USL Championship

Last updated

USL Championship
USL Championship abbr light logo.svg
Organizing body United Soccer League
First season 2011
CountryUnited States
Confederation CONCACAF
Conferences
Number of clubs24
Level on pyramid 2
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open Cup
League cup(s) USL Cup
Current champion(s) Colorado Springs
Switchbacks FC
(2024)
Current Players' ShieldLouisville City FC
(2024)
Most championships
Most Players' ShieldsOrlando City SC (3)
TV partners
Website uslchampionship.com
Current: 2025 season

The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional soccer league in the second tier of the United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) as its premier league for men above USL League One. Operating under a franchise model, 24 teams divided between the league's Eastern and Western conferences compete in an annual round-robin regular season, lasting from spring to fall. At the end of the season, the top team overall wins the Players' Shield, while the top eight teams in each conference advance to a playoff tournament culminating in the USL Championship final, which determines the champion. The league's teams also simultaneously compete in the U.S. Open Cup and USL Cup.

Contents

Playing its first season in 2011 as USL Pro, and later the USL, the league formed from the merger of the USL's preceding two pro leagues, after a number of clubs broke away to found the North American Soccer League. It was initially sanctioned by U.S. Soccer as a third-tier league, but was later promoted to the second tier in 2017. Reserve teams of Major League Soccer (MLS) franchises also competed in the league from 2014 to the advent of MLS Next Pro in 2022. The Championship adopted its current name following the re-establishment of a second pro league in 2019. A third pro league, tentatively named USL Division One, is currently being planned to supersede the Championship as the USL's premier league.

As of the 2024 season, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC are the current champions, while Louisville City FC and Orlando City SC have won the most championships each (2). The current Players' Shield holders are Louisville City FC, while Orlando City SC have won the most Players' Shields (3). Three former USL Championship teams – Orlando City SC, FC Cincinnati, and Nashville SC – are now MLS franchises.

History

Background

Founding and first seasons (2010–2012)

USL Pro charter clubs
American Division
National Division
International Division
Bold – currently playing

Although it was leaked by the Dayton Dutch Lions weeks prior, [1] the USL announced the merger of its First Division and Second Division into a U.S. Division III USL Pro league in a September 2010 press release. [2] The Lions, then a Premier Development League team, joined the new league alongside the five remaining Second Division clubs; the Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Harrisburg City Islanders, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Richmond Kickers; [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] and a reactivated Wilmington Hammerheads, who last played in the Second Division. [9] The lone surviving First Division club, Austin Aztex FC, joined after they were relocated to Orlando, Florida and became Orlando City SC. [10] [11] The Rochester Rhinos returned to the USL to join, after aborting their plan to join the NASL. [12]

USL President Tim Holt initially hoped to launch USL Pro in 2011 with 14–20 teams across four conferences. [9] [13] He projected a growth to 22–26 teams by 2013, and 28–32 teams by 2015. [13] Two of these conferences were to be a "Caribbean" and "Western" division – the league added the Puerto Rico Soccer League's (PRSL) Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico; and the Antigua Barracuda and Los Angeles Blues; as expansion teams to serve as "building blocks" for these divisions. [14] [15] [16] For the inaugural 2011 season, these five clubs were grouped in a "International" division, while the nine existing USL clubs with another expansion team, F.C. New York, [17] were divided into the "American" and "National" divisions. [18] Fox Sports purchased the league's broadcasting rights and aired matches on its Fox Soccer channel, while the league livestreamed matches on its USL Live website. [19]

Richmond city stadium cropped.jpg
The first match, a Richmond Kickers home game, took place at City Stadium (pictured) in Richmond, Virginia.

The league's first match took place on April 2, 2011 at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia, where the Kickers defeated Orlando City and Stanley Nyazamba scored the league's first goal. [20] [21] The season initially adopted a schedule where all American and National teams played as a de facto single division, occasionally playing against International teams. [22] [23] [24] However, financial issues plagued the three PRSL clubs, leading to their expulsion five weeks into the season. [25] [26] The International division was abolished, and the Barracuda and Blues moved to the American and National divisions, respectively. The remaining twelve teams completed their 24-game season, and the ensuing playoffs saw Orlando City be crowned the inaugural champions in a dramatic penalty shootout against the Islanders. [27] [28] F.C. New York, who were also weighed by financial issues, departed for the amateur National Premier Soccer League following the end of the season. [29] [30] The American and National divisions were abolished and replaced by a single eleven-team table in the 2012 season, [19] which was won by the Battery after defeating the Hammerheads in the Championship Game. [31] [32]

MLS partnership and expansion (2013–2016)

In the 2013 season, affiliations with Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs began as part of a partnership that was billed by MLS executive Todd Durbin as an improvement of "player development, competition and the overall business of our sport." [33] [34] [35] Phoenix FC and VSI Tampa Bay FC entered the league, [36] [37] [38] though both would exit with the Barracuda at the season's end – Phoenix FC had their franchise rights revoked for allegedly committing accounting fraud and wage theft, [39] [40] while the Barracuda and Tampa Bay folded due to financial troubles. [41] The Barracuda's final season was one of only six in the history of soccer to be completed without a win or draw. [42] Phoenix FC's franchise rights were awarded to Arizona United SC, who began play the following season. [43] Orlando City's victory over the Eagles in the Championship game, their second USL Pro title in three years, was seen as crucial in the club's successful bid to enter the MLS. [44]

Sacramento Republic FC (pictured) won the championship, and doubled the record for season average attendance, in their inaugural season. Team Huddle.jpeg
Sacramento Republic FC (pictured) won the championship, and doubled the record for season average attendance, in their inaugural season.

