2021 USL Championship season

USL Championship
Season2021
DatesApril 24 – October 30
ChampionsOrange County SC
(1st title)
Regular season titleTampa Bay Rowdies
Matches played498
Goals scored1,421 (2.85 per match)
Top goalscorerHadji Barry
(25 goals)
Biggest home winHFD 7–0 NYRB
(June 5)
Biggest away winLDN 0–5 CLT
(September 8)
Highest scoringLVL 3–6 PHX
(October 16)
Longest winning run9 matches
TBR
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
TBR
Longest winless run13 matches
LVL
Longest losing run10 matches
LVL
Highest attendance12,115
LOU 3–0 MEM
(June 12)
Lowest attendance0
Various
Total attendance324,571
Average attendance3,246
2020
2022

The 2021 USL Championship season was the eleventh season of the USL Championship and the fifth season under Division II sanctioning. This was the third season under the name "USL Championship", having used the name "United Soccer League" through 2018. The 2021 season saw 31 teams participate in four divisions during the regular season.[1]

Changes from 2020[edit]

Expansion clubs

Departing clubs

Teams[edit]

The following teams are playing in the 2021 USL Championship season:

Team Location Stadium Capacity Head coach MLS affiliate / ownership
Atlanta United 2 Kennesaw, Georgia Fifth Third Bank Stadium 8,318 Wales Jack Collison Atlanta United FC
Austin Bold FC Austin, Texas Bold Stadium 5,000 Jamaica Ryan Thompson
Birmingham Legion FC Birmingham, Alabama BBVA Field 5,000 United States Tom Soehn
Charleston Battery Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Patriots Point Soccer Complex 3,900 United States Mike Anhaeuser
Charlotte Independence Matthews, North Carolina Sportsplex at Matthews 5,000 United States Mike Jeffries
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Colorado Springs, Colorado Weidner Field 8,000 United States Brendan Burke Colorado Rapids
FC Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma ONEOK Field 7,833 United States Michael Nsien
El Paso Locomotive FC El Paso, Texas Southwest University Park 9,500 England Mark Lowry
Hartford Athletic Hartford, Connecticut Dillon Stadium 5,500 England Harry Watling
Indy Eleven Indianapolis, Indiana IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium 10,524 England Max Rogers
LA Galaxy II Carson, California Dignity Health Track Stadium 5,000 United States Junior Gonzalez LA Galaxy
Las Vegas Lights FC Las Vegas, Nevada Cashman Field 9,334 United States Steve Cherundolo Los Angeles FC
Loudoun United FC Leesburg, Virginia Segra Field 5,000 United States Ryan Martin D.C. United
Louisville City FC Louisville, Kentucky Lynn Family Stadium 11,700 United States Danny Cruz
Memphis 901 FC Memphis, Tennessee AutoZone Park 10,000 United States Ben Pirmann[7]
Miami FC Miami, Florida Riccardo Silva Stadium 25,000 Scotland Paul Dalglish
New Mexico United Albuquerque, New Mexico Isotopes Park 13,500 United States Troy Lesesne
New York Red Bulls II Montclair, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field 5,000 United States John Wolyniec New York Red Bulls
OKC Energy FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Taft Stadium 7,500 England Leigh Veidman
Oakland Roots SC Oakland, California Laney College Football Stadium 5,500 United States Jordan Ferrell
Orange County SC Irvine, California Champions Stadium 5,000 England Richard Chaplow (interim)
Phoenix Rising FC Chandler, Arizona Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex at Wild Horse Pass 10,000 United States Rick Schantz
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Highmark Stadium 5,000 United States Bob Lilley
Real Monarchs Herriman, Utah Zions Bank Stadium 5,000 Colombia Jámison Olave Real Salt Lake
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Edinburg, Texas H-E-B Park 9,400 Colombia Wilmer Cabrera Houston Dynamo FC
Sacramento Republic FC Sacramento, California Heart Health Park 11,569 England Mark Briggs
San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas Toyota Field 8,296 Canada Alen Marcina New York City FC
San Diego Loyal SC San Diego, California Torero Stadium 6,000 United States Landon Donovan
Sporting Kansas City II Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park 18,467 Brazil Paulo Nagamura Sporting Kansas City
Tacoma Defiance Tacoma, Washington Cheney Stadium 6,500 United States Wade Webber Seattle Sounders FC
Tampa Bay Rowdies St. Petersburg, Florida Al Lang Stadium 7,227 Scotland Neill Collins
  MLS-affiliated
  MLS-owned
  1. ^
  2. ^
    Opened in 2021;not to be confused with the former Weidner Field, now known as Switchbacks Training Stadium,where the team played from 2015 to 2020.

