Lion Links: 8/15/25

Happy Friday! The weekend is here, and with it comes some great soccer to look forward to. The sun isn’t playing around these days, so make sure to stay hydrated if you plan on being out and about. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 21st birthday to Orlando City defender Thomas Williams! They grow up so fast.

Orlando Pride Get Ready for the Kansas City Current

The Orlando Pride have had a pair of underwhelming draws since the international break and now face a daunting road match against the Kansas City Current on Saturday. The Current have won 13 of their 15 games this season, including a 1-0 victory in Orlando on May 16. Orlando’s offense has struggled to put the ball in the back of the net, and Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the Pride will need to be better at that on Saturday.

Barbra Banda Slips in MVP Power Rankings

ESPN dove into the NWSL MVP race, providing a list of the top 12 candidates for the award at this point in the season. Pride forward Barbra Banda, who has only scored once in the five games since her hat trick on May 23, was ranked seventh on the list. Hopefully Banda can return to her scoring form to kickstart an Orlando side that has underwhelmed in recent weeks. Marta and Emily Sams were noted as players fighting for a spot on the list as well.

Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga tops the list, as she’s scored in seven of her team’s last eight games. Meanwhile, former Pride player Taylor Flint is ninth on the list and leads the league in interceptions and duels.

Learning About Toluca Ahead of Orlando Clash

The Leagues Cup quarterfinals begin on Wednesday and Orlando City has a tough matchup in California against Toluca. The top-seeded Mexican team in the tournament, Toluca is a force to be reckoned with and has won six of its past eight games across all competitions. Portuguese striker Paulinho has scored in each of Toluca’s three games so far this tournament, and winger Alexis Vega is another player who could do damage against the Lions. Orlando’s midfielders will also likely have their hands full against Toluca’s midfield trio of Jesus “Canelo” Angulo, Marcel Ruiz, and Franco Romero. Hopefully the Lions can find a way to get it done on the West Coast to secure a spot in the semifinals.

English Premier League Kicks Off Today

Today’s match between Liverpool and Bournemouth is the first game of the new English Premier League season, and here’s everything you need to know about each team heading into things. The preview includes key statistics, transfers you may have missed, and the big questions we’re eager to see answered. It will be interesting to see if another contender can join what may end up being a three-team title race between Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. I also think this year’s relegation battle is going to be a dogfight if Sunderland and Burnley’s summer overhauls pan out.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City academy player Omar Robbana was announced as one of 13 new players for the University of Vermont this year. The defender helped Orlando’s U-18 team win the Generation Adidas Cup in April and now joins the reigning NCAA National Champion. Congrats and best of luck!
• Inter Miami transferred 22-year-old midfielder Federico Redondo to Elche CF in La Liga. Redondo had an underwhelming time playing for Miami, and I’m not complaining about that one bit. Have fun in Spain, pal.
• The Portland Timbers added yet another Designated Player, with midfielder Felipe Carballo joining on loan from Gremio for the rest of 2025 with an option to buy.
• The New England Revolution waived forward Maxi Urruti, who joined the Revs in January and scored two goals in 21 appearances. The club also waived Costa Rican winger Luis Diaz.
• AS Roma is reportedly interested in signing Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho for $27 million. The 25-year-old was omitted from United’s summer tour in the U.S. and has not been assigned a squad number for the upcoming season.
• Wrexham broke its transfer record by signing Welsh striker Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich Town for a transfer fee that could reportedly reach $13.5 million. Broadhead was in Wrexham’s youth system before joining Everton when was 10 years old.

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