Choosing not to affiliate with a USL club, the LA Galaxy founded a reserve team within their ownership known as LA Galaxy II, [45] which entered the USL Pro in the 2014 season alongside Arizona United, Oklahoma City Energy FC, and Sacramento Republic FC. [46] [47] The Los Angeles Blues rebranded as Orange County Blues FC. [48] The Sacramento Republic would conclude their inaugural season having nearly doubled the league's average attendance record, and won the Championship game against the Islanders. [49] [50] [51] The Eagles and Lions exited for the PDL, [52] while Orlando City became the fifth USL club to exit for the MLS. [53] [54] [55] Upon their exit, the Eagles and Orlando City sold their franchise rights to the Charlotte Independence and Louisville City FC respectively, [56] [57] who began play in the 2015 season of the rechristened USL (dropping "Pro" from its name), [58] alongside Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Saint Louis FC, Tusla Roughnecks, and a reincarnated Austin Aztex, who ultimately folded after the season following financial troubles caused by a historic flood in Austin that damaged their home ground. [59] [60]

MLS reserve teams, such as 2016 champions New York Red Bulls II (pictured), populated the league from 2014-2022. Devon Williams (28364933401).jpg
MLS reserve teams, such as 2016 champions New York Red Bulls II (pictured), populated the league from 2014–2022.

Inspired by the LA Galaxy, seven MLS clubs also fielded club-owned reserve teams into the USL's 2015 season, amid the demise of the league-owned MLS Reserve League. [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] The eleven expansion teams nearly doubled the number of teams in the USL from 13 to 24, necessitating the reintroduction of conferences – the "Eastern" and "Western" conferences – in which teams would play 22 intraconference and six interconference games during the regular season. [66] The unprecedented growth inspired the USL to attempt a challenge of the languishing NASL's Division II sanctioning, applying to U.S. Soccer for the sanctioning themselves in early 2015. [58] The Rhinos, led by head coach Bob Lilley, broke all-time USL records for shutouts (17) and fewest goals allowed (15) on their way to their historic fourth and final USL title, defeating the LA Galaxy II in the Championship game. [67] [68]

FC Cincinnati repeatedly broke single-match attendance records during their inaugural season at Nippert Stadium (pictured). The Bailey (29451315424).jpg
FC Cincinnati repeatedly broke single-match attendance records during their inaugural season at Nippert Stadium (pictured).

Three more MLS reserve teams entered in the 2016 season, [69] [70] [71] alongside FC Cincinnati, a club with an MLS expansion bid; [72] [73] San Antonio FC; [74] and Rio Grande Valley FC, a club structured as a "hybrid" affiliation with independent ownership, but an on-field product managed by the MLS's Houston Dynamo FC. [75] [76] [77] Cincinnati's inaugural season at Nippert Stadium yielded three all-time USL records for single-match attendance – the highest being 24,376 for a September 17 match against Orlando City B. [78] [79] The New York Red Bulls II became the first MLS reserve team to win a USL title following their victory over another reserve team, the Swope Park Rangers, in the Championship game. [80] At the conclusion of the season, the Hammerheads left for the PDL, despite media reports that they were planning a move to Baltimore. [81] [82]

Division II sanctioning and second rebranding (2017–2019)

Expansion continued for the 2017 season with Reno 1868 FC, which had been announced during the 2015 season as the 28th franchise, starting play. [83] On October 25, 2016, the USL added two teams from the North American Soccer League (NASL): the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC. This was the first time a club moved from the NASL to the USL. [84] The Montreal Impact also announced that it would fold its USL team, FC Montreal, in favor of affiliating with Ottawa Fury FC. [85]

On August 31, 2016, Kyle Eng sold his majority share of Arizona United SC to an investment group led by Berke Bakay and was rebranded as Phoenix Rising FC. [86] [87] [88] Ivory Coast Soccer Legend Didier Drogba later purchased a share of the team and played the final two seasons of his career there. [89] [90] [91] [92]

On January 6, 2017, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted to grant provisional Division II status to the USL for the 2017 season, [93] placing the league on the same tier as the North American Soccer League. The NASL was also downgraded from Division II sanctioning to provisional status because its membership decreased below the 12-team minimum. Following the 2017 season, the USL gained two more NASL teams: Indy Eleven [94] and North Carolina FC. [95] For the 2018 season, the NASL's provisional sanctioning was not renewed by U.S. Soccer, while the USL was granted full sanctioning under Division II on a year-to-year basis. [96] The NASL sued U.S. Soccer, asking a court to order U.S. Soccer to grant NASL Division II status, but the request was denied by the trial court, and denied again by the appeals court. [97]

The USL's expansion efforts continued in the 2018 season with the additions of Nashville SC, [98] [99] Las Vegas Lights FC, [100] [101] [102] Fresno FC (affiliated with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC) [103] and Atlanta United 2 (owned by Atlanta United FC). [104] [105] The league also lost Orlando City B and the Rochester Rhinos, which each announced a hiatus, [106] [107] while the Whitecaps FC 2 were folded after its parent team in Vancouver decided to no longer run its own development team and affiliated with the new Fresno expansion.