Conference Tables[edit]

Eastern Conference[edit]

Pos Div Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 AT Tampa Bay Rowdies 32 23 2 7 55 23 +32 71 Playoffs
2 CT Louisville City FC 32 18 7 7 61 37 +24 61
3 CT Birmingham Legion FC 32 18 6 8 51 31 +20 60
4 AT Charlotte Independence 32 18 5 9 57 36 +21 59
5 AT Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 32 17 7 8 52 34 +18 58
6 AT Miami FC 32 16 6 10 55 40 +15 54
7 CT Memphis 901 FC 32 14 8 10 47 42 +5 50
8 CT FC Tulsa 32 14 5 13 49 48 +1 47
9 AT Hartford Athletic 32 12 5 15 50 50 0 41
10 AT Charleston Battery 32 10 7 15 49 60 −11 37
11 CT OKC Energy FC 32 8 13 11 30 38 −8 37
12 CT Indy Eleven 32 9 8 15 32 47 −15 35
13 CT Atlanta United 2 32 8 10 14 47 56 −9 34
14 AT New York Red Bulls II 32 7 7 18 42 67 −25 28
15 CT Sporting Kansas City II 32 4 8 20 33 64 −31 20
16 AT Loudoun United FC 32 4 3 25 31 78 −47 15
Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal differential; 4) total points earned against in-division opponents; 5) total regular season wins against in-division opponents; 6) total goal differential against in-division opponents; 7) total goals scored against in-division opponents; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots.

Western Conference[edit]

Pos Div Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 PC Phoenix Rising FC 32 20 7 5 68 35 +33 67 Playoffs
2 MT El Paso Locomotive FC 32 18 10 4 56 34 +22 64
3 PC Orange County SC 32 15 7 10 44 37 +7 52
4 MT San Antonio FC 32 14 10 8 50 38 +12 52
5 MT Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 32 13 10 9 60 50 +10 49
6 PC San Diego Loyal SC 32 14 6 12 51 43 +8 48
7 MT Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 32 13 8 11 49 42 +7 47
8 MT New Mexico United 32 12 10 10 44 40 +4 46
9 MT Austin Bold FC 32 10 12 10 32 42 −10 42
10 PC Oakland Roots SC 32 11 8 13 36 43 −7 41 Playoffs
11 PC LA Galaxy II 32 11 6 15 55 57 −2 39
12 PC Tacoma Defiance 32 10 9 13 37 41 −4 39
13 PC Sacramento Republic FC 32 8 12 12 36 42 −6 36
14 MT Real Monarchs 32 5 7 20 28 56 −28 22
15 PC Las Vegas Lights FC 32 6 3 23 41 77 −36 21
Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal differential; 4) total points earned against in-division opponents; 5) total regular season wins against in-division opponents; 6) total goal differential against in-division opponents; 7) total goals scored against in-division opponents; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots.

Competition format[edit]

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some changes from the most recent pre-COVID format involving two stand alone conferences. For this season, each of the conferences will be further split into two divisions, Atlantic and Central in the Eastern Conference and Mountain and Pacific in the Western Conference, creating four geographically based divisions of 8 (or 7) teams. The teams will play a 32-game schedule in a 27-week period starting around May 1. Individual teams can start their seasons between April 24 and May 15, based on crowd restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] During the regular season, each team will play its division opponents four times – twice home, twice away, for a total of 28 (or in the Mountain Division, 24) games, making up the bulk of each team's season. The remaining games in each teams schedule will be played against regional or cross-conference opponents.[8]

Managerial changes[edit]

