MLS teams break transfer spending records, DCU player call-ups, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday, everyone! Can you believe Labor Day is almost upon us? This year has really flown by. Regardless, I am very excited to have a long weekend, with plenty of time for both soccer and whatever else I feel like (college football, baking).
MLS clubs shatter transfer spending records in 2025 (MLS)
It was a big year for MLS transfer spending… at least for most teams.
Seven uncapped players selected in Subway Socceroos squad for ANZAC Soccer Ashes (Socceroos)
Now, we have a few D.C. United players who have been called up to international duty. First up is Kye Rowles, who will join the Australian men for the ANZAC Soccer Ashes against New Zealand. As a side note, I thought “Subway Socceroos” was a lightly-derogatory nickname but have learned that in fact their national team is sponsored by Subway, which actually seems worse.
Huuhkajat named for September matches (Pallolitto)
Next up, Matti Peltola has been called up to Finland for World Cup qualifying matches against Norway and Poland.
Marco Mitrović Names 23-Player U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Roster for Final Camp before 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup (US Soccer)
Finally, D.C. United alumnus Matai Akinmboni (now with Bournemouth) will join the US under-20s for a training camp in Spain next week.
NWSL transfer grades: How did USWNT moves, others rank? (ESPN)
Washington Spirit’s addition of Sofia Cantore got a high grade but apparently not as high as Orlando’s trade of Ally Watt to a team that doesn’t exist yet?
Here’s a fun clip of Steve Birnbaum interviewing Lukas MacNaughton about DC and his career and razzes him about his hair, while (I believe) Kye Rowles cools his heels in the backseat.
Chelsea hoping to sign Angel City’s 20-year-old USA winger Alyssa Thompson (The Guardian)
If you know anything about NWSL fans, you will not be surprised by the amount of the-league-is-dying doomerism this rumor has prompted. Personally, I am of the camp who thinks that this could be a good thing: every dollar Chelsea spends on her is one less they will have to offer Trinity Rodman.
Tennis reporter Trinity Rodman grills Ben Shelton after U.S. Open win (Pro Soccer Wire)
Speaking of Trinity Rodman: this may be too much athletes-as-celebrities for some, but I think these two are so cute. Following Rodman’s relationship also recently taught me about the net cord apology tradition in tennis, which has now become the source of some controversy.
Ok, enough of that, here’s your schedule of matches for the weekend. Have a good one!
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Power FC vs. Spokane Zephyr FC | Sat., Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Peacock |
| Loudoun United FC vs. Miami FC | Sat., Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET | Leesburg, VA | ESPN+ |
| D.C. United vs. NYCFC | Sat., Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Bronx, NY | Apple TV |
| Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Stars FC | Sun., Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | CBS |
Net cord….
I never knew this was a thing…..
Rodman posted a video a few weeks ago expressing some confusion about why you would be expected to apologize for having something lucky happen to you in a sporting event, and I agree! Soccer teams celebrate OGs. It’s a competition!
“It was a big year for MLS transfer spending… at least for most teams”–well played Annie.
And on another completely separate note, with Loudoun United undergoing a major transformation, I suspect Scott Skundrich to be released. And that would have implications for Andi Sullivan and her plans for next year. Just as I’d hate to see Hatch leave the Spirit, I’d hate to see Sullivan move to another NWSL team.
I would HOPE Sullivan would stay here, since her family lives nearby, and she stayed when he went to Colorado to play in 2022. The baby makes that separation harder, though, and I suspect she still has more ability to negotiate a move to be with him.
They might also like to find a place that is less, you know, soldiers with long guns and protests everywhere that might one day be targeted…
Just saying, having a newborn changes your perspective
*Drew* Skundrich.
That Lukas MacNaughton video is nice and all, but they titled it in “In the Passanger Seat.”
Passanger.
I did a Google search for Audi Passanger, but it doesn’t look like that’s a thing. Just a big glaring spelling error on some of the content that the team is pushing out. Not doing much to disspell the idea that the whole organization is just kind of incompetent.
I’m glad MacNaughton likes the city, though.
A shout out to ESPN’s noted baseball columnist, Jeff Passan.
The malaise of this is really remarkable.
Right up there with “Natinals” jerseys….
MLS was really active in the past two transfer windows you say? Huh, its almost as if we can survive as a league in the global market while maintaining our current calendar format. Imagine that.
I saw a chart on Reddit showing the breakdown of revenue by league. Seating and concessions make up 55% of that revenue, beat only by the NHL’s 56%. Let’s make all the teams from NC and north play in the winter and see how it affects crowds. It seems like an insane decision from most perspectives. Maybe not from the financial geniuses.
Why doesn’t Major League Baseball switch to the international calendar?
I’m going to cancel my STM tickets and tell them it’s because of the planned calendar switch.
Its college soccer season again. And the George Mason University men’s team upset #11 UVA last night 4-1. Its the Patriots’ highest ranked win since 2011. Its also the second highest ranked team they’ve beaten in team history, with the highest being #2 UMD in 2009. Its the team’s 7th victory all time against a top 20 team. The Patriots are now 1-1-0 (W-L-D) on the season while the Cavaliers drop to 2-1-0. Mason started their season last week with a 2-1 loss to #2 Marshall. They also have #10 West Virginia University on the schedule in a couple of weeks.
https://gomason.com/news/2025/8/28/mens-soccer-patriots-surge-past-no-11-virginia-4-1-for-highest-ranked-win-since-2011.aspx
Interesting, Mason was consider a very strong team in the early 80s. I am surprised they don’t (historically) more top 10 type victories.
As is the case with all the men’s pro clubs in the area, it’s crazy how they can’t be more competitive with such a rich talent pool to draw from.
US Eagles XVs game this weekend:
The US Women continue their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign in a must win match vs Australia tomorrow at 2:30 PM EDT if they want to advance out of the group stage with the match streamed on Paramount+. If they don’t win then they’ll officially be out in the group stage for the first time ever. The Wallaroos are coming off walloping Samoa in the other Pool A match last weekend 73-0. The one thing that’s been made clear in this Women’s Rugby World Cup is the absolute class difference between the top 10 nations in the world and the next 10 nations.
I believe DC United might have set a record for most money spent on a Caden Clark transfer.
Can we still trade our open DP slot this year for Osaze DeRosario?
‘The league is changing’ – USL clubs are spending more on transfers, ushering in a new era of competition in American soccer | Goal.com US https://share.google/diBhvBiHCDncGpOAv
DCU lineup tonight:
Barraza; Herrera, Bartlett, Rowles, Schnegg; Peltola, Servania; Peglow, Pirani, Hopkins; Benteke
Not exactly sure how that midfield will be set up based on the graphic, but a pretty strong lineup
Broadcast notes that DC is playing in a 4-4-2 in possession, and a 4-3-3 out of possession. Hopkins goes up top as a forward to help Benteke
A looooooong shot from Herrera. Just above the crossbar, but the shot results in Freese getting his foot stuck in the net
Haak puts NYC up 19 minutes in