The 2024 USL Championship season may have come to an end, but there’s so much to be excited about within the world of the USL. Whether it be new teams, the new league or new stadiums, let’s look at the USL’s strong present and bright future.
2024 USL Championship Playoffs
With Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC winning their first title, the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs are now over. What a way to cap off an exciting season that had everything to offer. All eyes were on the league as Rhode Island FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC faced off on CBS.
It was a day to remember for those in Colorado Springs, as a sold-out crowd got to see their squad win in dominant fashion, 3-0. The Final provided a great conclusion to the season, but the Playoffs as a whole were full of unforgettable moments.
While Rhode Island’s title run fell short, their journey there will be remembered for years to come in New England. The first-year team put up incredible numbers all season and have already established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
Fans also saw some upsets throughout the Playoffs, with clubs like Detroit City FC and Indy Eleven going down in the first round. There was also no shortage of wild finishes, with multiple matches being decided by penalty kick shootouts.
The supporters and the home atmospheres they provided only added to the excitement of the matches. Speaking of fans, four clubs boasted average attendances of at least 9,000 fans per match. This was capped off by the Colorado Springs faithful getting to see their squad reach the peak of the USL Championship.
USL Super League
The Championship’s campaign may have ended, but things have been and are continuing to heat up in the USL Super League. The women’s league was granted Division I status and the excitement has lived up to it.
Similar to what we saw in the Championship, the best teams can sometimes be the ones we least expect. Brooklyn FC, who faced a myriad of roadblocks at the beginning of the season, have prevailed and currently sit atop the standings. They’ve been on a tear lately, rattling off four consecutive wins to secure their No. 1 spot.
Not far behind is Carolina Ascent FC with a gap of just two points. There’s only a couple of matches remaining before the winter break, where players will have a chance to rest and recuperate before play resumes in February. This break will be a whole lot sweeter for whichever squad can secure the lead over the holidays.
Overall, the league has had great reception throughout the first half of its inaugural season. Accolades include league president Amanda Vandervort receiving the United Soccer Coaches Women’s Award of Excellence. In just four months, the USL Super League has harvested a passion for women’s soccer throughout eight markets, with even more on the way.
Expansion
We mentioned Rhode Island FC and their first-year success already, but could this be replicated in the near future? The USL may already be the largest professional soccer organization in the United States, but it’s still growing by the day.
Just days ago, the league announced that there will be a new USL Championship club in 2027 in the Dallas area, which ranks as the fourth-largest metro area in the nation. Other expansion outfits include more large markets such as Brooklyn (New York), Indianapolis (Super League) and Milwaukee.
The future excitement doesn’t end at expansion clubs, though. Sacramento Republic FC recently received the good news of city support behind their project of building a soccer-specific stadium in Downtown Sacramento. Detroit City FC also has plans in place to build a downtown stadium of their own.
The USL is anything but stagnant. There’s always something going on, and that’s cause for great excitement. Perhaps the most relevant piece of expansion is Sporting JAX who will be looking to join the fray soon. We can’t say when just yet, but be on the lookout for updates and announcements in the coming months.