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment
Hartford Athletic Tunisia Radhi Jaïdi Mutual separation October 20, 2020[9] England Harry Watling January 13, 2021[10]
Rio Grande Valley FC United States Gerson Echeverry Contract not renewed November 6, 2020[11] Colombia Wilmer Cabrera February 11, 2021[12]
Colorado Springs Switchbacks South Africa Alan Koch Resigned November 14, 2020[13] United States Brendan Burke December 12, 2020[14]
Tacoma Defiance Scotland Chris Little Resigned February 26, 2021 United States Wade Webber February 26, 2021[15]
Las Vegas Lights FC Canada Frank Yallop Mutual separation March 12, 2021 United States Steve Cherundolo March 12, 2021[16]
Atlanta United 2 Scotland Stephen Glass[17] Signed by Aberdeen March 23, 2021 England Tony Annan (interim) March 23, 2021
Oakland Roots SC United States Dario Pot Mutual separation April 25, 2021[18] United States Jordan Ferrell[a] April 25, 2021[18]
Louisville City FC United States John Hackworth Mutual separation April 27, 2021 United States Danny Cruz[b] April 27, 2021[21]
Atlanta United 2 England Tony Annan (interim) End of interim period June 3, 2021 Wales Jack Collison June 3, 2021[22]
OKC Energy FC United States John Pascarella Mutual separation June 4, 2021[23] England Leigh Veidman[c] June 4, 2021
Indy Eleven Scotland Martin Rennie Mutual separation June 16, 2021[25] England Max Rogers (interim) June 19, 2021[26]
Orange County SC United States Braeden Cloutier Sacked August 19, 2021[27] England Richard Chaplow[d] August 19, 2021[27]
Austin Bold FC Brazil Marcelo Serrano Promoted to Sporting Director September 4, 2021[29] Jamaica Ryan Thompson September 4, 2021[29]
  1. ^ Ferrell was initially appointed as interim head coach, but the move was made permanent on May 19, 2021.[19]
  2. ^ Cruz was initially appointed as interim head coach, but the move was made permanent on October 11, 2021.[20]
  3. ^ Veidman was initially appointed as interim head coach, but the move was made permanent on October 28, 2021.[24]
  4. ^ Chaplow was initially appointed as interim head coach, but the move was made permanent on November 9, 2021.[28]

Results table[edit]