FC Cincinnati celebrates winning the 2018 regular season title. FC Cincinnati with 2018 USL regular season trophy (cropped).jpg
FC Cincinnati celebrates winning the 2018 regular season title.

Four teams left the USL top flight after the 2018 season. The ownership group of FC Cincinnati was awarded an MLS franchise that started play under the FC Cincinnati name in 2019. [108] Penn FC, [109] the Richmond Kickers, [110] and Toronto FC II voluntarily dropped to USL League One, a new third-level league that United Soccer Leagues launched in 2019. [111] The Kickers and Toronto FC II began League One play in 2019; Penn FC suspended professional operations for 2019 and announced that it would resume play in League One in 2020, but it never did. [112] In addition, the announced hiatuses for both the Rhinos and Orlando City B became permanent departures. The Rhinos originally announced they would extend their hiatus through 2019 before resuming play in League One in 2020, [113] but ended up not resuming play until 2022, by which time the club had changed its name to Rochester New York FC and joined the new third-level MLS Next Pro. [114] Orlando City B resumed play in 2019 in League One. [115]

The league also approved several other expansion locations in Austin, [116] Birmingham, [117] Memphis, [118] [119] Chicago, [120] [121] Oakland East Bay, Hartford, [122] Albuquerque, [123] El Paso, [124] Loudoun County, Virginia, [125] and San Diego. [126] All of these teams began play in 2019 except for San Diego, which began play in the 2020 season; Chicago and East Bay were both announced to launch by 2021, but were indefinitely put on hold when they had issues in securing stadium plans. [127]

COVID 19 Impact (2020–2021)

Following the end of the 2019 season, three teams left the USL Championship. Nashville SC was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise, [128] Fresno FC announced that they would not be returning to Fresno, [129] and Ottawa Fury FC announced that they would be suspending operations after not receiving sanctioning to remain in USL by CONCACAF and U.S. Soccer. [130] An expansion team was announced for the New York City borough of Queens to be named Queensboro FC. [131] On December 11, the Ottawa Fury announced the sale of its franchise rights to the ownership group of Miami FC, with Miami set to participate in the 2020 USL Championship season. This marked the entrance of another former NASL team into the league, with Miami having previously spent time in NPSL and the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) after the NASL folded.

Saint Louis FC folded at the end of the 2020 season. At the time, the city was set to receive an MLS franchise, with St. Louis City SC ultimately starting play in 2023. A spokesperson for SLFC told Sports Illustrated in August 2020, "The ownership decided that with the financial impact of COVID-19 and MLS on the horizon, it didn't make sense to continue operations." [132] Also at the end of the 2020 season, two MLS clubs, the Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers, withdrew their reserve sides, Philadelphia Union II and Portland Timbers 2, from the United Soccer League system. [133]

The proposed East Bay club's bid had faltered due to stadium issues and its USL franchise rights were purchased by Oakland Roots SC, which had previously played in NISA, who started play in the USLC in the 2021 season. [134] [135]

On November 6, 2020, Reno 1868 FC announced it was ceasing operations as a result of the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19. [136] On January 10, 2021, North Carolina FC club chairman Stephen Malik announced that the club would make a "strategic move" to USL League One. [137]

On February 1, 2021, Monterey Bay FC, which is a continuation of USLC's Fresno FC, joined the USL Championship since Beshoff, the owner of Fresno, was able to retain franchise rights after Fresno ceased operations due to lack of securing construction of a soccer-specific stadium, and landed the franchise in Monterey Bay at Cardinale Stadium on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay in Seaside, California. On November 13, 2021, it was announced that Detroit City would join the USL Championship for the 2022 USL Championship season, becoming the third NISA team to join the league after Miami FC and Oakland Roots SC. [138] On December 2, 2021, Charlotte Independence decided to drop down to the third tier USL League One for 2022, with the goal of better serving its youth players, as well as the fact that a new expansion franchise in the city Charlotte FC was joining Major League Soccer that season, with whom several Independence players had signed for. [139] [140]

On December 3, 2021, Oklahoma City Energy FC announced that it would temporarily suspend soccer operations and would not compete in the 2022 USL Championship season. [141] The decision came after Energy FC's home field at Taft Stadium, which is owned and operated by the Oklahoma City Public Schools, would undergo major renovations that directly overlap with the 2022 USL Championship season and will resume play for the 2023 USL Championship season in its temporary home at Taft Stadium. [142] This came after OKC Energy FC reached an historic agreement only roughly a month earlier renewing their lease with the school district for Taft Stadium. [143] After OKC announced that they would impose another hiatus for the 2023 USL Championship season, they have since come out with a new majority ownership group, Echo Investment Capital that would build a stadium in Bricktown with part of the money reserved from the city's MAPS 4 penny tax initiative, with plans to return for the 2027 USL Championship season. [144] [145]

