John Morrissey

​​USL Power Rankings: Trophy contenders stay strong, goals galore & more from Week 22 After 22 weeks of USL Championship action, we're ranking every team in the league.

What better way to spend your Sunday than to catch up on the USL? I’ve got deep dives into…

😈 Bold choices, big results for Louisville
🟢 Hartford’s arrival
⚔️ Positives from the San Antonio/Sacramento duel

…as I rank and analyze all 24 clubs in the Championship.
www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

​​USL Power Rankings: Trophy contenders stay strong, goals galore & more from Week 22 After 22 weeks of USL Championship action, we're ranking every team in the league.

𝗨𝗦𝗟 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀!

Where does your team stand after the latest weekend of Championship action? @usltactics.com digs into all 24 squads.

Find out who’s up and who’s down ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

The issue felt like the 5-1-3-1 press rather than Laszo but 🤷‍♀️

Love this from San Antonio, who's looking really expansive tonight. As soon as Jorge Hernandez gets a touch and draws the defense, he's got three vertical runners streaking behind him – should be a Luke Haakenson goal

El Paso learning how to actually use their center mids might be big

*whispers* i think Dom might've cracked the code

What's so awesome about Louisville is that they've got all three center backs in the attacking half when Josh Jones makes the recovery ahead of the Serrano hockey assist, no other team is remotely this confident

alVARez

One last time before tonight's @tormentafc.bsky.social game with Greenville.

FC Tulsa has that sense of magic about them y'all

and now Lukic on the board

It's terrific at every step from Huerman. He gets the takeaway, he holds off on the pass to Fjeldberg until the right back is fully committed and can't intercept, and *then* he sets himself up for the finish. Lovely play.

👀👀👀

How FC Tulsa’s new leadership has helped create long-awaited success: “You have to be versatile” With fresh ideas and a willingness to buck the tactical meta, Tulsa are a trophy threat in the USL Championship.

ICYMI: How has FC Tulsa become a title threat in 2025? I break down the process behind the turnaround with help from head coach Luke Spencer and defender Arthur Rogers.

www.backheeled.com/how-fc-tulsa...

With a second championship in sight and Bernie Sanders’ support, Vermont is the US soccer state of the moment Vermont Green could cap an undefeated season in this weekend’s USL League Two title game, with overflow crowds expected once again

One of my favourite articles to write, on a club I've wanted to write about for some time. A look at @vermontgreenfc.bsky.social ahead of their USL League Two final against Ballard FC. How a 'division four' club became the soccer team of the moment. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

How FC Tulsa’s new leadership has helped create long-awaited success: “You have to be versatile” With fresh ideas and a willingness to buck the tactical meta, Tulsa are a trophy threat in the USL Championship.

NEW: FC Tulsa is in the middle of the best season in club history, so how are they making it happen? I talked to head coach Luke Spencer and defender Arthur Rogers to dig into Tulsa’s collective culture and pragmatic tactics. www.backheeled.com/how-fc-tulsa...

Football Reference's nationalities are giving me a slightly different number for Miami, but they're still historically Argentinian. Shoutout to Juan Guerra's Venezuelan teams for taking three of the top eight slots since 2020.

How FC Tulsa’s new leadership has helped create long-awaited success: “You have to be versatile” With fresh ideas and a willingness to buck the tactical meta, Tulsa are a trophy threat in the USL Championship.

On top of the West, FC Tulsa are thriving under new leadership in the USL Championship.

How did they go from afterthought to trophy threat?

@usltactics.com dives in after speaking to key figures at the club ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/how-fc-tulsa...

How FC Tulsa’s new leadership has helped create long-awaited success: “You have to be versatile” With fresh ideas and a willingness to buck the tactical meta, Tulsa are a trophy threat in the USL Championship.

NEW: FC Tulsa is in the middle of the best season in club history, so how are they making it happen? I talked to head coach Luke Spencer and defender Arthur Rogers to dig into Tulsa’s collective culture and pragmatic tactics. www.backheeled.com/how-fc-tulsa...

At the start of that goalscoring play, Jearl Margaritha and Xian Emmers are frozen on the right side of the Phoenix midfield, allowing Chris Hegardt to receive between the lines. That relationship has been key all night; see an example here with far better timing that stops a similar sequence.

I mean, I kinda think this has to be it? That one came against a brutal NYRB II team, and this is against a genuinely good New Mexico

is hartford the best team in the usl

Hartford shutting down New Mexico and feasting on turnovers wasn't on my bingo card, but their midfield is running the show. Sort of an unbalanced 5-1-3-1 with Ngalina cheating up the right, and it's got them into the lead.

YouTube video by Dirigo Union Episode 17: The Yinzers Taste Defeat

@philtalksfooty.bsky.social from @theuslshow.bsky.social talk with @dirigounion.bsky.social about the @heartsofpine.bsky.social wrapping up the group stage against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Jägermeister Cup competition. Phil also gave his take on Portland and the club.
youtu.be/Wm2R9r7y4-Q?...

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲! | USL Championship: Noel Mexico United, Jager Musings and waxing poetic for Portland YouTube video by Backheeled

Need to catch up on the Valentin Noel trade (plus all things Jagermeister Cup!) before tonight’s USL slate? This League! has you covered.

Check out the latest episode now. ⬇️

www.youtube.com/live/jX5MYuA...

this is good

I would not shut up about Ahl’s movement in tandem with Junior Etou during the Portland game last week, and I feel vindicated. He’s got the goods.

i think they need more argentinians

Kinda underrated that five USL games will've aired on ESPN2 or proper CBS in the back half of July alone?