Color key: Home  • Away  • Win  • Loss  • Draw
Club Matches[30]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Atlanta United 2
(ATL)
LOU OKC OKC TUL MEM BHM LOU SKC MEM OKC MEM IND SKC LOU TUL BHM BHM IND OKC SKC PGH TUL IND CHS TBR BHM RGV LOU IND SKC MEM TUL
0–2 1–0 2–2 5–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 2–1 2–2 1–3 6–2 2–2 4–1 1–4 1–3 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–3 1–1 1–1 3–0[a] 2–4 0–4
Austin Bold FC
(ATX)
NMU SLC SLC ELP PGH NMU RGV COS OAK SAN RGV SLC RGV SAN COS ELP MIA RGV NMU COS SAN NMU TUL ELP COS TAC OKC BHM SLC ELP SAN CLT
1–3 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–3 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–3 2–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–3 3–4 0–3 0–0 1–1
Birmingham Legion FC
(BHM)
IND LOU MEM SAN OKC ATL TUL OKC LOU MIA IND MEM IND ATL ATL TUL SKC MEM TUL LOU SKC MEM TUL OKC ATL CLT SKC IND ATX OKC SKC LOU
0–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 4–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–1 1–0 3–1 3–1 0–0 6–0 0–1
Charleston Battery
(CHS)
NYR CLT NYR LDN MIA CLT LDN TBR PGH NMU HFD CLT LDN MIA PGH LDN HFD NYR OCO TBR ATL MIA NYR PGH TBR TBR HFD CLT LAG PGH HFD MIA
1–1 0–3 2–2 1–0 2–1 0–3 3–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 2–0 5–3 2–3 2–3 1–0 1–2 3–2 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–3 1–2 2–4 4–3 1–5 3–1 1–2 0–2 0–4
Charlotte Independence
(CLT)
TBR CHS PGH MIA TBR HFD NYR CHS MIA PGH NYR PHX CHS TBR LDN NYR PGH COL TBR MIA LDN HFD PGH MIA BHM HFD LDN NYR CHS HFD LDN ATX
0–3 3–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 3–2 1–3 3–0 1–2 0–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–0 3–2 1–0 3–3 0–2 2–2 5–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–2 2–1 5–1 2–1 5–1 2–1 1–0 1–1
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(COS)
SAN SKC NMU SAN ELP TAC ATX NMU OCO SLC NMU SAN LOU LDN ATX HFD MEM RGV CLT ATX NMU SLC RGV ELP RGV ATX ELP SLC ELP RGV SLC SAN
0–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 4–2 3–2 3–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 2–3 1–1 3–1 1–2 4–2 1–1 5–2 3–3 4–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–4 1–0 1–1 0–3
El Paso Locomotive
(ELP)
NMU RGV SKC ATX IND COS SLC RGV NMU SLC LVL NMU SAN SLC SAN ATX NMU RGV SAN OCO SAC COS ATX SLC COS SAN TUL COS LAG ATX OKC RGV
1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–3 2–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 1–1 3–3 2–1 4–2 0–5 3–0 4–0 1–4
Hartford Athletic
(HFD)
NYR MIA PGH NYR CLT LDN TBR LDN NYR TBR CHS MIA PGH MIA COS TBR CHS MIA PGH NYR LOU CLT SLC TBR CLT NMU CHS LDN LDN CLT CHS PGH
3–2 1–0 1–1 7–0 2–3 2–1 0–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–3 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–4 0–1 2–1 0–2 2–3 0–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–2 2–2 3–4 3–2 1–0 1–2 2–0 0–0
Indy Eleven
(IND)
BHM TUL SKC LOU OKC MEM ELP PGH SKC LOU BHM ATL MEM BHM TUL ATL OKC LDN SKC SLC ATL TUL SKC LOU MEM OKC OKC ATL BHM LOU TUL MEM
1–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–1 2–1 3–3 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 2–6 2–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–2 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 0–3
LA Galaxy II
(LAG)
SAC LVL TAC SLC SKC OAK OCO SDG LVL OCO TAC PHX TAC PHX OAK SDG OCO OAK LVL SAC SDG PHX OAK SAC PHX SDG LVL SAC ELP CHS TAC OCO
0–1 5–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 4–3 1–2 3–4 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–5 3–0 0–2 3–2 1–2 3–2 3–3 2–4 3–4 1–0 2–0 3–0 0–3 1–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 2–3 0–1
Las Vegas Lights
(LVL)
LAG SAC PHX SDG TAC SAN LAG OCO SDG TAC OAK SAC ELP SLC OCO PHX SAC SDG OAK LAG TAC SAC OAK OCO PHX SDG OAK LAG TAC PHX OCO TBR
0–5 1–3 1–5 1–2 2–0 1–1 4–3 1–3 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–3 3–1 2–2 1–2 1–5 1–3 2–3 1–2 1–3 0–1 0–3 1–4 2–4 2–2 0–1 1–0 3–6 1–2 1–2
Loudoun United FC
(LDN)
MIA NYR NMU PGH CHS TBR HFD CHS PGH HFD MIA PGH TBR CHS COS CLT CHS IND TBR RGV CLT PGH MIA NYR CLT MIA HFD HFD NYR TBR CLT NYR
1–2 1–2 1–0 2–3 0–1 1–2 1–2 0–3 2–1 0–2 1–4 0–1 1–3 3–5 1–3 0–0 0–1 4–1 0–2 1–1 0–5 0–5 1–6 3–3 1–5 3–2 2–3 0–1 0–3 0–1 0–1 1–4
Louisville City FC
(LOU)
ATL BHM SDG IND ATL MEM BHM TUL IND SKC TUL OKC ATL COS SKC OKC SKC TUL OKC BHM TUL HFD OKC IND MEM ATL NMU SKC MEM IND MEM BHM
2–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 3–0 2–0 3–2 3–3 4–2 2–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–3 1–2 0–1 3–1 1–0
Memphis 901 FC
(MEM)
BHM ATL OKC IND LOU ATL OKC SKC ATL BHM IND TUL SKC OKC COS BHM TUL SKC OKC BHM MIA NYR IND LOU TUL SKC SAN LOU ATL LOU TUL IND
0–1 2–2 0–0 2–1 0–3 1–0 0–1 2–3 2–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 3–2 0–2 3–0 1–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 2–4 2–1 4–2 1–3 3–2 3–0
Miami FC
(MIA)
LDN HFD NYR TBR CLT RGV PGH CHS BHM CLT NYR TBR LDN TBR HFD CHS HFD PGH ATX HFD NYR CLT MEM CHS CLT LDN PGH LDN TBR NYR PGH CHS
2–1 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 2–4 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 4–1 2–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 3–2 0–0 2–0 3–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 6–1 3–2 2–3 0–3 2–0 0–1[b] 4–0
New Mexico United
(NMU)
RGV ELP ATX COS LDN SLC ATX SAN COS SLC ELP COS CHB SAN ELP TAC ELP OAK ATX PHX COS ATX SLC SAN RGV LOU HFD RGV SDG SAN RGV SLC
0–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–3 2–3 1–2 3–1 2–1 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 3–1