End of MLS partnership (2021–2022)

On December 6, 2021, Major League Soccer announced MLS Next Pro, a Division III league that would begin play in 2022. The MLS–USL partnership that started in 2014 came to an end: all MLS clubs with reserve teams in USL Championship or USL League One would be moving their affiliated teams to MLS Next Pro by 2023, with the exception of Loudoun United FC (although under different ownership). [146] On December 10, 2021, the USL Championship approved a new ownership group for USL Championship club Austin Bold FC. The new ownership group consists of Donnie Nelson, Neil Leibman, and Bobby Epstein. The team has not participated since the 2021 USL Championship season as it actively seeks relocation to another city in Texas. [147]

On January 27, 2022, the USL officially awarded USL Pro Iowa an expansion team to be based in Des Moines, Iowa, that would join the league in the 2024 season. The team's majority owner is Kyle Krause, who has been the majority owner of USL League Two side Des Moines Menace since 1998. [148] On July 14, 2022, the USL announced a group that intended to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a goal for the Championship side to kick off by 2025. [149]

On August 12, 2022, ground was broken in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Tidewater Landing Stadium that will be the permanent home of Rhode Island FC. [150] The team began play in the 2024 season in Smithfield, Rhode Island, as the construction is completed in Pawtucket. [151] On August 30, 2022, the USL announced that a group of investors had formed to bring USL Championship and USL Super League expansion teams to Jacksonville, Florida, with the goal for the Championship side to kick off in 2025. [152] On October 19, 2022, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Milwaukee, set to begin play in 2025 with plans to build an 8,000-seat stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [153]

Recent history (2023–present)

On July 12, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to a team that would later be called Ozark United FC [154] with the intent to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to Rogers, Arkansas, with a goal for the Championship and Super League sides to kick off by 2026 and play in a new 5,000-seat stadium. [155]

On August 7, 2023, North Carolina FC majority owner Steve Malik announced that the club would come back from USL League One to the USL Championship starting from the 2024 season. [156]

On August 24, 2023, San Diego Loyal ownership announced that the team would shut down at the end of the season due to an inability to find a "viable near- and long-term stadium solution". [157] and the USL announced that it would transfer the franchise rights of the Loyal. [158] The announcement came three months after Major League Soccer announced a San Diego expansion team that would begin play in 2025 as San Diego FC. [157] The club's final game was a 4–3 extra-time playoff quarterfinal loss to Phoenix Rising, the eventual playoff champions. [159]

On November 29, 2023, it was announced that Milwaukee's expansion would be deferred to the 2026 season. [160] On December 14, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Palm Beach with the intent to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to Palm Beach County, Florida, with a goal for the Super League side to kick off by 2025. [161]

On December 18, 2023, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros announced they were ceasing all soccer and business operations, officially ending their eight-year business partnership with USL. [162]

On March 7, 2024, it was announced that Brooklyn FC, originally vying for a spot in League One, would instead move their efforts to try to get a team in the Championship by 2025, along with getting their women's side to play in the inaugural USL Super League season in 2024, both playing at Maimonides Park, the home also to baseball's Brooklyn Cyclones. [163] This effort would be later pushed back to 2026. [164]

In August 2024, the USL announced that Lexington SC would move from League One to the Championship in the 2025 season. [165]

On November 13, 2024, the USL announced that Memphis 901 FC would cease operations, with their franchise rights being moved to Santa Barbara Sky FC. The Sky, initially planning to play in League One in 2025, will now begin play in the Championship starting with the 2026 season. [166] Memphis's last game was their quarterfinal playoff loss to Orange County.

Teams

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    Locations of teams in the USL Championship
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    • Blue pog.svg Eastern Conference
    • Orange pog.svg On hiatus (Expected 2027)
    • Pink pog.svg 2026
    • Brown pog.svg 2026, Not Listed On League Website
    • Red pog.svg 2027
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    The following teams are going to play in the 2025 season. [167]

