Lion Links: 10/31/25

Happy Halloween, Mane Landers! It’s hard to believe October is almost over, but perhaps that’s for the best. If you participate in Halloween and want to share your costume in the comments, I’d love to hear about it. I will be dressing up at G.I. Robot from Creature Commandos, which is an excellent DC Comics show, though definitely not for the kiddos.

Before we get started today, we want to wish a happy birthday to Orlando City SC General Manager & Sporting Director, Ricardo Moreira. Let’s get to the links.

Alex Freeman Named MLS Young Player of the Year

Orlando City defender Alex Freeman was named the 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year. The honor is well deserved given the year Freeman has had for both Orlando City and the USMNT. Freeman took the starting right back job in the second match of the season and never looked back. He earned his first call-up to the USMNT in June and already has 11 caps. While I think he was an obvious choice for the award, I’m still surprised he won it given how MLS tends to ignore Orlando City. Freeman is the first Orlando City player to win the award since it was still called MLS Rookie of the Year and Cyle Larin claimed it back in the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2015.

Rafaelle Returns through 2028

The Orlando Pride signed center back Rafaelle to a new contract through the 2028 NWSL season. This is quite the deal given that she will be 37 at the end of the contract. When healthy, Rafaelle has been one of the better players on the pitch. If she can stay healthy, she will continue to be an integral part of the Pride defense. Rafaelle is a leader both on and off the pitch. Assuming she is able to remain healthy, this is a good signing for the Pride.

USMNT News

Cristian Roldan wants to play in the World Cup for the USMNT, though he knows he’ll have to continue to impress Mauricio Pochettino if that is to happen. The U.S. coach called him up as an injury replacement player earlier this fall, but that hasn’t locked in a spot for the 30-year-old. Of course, he hasn’t been ruled out either.

Juventus has hired former Napoli and Italy manager Luciano Spalletti as its new coach. Juventus has three straight losses and is on an eight-match winless run resulting in the firing of Igor Tudor. Spalletti will be expected to turn things around. USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie is one of the players that will be impacted by the change. McKennie may even benefit from it with his versatility in the midfield.

USWNT Takeaways

The USWNT made the most of three friendlies in October, allowing Emma Hayes to experiment with her team. Hayes played 25 different players, across the matches against Portugal and New Zealand, including the least-experienced USWNT lineup in 25 years against the Football Ferns. Pride fans know that she employed Emily Sams at right back rather than center back. Here’s what we learned about the USWNT during this international break.

Free Kicks

• Evidently, we’re still talking about the whole Gio Reyna vesus Gregg Berhalter thing. Well, Reyna mentions it and then says he doesn’t really want to talk about it.
• Former Orlando City head coach Jason Kreis was named the president of soccer operations for Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals. Prior to the new appointment, Kreis was the director of club operations and special projects.
• Seattle Reign Head Coach Laura Harvey used ChatGPT to plan tactics for some NWSL matches. To be fair, it wasn’t in-depth planning, but just some basic ideas. Still, I’m not sure how I feel about it.
• No. 6 Florida State defeated Wake Forest 4-1 to finish the regular season. The Seminoles’ record of 6-2-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play should be enough to earn a top four seed in the ACC Championship.

That will do it for today. If you’re trick or treating, have fun but please be safe. If you’re going to a Halloween party, the same applies. See you in November!