New York Red Bulls II
(NYR)
HFD CHS MIA LDN CHS PGH TBR HFD CLT PGH MIA CLT HFD PGH SAC TBR CLT CHS MIA PGH HFD TBR SAN MEM CHS SLC LDN CLT TBR LDN MIA LDN
2–3 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–2 0–3 0–1 0–7 3–1 1–2 1–1 3–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–2 2–3 2–3 0–3 0–1 2–0 0–6 1–2 0–3 3–2 0–0 3–3 1–2 1–1 3–0 0–2 4–1
Oakland Roots SC
(OAK)
PHX LAG SAC OCO ATX SDG SAC LVL LAG OCO PHX TAC SAC LAG NMU LVL PHX TAC TBR LVL SDG TAC LAG SDG OCO LVL SAC PHX OCO TAC SDG SKC
0–3 3–2 3–3 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–3 0–3 0–1 1–3 0–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 4–3 1–0
OKC Energy
(OKC)
TUL ATL SKC ATL BHM MEM IND BHM MEM SKC ATL TUL LOU TUL SKC LOU MEM ATL IND LOU RGV MEM SKC LOU BHM IND IND SAN ATX BHM ELP TUL
1–3 0–1 1–1 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0 1–2 4–1 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 0–4 0–2
Orange County SC
(OCO)
TAC SAC LAG SAC SDG OAK LVL LAG COS TAC SAC SDG RGV SAC LVL OAK LAG PHX TAC SDG CHS ELP LVL PHX OAK PHX TAC PHX OAK SDG LVL LAG
0–1 1–0 3–4 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–3 1–1 0–3 2–1 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–2 2–1 0–1 1–4 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–0
Phoenix Rising FC
(PHX)
SDG OAK TBR LVL SAC SDG TAC SDG SAC LAG CLT LAG SDG RGV OAK LVL OCO SAC OAK NMU TAC LAG LVL OCO TAC LAG OCO OAK OCO LVL SAC TAC
4–1 3–0 1–2 5–1 1–0 2–2 3–0 1–2 3–1 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–3 3–2 3–1 4–3 4–1 2–1 2–1 0–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 6–3 1–1 1–1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(PGH)
TBR HFD CLT NYR LDN ATX MIA IND TBR NYR LDN CLT CHS LDN NYR HFD CHS MIA CLT TBR ATL HFD NYR SAN LDN CLT CHS MIA TBR CHS MIA HFD
0–3 1–1 0–1 3–0 3–2 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–1 3–1 3–2 2–3 0–1 0–0 4–1 3–2 1–0 1–1 5–0 0–1 3–3 2–3 2–0 2–1 1–0[b] 0–0
Real Monarchs
(SLC)
SAN LAG ATX ATX NMU SAC RGV ELP TAC SAN NMU COS ELP ATX LVL ELP RGV SDG IND SAN COS SAN HFD NMU NYR ELP RGV COS ATX COL RGV NMU
2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–3 1–3 0–1 3–2 1–3 0–3 1–0 0–2 2–3 0–2 0–1 0–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–3 0–0 4–3 1–1 1–3 1–3
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
(RGV)
NMU SDG SAN ELP SAN MIA SLC ATX SAN TUL ELP ATX OCO ATX PHX SLC SAN COS ATX ELP OKC LDN COS COS ATL NMU SLC NMU COS NMU SLC ELP
1–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 4–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–0 1–2 2–5 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 3–2 0–2 3–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 3–1 4–1
Sacramento Republic FC
(SAC)
LAG LVL OCO PHX OAK OCO SLC PHX SDG OAK OCO LVL OCO NYR TAC OAK LVL PHX SDG LAG LVL ELP SAN TAC LAG TAC OAK SDG LAG TAC PHX SDG
1–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 3–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–0 0–2 2–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–3 3–3 3–1 0–2 0–1 1–0 0–2 3–1 1–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1
San Antonio FC
(SAN)
COS SLC RGV BHM RGV COS LVL NMU RGV SLC ATX COS NMU ELP ATX ELP RGV ELP SLC PGH ATX SLC NYR SAC NMU OKC ELP MEM TUL NMU ATX COS
3–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–1 3–2 3–0 1–2 3–0 0–2 2–1 2–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 2–4 0–0 3–0
San Diego Loyal SC
(SDG)
PHX RGV TAC LOU LVL PHX OCO LAG PHX LVL OAK SAC OCO PHX TAC LAG SLC TAC LVL OCO SAC LAG OAK TAC OAK LVL LAG SAC NMU OCO OAK SAC
1–4 0–1 1–3 1–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 2–0 0–1 1–2 5–1 1–2 3–1 4–2 0–0 1–0 1–2 4–2 3–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 3–4 1–1
Sporting Kansas City II
(SKC)
TUL OKC COS LAG IND ELP TUL ATL TUL IND OKC MEM LOU ATL OKC LOU MEM LOU BHM ATL IND MEM BHM OKC IND TUL BHM MEM LOU ATL BHM OAK
0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–0 4–1 2–2 3–4 1–2 0–1 3–2 2–4 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–4 2–4 1–4 1–1 0–0 0–1 3–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–3 3–4 0–3[a] 0–6 0–1
Tacoma Defiance
(TAC)
LAG SDG OCO LVL PHX COS SLC LAG LVL OCO LAG SDG NMU SAC OAK SDG OCO OAK LVL PHX OAK SDG SAC PHX SAC ATX OCO LVL SAC OAK LAG PHX
1–1 3–1 1–0 0–2 0–3 2–4 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–2 1–3 0–1 4–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 3–2 1–1
Tampa Bay Rowdies
(TBR)
CLT PGH PHX MIA NYR CLT LDN PGH HFD CHS MIA HFD MIA LDN CLT NYR HFD PGH LDN CLT OAK CHS NYR ATL HFD CHS CHS PGH NYR MIA LDN LVL
3–0 3–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–2 3–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 2-0 3–0 1–0 6–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 4–2 0–2 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–1
FC Tulsa
(TUL)
OKC SKC IND ATL SKC BHM SKC LOU RGV OKC LOU OKC MEM ATL IND BHM LOU BHM MEM ATL LOU IND BHM ATX SKC MEM ELP SAN ATL IND MEM OKC
3–1 2–0 2–0 0–5 1–4 1–2 4–3 2–3 2–1 0–0 3–2 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–2 3–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–3 2–0
  1. ^ a b The USL awarded a 3–0 win to Atlanta United 2 after Sporting Kansas City II fielded Jake Davis who was an ineligible player. The original score was 1–0 for Sporting Kansas City II.[31]
  2. ^ a b The USL decided to replay the October 16 match from the 67th minute after the referee wrongly disallowed a Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC goal. The original score was 0–0.[32]