    Overview of USL Championship teams
    ConferenceTeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
    Eastern Conference Birmingham Legion FC Birmingham, Alabama Protective Stadium [i] [168] 47,10020172019 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Soehn [169]
    Charleston Battery Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Patriots Point Soccer Complex [ii] [170] 3,90019932011 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Pirmann [171]
    Detroit City FC Hamtramck, Michigan Keyworth Stadium [i] [172] [ii] [173] 7,93320122022 Flag of England.svg Danny Dichio [174]
    Hartford Athletic Hartford, Connecticut Trinity Health Stadium [ii] [175] 5,50020182019 Flag of the United States.svg Brendan Burke [176]
    Indy Eleven Indianapolis, Indiana Carroll Stadium [i] [177] 10,52420132018 Flag of England.svg Sean McAuley [178]
    Loudoun United FC Leesburg, Virginia Segra Field [ii] [179] 5,00020182019 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Martin
    Louisville City FC Louisville, Kentucky Lynn Family Stadium [ii] [180] 15,30420142015 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Cruz [181]
    Miami FC University Park, Florida Pitbull Stadium [i] [182] 20,00020152020 Flag of Argentina.svg Gastόn Maddoni
    North Carolina FC Cary, North Carolina WakeMed Soccer Park [ii] [183] 10,00020062007 Flag of the United States.svg John Bradford [184] [185]
    Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Highmark Stadium [ii] [186] 5,00019982011 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Lilley [187]
    Rhode Island FC Pawtucket, Rhode Island Tidewater Landing Stadium [ii] [188] 5,25220192024 Flag of Bermuda.svg Khano Smith [189]
    Tampa Bay Rowdies St. Petersburg, Florida Al Lang Stadium [iii] [190] 7,22720082017 Flag of Scotland.svg Robbie Neilson [191]
    Western Conference Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Colorado Springs, Colorado Weidner Field [ii] [192] 8,00020132015 Flag of Ireland.svg James Chambers [193]
    El Paso Locomotive FC El Paso, Texas Southwest University Park [iii] [194] 9,50020182019 Flag of Colombia.svg Wilmer Cabrera [195]
    Las Vegas Lights FC Las Vegas, Nevada Cashman Field [ii] [196] 9,33420172018 Flag of Italy.svg Antonio Nocerino
    Lexington SC [197] Lexington, Kentucky Lexington SC Stadium [ii] [198] 7,5002021 [199] [200] 2025 [201] Flag of the United States.svg Terry Boss [202]
    Monterey Bay FC Seaside, California Cardinale Stadium [ii] [203] 6,00020212022 Flag of England.svg Jordan Stewart [204]
    New Mexico United Albuquerque, New Mexico Rio Grande Credit Union Field [iii] [205] [206] 13,50020182019 Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Sanchez
    Oakland Roots SC Oakland, California Oakland Coliseum [i] 15,00020182021 Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg Gavin Glinton [207]
    Orange County SC Irvine, California Championship Soccer Stadium [ii] [208] 5,00020102011 Flag of England.svg Danny Stone
    Phoenix Rising FC Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium [ii] [209] 10,0002014 Flag of Norway.svg Pa-Modou Kah
    Sacramento Republic FC Sacramento, California Heart Health Park [ii] [210] [211] 11,56920122014 Flag of Scotland.svg Neill Collins [212]
    San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas Toyota Field [ii] [213] 8,2962016 Flag of the United States.svg Carlos Llamosa
    FC Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma Oneok Field [iii] [214] 7,83320132015 Flag of the United States.svg Luke Spencer [215]

    Expansion teams

    Overview of USL Championship planned teams
    TeamCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoiningHead coachOn League Website
    Brooklyn FC [216] Brooklyn, New York City, New York Maimonides Park [iii] [217] 7,0002023 [218] 2026 [219] Yes
    Sporting Club Jacksonville [220] Jacksonville, Florida TBDTBD20222026 [221] [222] Yes
    Santa Barbara Sky FC [223] Santa Barbara, California Harder Stadium [224] 17,00020222026Yes
    Milwaukee Pro Soccer [225] Milwaukee, Wisconsin Iron District Stadium [ii] 8,00020222026 [226] [227] Yes
    Ozark United FC [228] [229] Rogers, Arkansas Ozark United Stadium [ii] 5,00020232026 [229] No
    Buffalo Pro Soccer Buffalo, New York TBDTBD20242026 [230] No
    USL Pro Iowa [231] [232] Des Moines, Iowa Pro Iowa Stadium [ii] 6,3002022TBD [233] Yes
    USL Palm Beach [234] Palm Beach County, Florida TBDTBD2023TBDNo
    USL Dallas [235] [236] Garland, Texas TBDTBD20242027Yes

    Notes

    Overview of inactive USL Championship teams
    ClubCityStadiumCapacityJoinedLast playedNotes
    OKC Energy FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Taft Stadium 7,50020142021Planned 2027 return, pending new stadium completion [237] [238]

