Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/24/25
Divisions coming to MLS, NWSL announces its version of a Designated Player, an MLS wishlist, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday and a Merry Christmas Eve, dear Mane Landers. I hope that your Tuesday was filled with Festivus miracles. Did you participate in the Airing of Grievances? Who won the Feats of Strength? Before we turn our attention to Christmas, we have a heaping helping of links to enjoy.
The New Look of MLS
With Major League Soccer shifting to a summer-to-spring schedule to align with other leagues in 2027, there will reportedly be a shift to five divisions from the current two conferences. The clubs would be broken into the Cascadia and Rocky Mountain Division, the California and Texas Division, the Midwest Division, the Northeast Division, and the Southeast Division. Orlando City would obviously be in the Southeast Division with rivals Inter Miami and Atlanta United, along with D.C. United, Nashville SC, and Charlotte FC.
NWSL Announces New Player Mechanism
The NWSL announced a new player compensation mechanism called the High Impact Player Rule. Basically, each club may exceed the league’s established salary cap by up to $1 million for high-impact players. There are multiple ways for a player to be considered “high impact.” This is a way for the league to try to retain and attract the best players in the world, such as Trinity Rodman. However, the NWSL Players’ Association stated its continued opposition to the mechanism.
MLS Holiday Wishlist
I know that League-wide lists like this MLS wishlist from the league’s website don’t go into many details, but I can firmly say that my personal wishlist for Orlando City is quite a bit longer, though it does include what is presented. Am I a Grinch for wanting the other clubs to not get anything on the list? Perhaps, but I think that the Grinch was sometimes correct. Those Who’s down in Whoville did make a lot of noise.
Boxing Day is Lacking
Boxing Day in the United Kingdom is traditionally a time for plenty of English Premier League matches, but not this year. The expansion of European competitions has squeezed the schedule, meaning Friday will have the fewest matches since World War II. Manchester United will take on Newcastle United, with more matches coming on Saturday. Of course, there will still be plenty of soccer to watch, thanks to a big slate of EFL Championship and lower league matches on tap.
Free Kicks
- Chicago Stars FC acquired fullback Michelle Alozie from the Houston Dash for $40,000 in Allocation Money and then signed the right back to a deal through the 2028 NWSL season.
- Former Orlando Pride forward Rachel Hill has signed a two-year contract through 2027 with Racing Louisville FC.
- D.C. United has signed free agent goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Johnson was most recently with Toronto FC.
- In additional keeper news, Minnesota United is reportedly close to a deal to acquire Drake Callender from Charlotte FC.
- USMNT and Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards was injured during the Crystal Palace match with Arsenal. Despite needing stitches in his foot, it isn’t as bad as it looked.
- The Colorado Rapids have appointed Matt Wells as their new head coach. Wells was formerly an assistant coach at Tottenham Hotspur.
- The Kansas City Current are reportedly close to signing Chris Armas as the team’s new head coach.
- Shortest commute ever?
That will do it for today. No matter what you celebrate this time of the year, just remember, we’re halfway through the dark. It only gets lighter from here. Vamos Orlando!