Playoffs[edit]

Bracket[edit]

Conference Quarterfinals
November 5–7
Conference Semifinals
November 13
Conference Finals
November 20
USL Championship Final
November 28
            
A1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 6
C4 FC Tulsa 2
A1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
C2 Birmingham Legion FC 0
C2 Birmingham Legion FC w/o
A3 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
A1 Tampa Bay Rowdies (a.e.t.) 3
Eastern Conference
C1 Louisville City FC 2
A2 Charlotte Independence 3
C3 Memphis 901 FC 1
A2 Charlotte Independence 0
C1 Louisville City FC 1
C1 Louisville City FC 1
A4 Miami FC 0
A1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
P2 Orange County SC 3
M1 El Paso Locomotive FC 0
P4 Oakland Roots SC 1
P4 Oakland Roots SC 0 (5)
P2 Orange County SC (p) 0 (6)
P2 Orange County SC 1
M3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 0
P2 Orange County SC (p) 1 (5)
Western Conference
M2 San Antonio FC 1 (3)
M2 San Antonio FC 2
P3 San Diego Loyal SC 0
M2 San Antonio FC 3
M4 Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 1
P1 Phoenix Rising FC 3 (3)
M4 Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (p) 3 (4)

Conference quarter-finals[edit]

November 6, 2021 (2021-11-06) East Charlotte Independence 3–1Memphis 901 FCCharlotte, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,723
Referee: Mark Allatin
November 6, 2021 (2021-11-06) East Tampa Bay Rowdies 6–2FC TulsaSt. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,262
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
November 6, 2021 (2021-11-06) East Louisville City FC 1–0Miami FCLouisville, Kentucky
8:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 9,097
Referee: Elton García
November 7, 2021 (2021-11-07) East Birmingham Legion FC w/oPittsburgh Riverhounds SCBirmingham, Alabama
5:00 PM EST Report Stadium: BBVA Field
Note: Match canceled after multiple Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players tested positive for COVID-19.[33]
November 5, 2021 (2021-11-05) West San Antonio FC 2–0San Diego Loyal SCSan Antonio, Texas
8:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 7,003
Referee: Matthew Thompson
November 5, 2021 (2021-11-05) WestEl Paso Locomotive FC0–1 Oakland Roots SC El Paso, Texas
7:30 PM MDT
Report
Stadium: Southwest University Park
Attendance: 7,201
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
November 6, 2021 (2021-11-06) West Orange County SC 1–0Colorado Springs Switchbacks FCIrvine, California
7:00 PM PDT
Report
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 4,194
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
November 6, 2021 (2021-11-06) WestPhoenix Rising FC3–3 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Chandler, Arizona
7:30 PM MST
Report
Stadium: Wild Horse Pass
Attendance: 8,234
Referee: Brandon Stevis
Penalties

Conference semi-finals[edit]

November 13, 2021 East Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0Birmingham Legion FCSt. Petersburg, Florida
7:00 pm EST
Report
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,949
Referee: Elton García
November 13, 2021 East Louisville City FC 1–0Charlotte IndependenceLouisville, Kentucky
7:30 pm EST
Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 9,155
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
November 13, 2021 West San Antonio FC 3–1Rio Grande Valley FC TorosSan Antonio, Texas
8:00 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 7,966
Referee: Mark Allatin