    Former teams

    Overview of former USL Championship teams
    ClubCityStadiumCapacityJoinedFinal seasonMLS affiliationFate
    Antigua Barracuda FC St. John's, Antigua Stanford Cricket Ground 5,00020112013NoneFolded [41]
    Atlanta United 2 Kennesaw, Georgia Fifth Third Bank Stadium 8,31820182022 Atlanta United Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Austin Bold FC Austin, Texas Circuit of the Americas 5,00020172021NoneFolded [147]
    Austin Aztex Austin, Texas House Park 6,5002015 Columbus Crew SC Folded [59] [60]
    Charlotte Eagles Charlotte, North Carolina Dickson Field 5,00620112014NoneMoved to Premier Development League [i] [56]
    Charlotte Independence Charlotte, North Carolina Memorial Stadium 10,50020142021NoneMoved to USL League One [240]
    FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Nippert Stadium 33,80020152018NoneMoved to Major League Soccer [108]
    Dayton Dutch Lions West Carrollton, Ohio DOC Stadium 3,00020112014 Columbus Crew SC Moved to Premier Development League [i] [52]
    FC Montreal Montreal, Quebec Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard 3,50020152016 Montreal Impact Folded by MLS parent club [85]
    F.C. New York Queens, New York Belson Stadium 2,1682011NoneMoved to National Premier Soccer League [19]
    Fresno FC Fresno, California Chukchansi Park 12,50020172019NoneRelocated to Monterey County, California, became Monterey Bay FC [129]
    LA Galaxy II Carson, California Dignity Health Sports Park 10,00020142022 LA Galaxy Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Memphis 901 FC Memphis, Tennessee AutoZone Park [ii] 10,00020182024NoneFolded; USL rights transferred to Santa Barbara Sky FC [241]
    Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee First Tennessee Park 10,00020162019NoneMoved to Major League Soccer [128]
    New York Red Bulls II Montclair, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park 5,00020152022 New York Red Bulls Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Orlando City B Orlando, Florida Orlando City Stadium 3,50020162017 Orlando City SC Moved to USL League One [242] [115]
    Orlando City SC Bay Lake, Florida ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex 5,50020112014 Sporting Kansas City Moved to Major League Soccer; [243] [244] USL rights transferred to Louisville
    Ottawa Fury FC Ottawa, Ontario TD Place Stadium 24,00020172019 Montreal Impact Folded [130] USL rights transferred to Miami [245]
    Penn FC Harrisburg, Pennsylvania FNB Field 6,18720112018NoneFolded [109]
    Philadelphia Union II Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park 18,50020152020 Philadelphia Union Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Phoenix FC Tempe, Arizona Sun Devil Soccer Stadium 3,4002013NoneFolded; replaced by Arizona United SC [iii]
    Portland Timbers 2 Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro Stadium 7,60020152020 Portland Timbers Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Puerto Rico United [iv] Aguada, Puerto Rico Aguada Stadium 4,0002011NoneMoved to Liga Nacional (PR)
    Real Monarchs Herriman, Utah Zions Bank Stadium [v] 5,00020152021 Real Salt Lake Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Reno 1868 FC Reno, Nevada Greater Nevada Field [ii] 9,01320172020 San Jose Earthquakes Folded [136]
    Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium 22,00020112018 D.C. United Moved to USL League One [110]
    Rio Grande Valley FC Edinburg, Texas H-E-B Park [v] 9,40020162023NoneFolded [246] [247] [162]
    River Plate Puerto Rico [iv] Fajardo, Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Stadium 12,5002011NoneMoved to Puerto Rico Soccer League
    Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York Marina Auto Stadium 13,76820112017 New England Revolution Moved to MLS Next Pro [248] [239]
    Saint Louis FC Fenton, Missouri West Community Stadium [v] 5,50020142020NoneFolded [249] [250]
    San Diego Loyal SC San Diego, California Torero Stadium 6,00020202023NoneFolded [251]
    Sevilla Puerto Rico [iv] Juncos, Puerto Rico Josué Elevadito González Stadium2,5002011NoneMoved to Liga Nacional (PR)
    Sporting Kansas City II Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park [v] 18,46720162021 Sporting Kansas City Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Tacoma Defiance Tacoma, Washington Cheney Stadium [ii] 6,50020152021 Seattle Sounders FC Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    Toronto FC II Toronto, Ontario Lamport Stadium 9,60020142018 Toronto FC Moved to USL League One
    Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Vancouver, British Columbia Thunderbird Stadium 3,50020152017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Moved to MLS Next Pro [239]
    VSI Tampa Bay FC Plant City, Florida Plant City Stadium 6,70020132013NoneFolded [41]
    Wilmington Hammerheads FC Wilmington, North Carolina Legion Stadium 6,00020112016 Toronto FC & New York City FC Moved to PDL [i]
    1. 1 2 3 Known as USL League Two (USL2) since the 2019 season
    2. 1 2 3 Baseball park
    3. ↑ Renamed as Phoenix Rising FC in 2016.
    4. 1 2 3 Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico tried to participate in the USL's first season but had financial difficulties almost immediately and the league had to cancel all games after May and make significant changes to the remaining schedule
    5. 1 2 3 4 Soccer specific stadium

    Timeline

    USL DallasSporting Club JacksonvilleSanta Barbara Sky FCOzark United FCMilwaukee Pro SoccerUSL Pro IowaBuffalo Pro SoccerBrooklyn FCLexington SCRhode Island FCDetroit City FCOakland Roots SCSan Diego Loyal SCMiami FCNew Mexico UnitedMemphis 901 FCLoudoun United FCHartford AthleticEl Paso Locomotive FCBirmingham Legion FCAustin Bold FCNorth Carolina FCNashville SC (2018–19)Las Vegas Lights FCIndy ElevenMonterey Bay FCFresno FCAtlanta United 2Tampa Bay RowdiesReno 1868 FCOttawa Fury FCSporting Kansas City IISwope Park RangersSan Antonio FCRio Grande Valley FCOrlando City BFC Cincinnati (2016–18)Philadelphia Union IIBethlehem Steel FCWhitecaps FC 2FC TulsaTulsa Roughnecks FCToronto FC IITacoma DefianceSeattle Sounders FC 2Saint Louis FCReal MonarchsPortland Timbers 2New York Red Bulls IILouisville City FCFC MontrealColorado Springs Switchbacks FCCharlotte IndependenceAustin AztexSacramento Republic FCOklahoma City Energy FCLA Galaxy IIPhoenix Rising FCArizona United SCVSI Tampa Bay FCPhoenix FCWilmington Hammerheads FCRochester New York FCRichmond KickersPittsburgh Riverhounds SCOrlando City SC (2010–2014)Orange County SCOrange County SCOrange County SCPenn FCHarrisburg City IslandersF.C. New YorkDayton Dutch LionsCharlotte EaglesCharleston BatteryAntigua Barracuda FCUSL Championship

