What Pa said 🫡

ROUND OF 32 DRAW 🏆 Phoenix Rising will host Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo in the Open Cup, just the second time the club has ever hosted MLS opposition in a competitive matchup. If Rising wins, they are also guaranteed to host the Round of 16 clash against either Austin or El Paso.

Rees’ takes as he fills in for me for the week

Not everyone's path to Phoenix Rising is straightforward. Alex Araneda's certainly wasn't. After suffering a leg break in the 2024 preseason, he's now reunited with his former coach and looking to rebound. gophnx.com/leg-break-al...

The morning after… It’s important not to lose sight of the fact Rising conceded four goals in that match. But there were definite signs in the second half of what this team could be capable of, if all goes to plan. Quotes and thoughts 👇 gophnx.com/phoenix-risi...

~30 minutes to go here in El Paso

As I took this picture, it started to hail. Proper football day.

“I was excited, so it was just pure excitement… and nerves. A lot of nerves too.” After making his way through the club’s academy, Braxton Montgomery made his Phoenix Rising debut last weekend. gophnx.com/debut-braxto...

remember when landon told us all this guy was ok lmao

“We never have a defensive mindset.” After Phoenix Rising’s worst ever goalscoring season, Pa-Modou Kah is looking to make a change. gophnx.com/pa-modou-kah...

First press conference of the year at Rising? ✅ Some updates after speaking with Pa-Modou Kah and Patrick Rakovsky…

Two new Women’s Premier Soccer League teams announced as set to launch in the Valley this year. One of them, based in Peoria (with fans voting on a final team name at the moment) has Brett Lashbrook listed as its contact. The team is set to play at Peoria Sports Complex.

Rising gets in a big man midfielder, 6-foot-5 Noble Okello. Played in MLS, but dropped off to NEXT Pro in the past year. How will he look in Rising red?

Collin Smith joins Rising. Right-back, played for Kah in North Texas. Some questions after his struggles in Rhode Island, where he got minutes off the bench. www.phxrisingfc.com/news/phoenix...

Rakovsky returns. Wasn't initially expecting this, but it'll be interesting to see if he's expecting to feature this season with Rocco's departure confirmed. bit.ly/Rakovsky

AND WE HAVE A FIXTURE LIST Phoenix Rising will open 2025 with a home game against FC Tulsa on Saturday, March 8.

ok usl championship, do the thing

Attacking midfielder, has been in MLS NEXT Pro for a few years now. Played under Kah in North Texas. bit.ly/4gvMtLu

🤔

Rémi Cabral returns to Phoenix after being let go by Colorado Rapids. Cabral was with Rising on loan last year, scoring 7 goals in an injury-affected season. www.phxrisingfc.com/news/phoenix...

Pod day. Going to be talking Rising's latest signing plus taking a fun diversion by assembling some futsal teams out of Rising players past and present. Join us ⬇️

Damian Rivera is Rising’s first new signing ahead of 2024. Billed as a forward, with 6 in 34 last year at Tampa Bay. Costa Rican youth international as well.

Remember we have a Rising pod tonight in 40 minutes…

CYMRU HAVE DONE IT! Rhian Wilkinson’s side are heading to the Euros! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Phoenix Rising offseason means time to stress over the Welsh women’s national team instead. Football never stops.

Moves are being made. Let’s talk ⬇️

Colorado Rapids have declined Rémi Cabral's contract option for next year. Cabral spent 2024 on loan at Phoenix Rising, scoring 8 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions.

Some of these moves I saw coming, others not so much. Goalkeeper is a major role to fill, especially dependent on if a deal to return Rocco Rios Novo is potentially in the cards. There has been interest in Boye but no idea if that'll materialize into any actual move.

Phoenix Rising releases its initial roster moves for 2025, with John Stenberg, Fede Varela and Renzo Zambrano among the notable departures.

Remember, we have a @phnxrising.bsky.social pod on Wednesday night this week... And for anyone jealous of other clubs around the league that are already hearing news... I'm expecting we'll have things to talk about come showtime, I'll put it that way.

Cal Jennings available on a free is big should another USL side make a move for him bit.ly/3ZmCMJk

Bluesky friends! Check out the PHNX Starter Pack to follow our accounts and staff 😁

Another outlet to spew words about lower league football. Fun.