Conference finals[edit]

November 20, 2021 East Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–2 (a.e.t.)Louisville City FCSt. Petersburg, Florida
7:00 pm EST
Report
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 7,120
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
November 20, 2021 West Orange County SC 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
San Antonio FCIrvine, California
7:00 pm PST
Report
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 5,386
Referee: Elton García
Penalties

USL Championship Final[edit]

November 28, 2021 (2021-11-28) Tampa Bay Rowdies1–3 Orange County SC St. Petersburg, Florida
8:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 7,521
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez

Championship Game MVP: Ronaldo Damus (Orange County SC)

Average home attendances[edit]

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Team GP Total High Low Average
Birmingham Legion FC 4 20,354 10,177 N/A 10,177*
Louisville City FC 6 55,378 12,115 7,652 9,223
New Mexico United 4 32,996 9,288 6,260 8,249
Las Vegas Lights FC 2 7,298 7,298 N/A 7,298*
El Paso Locomotive FC 4 23,843 6,589 5,189 5,961
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3 16,295 5,600 5,164 5,432
Memphis 901 FC 1 5,083 5,083 5,083 5,083
Phoenix Rising FC 5 14,824 7,316 N/A 4,942*
Indy Eleven 5 19,995 4,999 1,999 3,999
FC Tulsa 2 7,931 4,241 3,690 3,966
Hartford Athletic 2 7,773 5,023 2,750 3,887
San Antonio FC 4 15,200 3,852 3,735 3,800
Orange County SC 4 11,988 5,740 2,042 2,997
Tampa Bay Rowdies 5 13,053 4,332 1,870 2,611
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 3 7,762 3,115 2,079 2,587
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 5 12,527 2,610 2,195 2,506
Sacramento Republic FC 4 9,852 2,513 2,313 2,463
OKC Energy FC 5 11,562 3,380 1,732 2,313
San Diego Loyal SC 2 4,033 2,033 2,000 2,017
Charleston Battery 3 5,316 2,085 1,550 1,772
Charlotte Independence 2 2,913 2,380 533 1,457
Real Monarchs 5 6,031 1,715 800 1,207
Tacoma Defiance 2 2,436 1,222 1,214 1,218
Austin Bold FC 2 2,138 1,347 791 1,069
Loudoun United FC 3 2,653 1,126 710 885
Atlanta United 2 5 4,343 1,421 643 867
New York Red Bulls II 6 3,073 669 369 513
Miami FC 4 0 0 0 0
LA Galaxy II 6 0 0 0 0
Sporting Kansas City II 4 0 0 0 0
Oakland Roots SC 0 0 0 0 0
Total 100 324,571 117,269 60,284 98,754

Updated to games of June 18, 2021.
Note: Stadium capacities are reduced to promote social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Statistic may be incorrect due to no official attendance being released by neither the league nor club for one or more game(s); average attendances do not include the unreported matches.

Regular season statistical leaders[edit]

Top scorers[edit]

Rank Player Club Goals[34]
1 Guinea Hadji Barry Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 25
2 Uruguay Sebastián Guenzatti Tampa Bay Rowdies 21
3 England Cameron Lancaster Louisville City FC 20
United States Kyle Murphy Memphis 901 FC
5 Jamaica Neco Brett Birmingham Legion FC 18
6 United States Preston Judd LA Galaxy II 17
7 United States Russell Cicerone Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 16
Spain Santi Moar Phoenix Rising FC
9 Haiti Ronaldo Damus Orange County SC 14
United States Chris Wehan Orange County SC

Hat-tricks[edit]

Player Club Against Result Date
Colombia Santiago Patiño San Antonio FC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3–0 (H)[35] May 1, 2021
Ghana Elvis Amoh Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Miami FC 4–2 (A)[36] June 6, 2021
United States Preston Judd LA Galaxy II Las Vegas Lights FC 3–4 (H)[37] June 16, 2021
United States Tyler Wolff Atlanta United 2 Indy Eleven 6–2 (H)[38] August 8, 2021
United States Russell Cicerone Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Atlanta United 2 4–1 (H)[39] August 22, 2021
United States Samuel Adeniran Tacoma Defiance Orange County SC 4–1 (H)[40] October 9, 2021
United States Cal Jennings Las Vegas Lights FC Phoenix Rising FC 3–6 (H)[41] October 16, 2021
England Cameron Lancaster Louisville City FC Memphis 901 FC 3–1 (H)[42] October 23, 2021
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Top assists[edit]