    ‡ Puerto Rico clubs Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico began play in the league, but in May 2011 United Soccer Leagues announced that the teams would not finish the season due to financial difficulties. [252]

    Competition format

    For the 2024 season, teams play a home-and-away schedule within their conference and an additional twelve games (six home and six away) against teams in the opposing conference for a 34-game schedule. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The USL Championship playoffs is a single-elimination tournament with a fixed bracket format, culminating in the USL Championship Final. [253]

    Media coverage

    The USL has been partnered with ESPN since the 2016 season. The first iteration of the deal brought 20 matches to ESPN3 and the championship match to one of its linear networks, while all remaining matches were broadcast directly by the league on its YouTube channel. [254]

    Beginning with the launch of ESPN+ on April 12, 2018, all USL matches moved to the over-the-top service, with 18 games of the week and the championship continuing to air on one of ESPN's linear channels. [255] The 2019 final will also air on ESPN Deportes. The deal with ESPN expired after the 2019 season, but was subsequently renewed for three additional seasons. Although the ESPN+ match streams are not blacked out in-market, individual clubs are also allowed to syndicate the USL-produced broadcast to local television stations. [256]

    The English-language commentary team for the USL Championship on ESPN has included Mike Watts and Devon Kerr since 2018. Watts and Kerr also host a weekly program, USL All-Access, on Sirius XM FC. Broadcasts on ESPN Deportes have been led by Jesús Eduardo Acosta and José Armando Rodriguez. [257]

    In August 2020, the USL announced their first international broadcast partner with Caribbean broadcaster Flow Sports. [258]

    In August 2021, the USL announced a new broadcast agreement with OneFootball in Italy. [259]

    The USL announced that four-year media deal with CBS Sports beginning with the 2024 season through 2027. [260] On February 27, 2024, the USL also announced multi-year deal with ESPN as a second broadcast partner through 2026. [261]

    RegionBroadcaster
    United States CBS Sports:
    (CBS, Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network)
    ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+
    CaribbeanFlow Sports
    Italy OneFootball

    Champions

    Teams that no longer participate in the USL Championship are in italics.

    SeasonPlayoff championsPlayers' Shield [a]
    USL Professional Division (USL Pro)
    2011 Orlando City SC Orlando City SC
    2012 Charleston Battery Orlando City SC
    2013 Orlando City SC Richmond Kickers
    2014 Sacramento Republic FC Orlando City SC
    United Soccer League
    2015 Rochester Rhinos Rochester Rhinos
    2016 New York Red Bulls II New York Red Bulls II
    2017 Louisville City FC Real Monarchs SLC
    2018 Louisville City FC FC Cincinnati
    USL Championship
    2019 Real Monarchs SLC Phoenix Rising FC
    2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Reno 1868 FC
    2021 Orange County SC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    2022 San Antonio FC San Antonio FC
    2023 Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
    2024 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Louisville City FC

    USL Championship Final results

    SeasonChampionsScoreRunners–upVenueAttendanceMVP
    2011 Orlando City SC 2–2 ( p ) Harrisburg City Islanders Citrus Bowl 11,220 Sean Kelley (ORL)
    2012 Charleston Battery 1–0 Wilmington Hammerheads Blackbaud Stadium 4,963 Jose Cuevas (CHS)
    2013 Orlando City SC 7–4 Charlotte Eagles Citrus Bowl 20,886 Dom Dwyer (ORL)
    2014 Sacramento Republic 2–0 Harrisburg City Islanders Bonney Field 8,000 Rodrigo López (SAC)
    2015 Rochester Rhinos 2–1 ( a.e.t. ) LA Galaxy II Sahlen's Stadium 5,247 Asani Samuels (ROC)
    2016 New York Red Bulls II 5–1 Swope Park Rangers Red Bull Arena 5,547 Brandon Allen (NYRB)
    2017 Louisville City FC 1–0 Swope Park Rangers Louisville Slugger Field 14,456 Paolo DelPiccolo (LOU)
    2018 Louisville City FC 1–0 Phoenix Rising FC Lynn Stadium 7,025 Luke Spencer (LOU)
    2019 Real Monarchs 3–1 Louisville City FC Lynn Stadium 7,025 Konrad Plewa (SLC)
    2020 Final cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic [b]
    2021 Orange County SC 3–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Al Lang Stadium 7,521 Ronaldo Damus (OCO)
    2022 San Antonio FC 3–1 Louisville City FC Toyota Field 8,534 Santiago Patiño (SAN)
    2023 Phoenix Rising FC 1–1 ( p ) Charleston Battery Patriots Point Soccer Complex 5,094 Rocco Ríos Novo (PHX)
    2024 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3–0 Rhode Island FC Weidner Field 8,023 Juan Tejada (COS)
    1. ↑ Known as the "Commissioners Cup" from 2011 to 2014 and the "regular season champions" from 2015 to 2022.
    2. ↑ The 2020 Final was scheduled to be played at Al Lang Stadium between Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC.

