.

Americans Return to Action Abroad

There are plenty of Americans taking part in competitive games across Europe this weekend as soccer across the pond slowly returns. PSV Eindhoven will take on Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Super Cup on Sunday, so we may get to see Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest in action. Pepi has an opportunity to step up on offense after the departures of Luuk De Jong and American playmaker Malik Tillman.

The 2. Bundesliga kicks off today with defender John Brooks and Hertha Berlin taking on Schalke 04. John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel will then begin their quest to return to the Bundesliga on Saturday when they play Paderborn. The Scottish Premiership also starts this weekend, and defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty could feature when Celtic hosts St. Mirren on Saturday.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City announced a partnership with payment technology company Ordr, adding its platform to club events for more streamlined transaction processing.
• FC Cincinnati kicked off its Leagues Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over Monterrey. It’s a great result for the league, but a rough result for the Lions due to this year’s format.
• Plans are reportedly in motion for American goalkeeper Matt Turner to return to the New England Revolution on loan.

• Forward Katie Stengel has returned to Gotham FC, with the club signing her from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee. The 33-year-old led Crystal Palace with four goals and four assists across 20 appearances last season.
• Boston Legacy FC signed Barcelona’s Alba Cano to a contract 2027, with an option for 2028 as well. The Spanish midfielder will remain with Barcelona on loan for the remainder of the year.
• Portland Thorns midfielder Sophie Hirst has retired from professional soccer to pursue a medical degree.
• Former Orlando Pride player Angharad James-Turner has signed a two-year contract extension with the Seattle Reign.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!