Pep Biel News: Fully fit, managed carefully

Biel (knee) is fully fit to play but is carefully managed by the coaching staff during the pre-season, coach Dean Smith said to the media, according to Carroll R. Walton from The Charlotte Ledger. "He's not missed a day's training, but today wasn't a day we were going to risk him. There's plenty more preseason games for him to play. He had a session this morning. He's fully fit, but I just thought it was a game too early in preseason for him."

Biel was struggling with a few injuries last season and is carefully managed by the staff during the pre-season ahead of the 2026 MLS campaign. The playmaker missed Friday's friendly against Charleston as a precaution, although he has fully recovered from his knee injury and is fully fit to play. Biel is expected to regain his undisputed starter role as the number 10 of the Crown heading into 2026.