    USL club honors

    Updated to the end of the 2024 USL playoffs; sorted by major honors (championships).

    TeamSeasons USL playoffs USL regular seasonTotal honorsMajor honors /
    championships
    WinnerRunner-upWinnerRunner-up
    Orlando City SC 42—3165
    Louisville City FC 10221383
    Phoenix Rising FC 1112 [a] 1—42
    Rochester Rhinos 71—1132
    New York Red Bulls II 81—1—22
    Real Monarchs 71—1—22
    San Antonio FC 91—1—22
    Tampa Bay Rowdies 8—2 [a] 1—31
    Sacramento Republic 111——121
    Charleston Battery 1411——21
    Orange County SC 141———11
    Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 101———11
    FC Cincinnati 3——1—11
    Reno 1868 FC 4——1—11
    Richmond Kickers 8——1—11
    Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 14——1—11
    Harrisburg City Islanders 8—2——20
    Wilmington Hammerheads 6—1—120
    Sporting Kansas City II 6—2——20
    LA Galaxy II 8—1——10
    Charlotte Eagles 4—1——10
    Rhode Island FC 1—1——10
    1. 1 2 Includes the canceled 2020 finals.

    Player records

    As of January 27, 2024 [262]
    Most USL clean sheets
    RankPlayerCS
    1 Flag of the United States.svg Evan Newton 57
    2 Flag of the United States.svg Brandon Miller 43
    3 Flag of Cuba.svg Odisnel Cooper 40
    4 Flag of the United States.svg Matt Pickens 37
    Flag of the United States.svg Tomas Gomez 37
    5 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Cody Laurendi 36
    6 Flag of the United States.svg Carl Woszczynski 34
    7 Flag of Greece.svg Alex Tambakis 33
    8 Flag of Mexico.svg Miguel Gallardo 32
    Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Dykstra 32

    Attendance

    FC Cincinnati played before a record crowd of 20,497 at Nippert Stadium on April 16, 2016, in a rivalry match against neighboring Louisville City FC. [263] This broke the USL Pro's previous record for attendance at a regular-season match of 20,231 set by Sacramento Republic in its home debut on April 26, 2014, at Hughes Stadium. [264] Cincinnati broke the record again on May 14, 2016, with a new all-time high of 23,375. [265] Cincinnati broke the single game attendance record again on October 2, 2016, in their first ever playoff match against the Charleston Battery, losing 2–1 in the quarterfinals of the 2016 USL playoffs. The attendance of 30,187 also set the USL playoff record. [266]

    Cincinnati broke the regular season record again on August 5, 2017, at Nippert Stadium, drawing 25,308 against Orlando City B. They broke their own record again about six weeks later drawing 30,417 to a 4–2 win over the New York Red Bulls II. [267] Cincinnati broke the record once more in their final home regular season game as a USL team on September 29, 2018, drawing 31,478 versus Indy Eleven. [268]

    SeasonTeamsLeague avg.Playoff avg.Highest teamsLowest teamsRef
    2011 122,2745,5555,330 (Orlando City)
    4,927 (Rochester)    		410 (Los Angeles Blues)
    542 (Dayton)    		 [269]
    2012 112,7774,2526,606 (Orlando City)
    6,265 (Rochester)    		666 (Los Angeles Blues)
    722 (Dayton)    		 [270]
    2013 132,6116,9898,056 (Orlando City)
    5,898 (Rochester)    		378 (VSI Tampa Bay)
    718 (Los Angeles Blues)    		 [271]
    2014 143,1145,39711,293 (Sacramento)
    5,329 (Rochester)    		533 (Dayton)
    597 (LA Galaxy II)    		 [272]
    2015 243,3695,46311,313 (Sacramento)
    6,765 (Louisville City)    		313 (FC Montreal)
    479 (Toronto FC ll)    		 [273]
    2016 293,4395,28117,296 (FC Cincinnati)
    11,514 (Sacramento)    		243 (FC Montreal)
    589 (New York Red Bulls II)    		 [274]
    2017 304,3025,33921,198 (FC Cincinnati)
    11,569 (Sacramento)    		632 (New York Red Bulls II)
    869 (Vancouver Whitecaps 2)
    2018 334,9237,78625,717 (FC Cincinnati)
    11,311 (Sacramento)    		810 (Toronto FC II)
    812 (New York Red Bulls II)    		 [275]
    2019 364,4785,38912,693 (New Mexico United)
    10,734 (Indy Eleven)    		478 (Bethlehem Steel FC)
    505 (Swope Park Rangers)
    2020 N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
    2021 314,1386,64512,115 (Louisville City)
    10,418 (New Mexico United)    		310 (Loudoun United)
    369 (New York Red Bulls II)    		 [276] [277]
    2022 275,0617,84114,673 (Louisville City FC)
    14,519 (New Mexico United)    		122 (New York Red Bulls II)
    182 (New York Red Bulls II)    		 [278]
    2023 245,8036,39410,627 (Sacramento)
    10,547 (Louisville City)    		1,432 (Miami FC)
    2,664 (Loudoun United)    		 [279]

    See also

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