Rank Player Club Assists[34]
1 United States Danny Barrera Hartford Athletic 12
2 United States Brian Ownby Louisville City FC 11
United States Aodhan Quinn Phoenix Rising FC
4 Bermuda Zeiko Lewis Charleston Battery 10
5 United States Alex Dixon Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 9
United States Josh Drack LA Galaxy II
7 United States Russell Cicerone Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 8
United States Kadeem Dacres Memphis 901 FC
United States Jonathan Gómez Louisville City FC
Democratic Republic of the Congo Michee Ngalina Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Clean sheets[edit]

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[34]
1 United States Evan Louro Tampa Bay Rowdies 14
2 United States Elliot Panicco Austin Bold FC 11
3 United States Danny Vitiello Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 9
United States Jeff Caldwell Hartford Athletic
United States C. J. Cochran OKC Energy FC
United States Logan Ketterer El Paso Locomotive FC
Germany Patrick Rakovsky Orange County SC
United States Matt Van Oekel Birmingham Legion FC
9 United States Justin Vom Steeg LA Galaxy II 8
10 United States Matt Cardone San Antonio FC 7
Greece Alexandros Tabakis New Mexico United

League awards[edit]

Individual awards[edit]

Award Winner Team Reason Ref.
Golden Boot Guinea Hadji Barry Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 25 goals; ties league record [43]
Golden Glove United States Evan Louro Tampa Bay Rowdies 14 shutouts; 0.74 goals against average [43]
Assists Champion United States Danny Barrera Hartford Athletic 12 assists [43]
Goalkeeper of the Year United States Evan Louro Tampa Bay Rowdies 14 shutouts; 58 saves [44]
Defender of the Year United States Forrest Lasso 154 clearances; 132 aerial duels, 26 blocked shots [45]
Coach of the Year Scotland Neill Collins Regular season champions with 23 wins [46]
Young Player of the Year United States Jonathan Gomez Louisville City FC 2 goals; 8 assists; 39 interceptions [47]
Most Valuable Player Guinea Hadji Barry Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 25 goals; 5 assists; 30.5 shot conversion rate [48]
Goal of the Year United States Austin Yearwood New Mexico United vs San Antonio FC [49]
Save of the Year United States Joe Kuzminsky Charleston Battery vs Tampa Bay Rowdies [50]

All-league teams[edit]

First team[51]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
United States Evan Louro (TBR) England Paco Craig (MIA)
United States Jonathan Gómez (LOU)
United States Forrest Lasso (TBR)
United States Sean Totsch (LOU)
United States Danny Barrera (HAR)
United States Jorge Hernandez (LAG)
United States Aodhan Quinn (PHX)
Guinea Hadji Barry (COS)
Uruguay Sebastian Guenzatti (TBR)
Spain Santi Moar (PHX)
Second team[51]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
United States Matt Van Oekel (BHM) Mexico Aarón Guillén (TBR)
New Zealand James Musa (PHX)
United States Mark Segbers (MEM)
Ghana Joshua Yaro (SDG)
United States Jose Gallegos (SAN)
Jamaica Kenardo Forbes (PGH)
United States Diego Luna (ELP)
Jamaica Neco Brett (BHM)
England Cameron Lancaster (LOU)
United States Kyle Murphy (MEM)

Monthly awards[edit]

Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month Save of the Month Coach of the Month References
Player Club Position Player Club Position Player Club Coach Club
April / May Spain Santi Moar Phoenix Rising FC Forward England Daniel Bruce New Mexico United Midfielder United States Matt Cardone San Antonio FC Scotland Neill Collins Tampa Bay Rowdies [52][53][54][55]
June Guinea Hadji Barry Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Forward United States Austin Yearwood Defender United States Matt Van Oekel Birmingham Legion FC United States Landon Donovan San Diego Loyal SC [56][57][58][59]
July United States Kyle Murphy Memphis 901 FC Forward Japan Hiroki Kurimoto OKC Energy FC Midfielder Greece Alex Tambakis New Mexico United England Mark Lowry El Paso Locomotive FC [60][61][62][63]
August Guinea Hadji Barry Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Forward Canada Aidan Daniels Forward Germany Patrick Rakovsky Orange County SC Scotland Paul Dalglish Miami FC [64][65][66][67]
September Uruguay Sebastian Guenzatti Tampa Bay Rowdies Forward United States Julian Chavez Sacramento Republic FC Forward United States Joe Kuzminsky Charleston Battery Scotland Neill Collins Tampa Bay Rowdies [68][69][70][71]
October United States Kyle Murphy Memphis 901 FC Forward United States Luis Felipe Fernandes Midfielder United States Mike Jeffries Charlotte Independence [72][73][74][75]

Weekly awards[edit]