A high-profile interconference clash between former conference winners the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC highlights a six-game night of action this Saturday in the USL Championship, with Orange County SC aiming for a fresh start under interim Head Coach Morten Karlsen at home to California rival San Diego Loyal SC.

Here’s a look ahead at all the action.

Hartford Athletic vs. Memphis 901 FC

Venue: Trinity Health Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: HFD 36%, MEM 39%, Draw 25%

The Lowdown: Memphis 901 FC will try to continue a four-game undefeated streak as it visits a Hartford Athletic side that is looking for its first home win of the season in league play. The Athletic (1-4-2, 5pts) suffered a 3-2 defeat on the road against Birmingham Legion FC last Sunday evening in its most recent outing despite twice taking the lead at Protective Stadium, a continuation of its difficult start to the campaign. Hartford has now dropped eight points from winning positions this season, tied for most in the Championship, and has conceded the most goals in the Championship (15), limiting the impact of the individual success of winger Prince Saydee (4 goals, 3 assists). Memphis (1-2-3, 6pts) has also won just once this season, but has found more positive form of late after a 1-1 draw against Louisville City FC last Saturday night continued the club’s undefeated run. Luiz Fernando scored his second goal of the season to earn the side a point against the defending Eastern Conference title holders, moving into a tie for the club lead with Bruno Lapa, and 901 FC has held the upper hand on Hartford in their recent encounters with three wins and a draw in the last four meetings between the sides.  

Spotlight Players
Hartford Athletic – Danny Barrera: The veteran playmaker could make his 200th regular season appearance in the Championship on Saturday and has notched one assist so far this campaign.

Memphis 901 FC – Graham Smith: The center back is building on his All-League selection a season ago with solid defensive displays and will look to keep a good Hartford attack led by Prince Saydee in check.

Loudoun United FC vs. Indy Eleven

Venue: Segra Field
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: LDN 42%, IND 30%, Draw 28%

The Lowdown: Loudoun United FC and Indy Eleven will both be looking to get back into the win column when they square off for the first time this campaign. Loudoun (3-3-1, 10pts) saw a two-game winning streak come to an end last Saturday night as it fell 3-1 against Phoenix Rising FC, but the side remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings after a positive overall start to the season. United has lost only once in four games at Segra Field so far this season, with leading goalscorer Zach Ryan sitting tied for second in the league with five goals this season. Indy (1-3-3, 6pts) earned a point at home in its last outing, meanwhile, as Jack Blake’s first goal for the club earned a 1-1 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. The Boys in Blue are winless in their last five games overall, however, and will be hoping to avoid a repeat of its visit to face Loudoun a season ago when United took a 1-0 win on the first weekend of the 2022 campaign. Indy has scored only five goals in seven games this season, with only two of those coming from open play, as it looks to spark its campaign to life.

Spotlight Players
Loudoun United FC – Koa Santos: The right back has been a solid two-way performer for United this season, logging 12 tackles and six interceptions in addition to one assist and seven chances created, and will look to continue a positive campaign.

Indy Eleven – Solomon Asante: The Ghanaian playmaker is only one goal contribution away from becoming the sixth player to record 100 combined goals and assists in the Championship’s regular season.

Birmingham Legion FC vs. Oakland Roots SC

Venue: Protective Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: BHM 48%, OAK 26%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: Birmingham Legion FC will try to rebound from a midweek setback as it plays host to an Oakland Roots SC side that is winless in its last three games. Legion FC (5-3-1, 16pts) missed out on the chance to add to its lead at the top of the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night as it suffered a 3-1 defeat to Miami FC despite the continued good form of veteran forward Enzo Martinez. The 32-year-old bagged his fourth goal in the past three games to pull Birmingham back into the game after conceding twice in the opening 20 minutes, but despite carrying plenty of the play the visitors were unable to find a result at Riccardo Silva Stadium. Oakland (2-3-2, 8pts) also squared off with Miami in its most recent outing, playing to a 0-0 draw at Pioneer Stadium last Saturday night, and now will be hoping to get back into the win column and boost its position in the Western Conference. Roots SC took a 2-1 victory when these sides met for the first time last campaign, while goalkeeper Paul Blanchette is putting together another stellar season, sitting first in the Championship with 30 saves while having also recorded three shutouts in seven appearances.

Spotlight Players
Birmingham Legion FC – Tyler Pasher: The Canadian winger has made substitute appearances in each of the club’s past two contests as he works his way back from injury, and could get a chance to start here after a bright start to the season.

Oakland Roots SC – Bryan Tamacas: The El Salvador international has started the past three games for Roots SC after acclimating to his new club and has been active at both ends of the field on the right side.

Detroit City FC vs. FC Tulsa

Venue: Keyworth Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: DET 47%, TUL 24%, Draw 29%

The Lowdown: Detroit City FC will try to claim its first home victory in the league this season as it hosts an FC Tulsa side that has yet to claim victory on the road in three prior contests this campaign. Le Rouge (1-6-1, 4pts) saw its winless streak in league play stretch to six games last Saturday night as the Tampa Bay Rowdies took a 1-0 win at Keyworth Stadium despite the efforts of goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher. DCFC is scoreless in the past 552 minutes of league play, with five of the six results during its current run being one-goal defeats, a run that the side will be eager to break in front of its home fans this time out. Tulsa (1-3-4, 7pts) has had fewer challenges in finding the net and earned a 1-1 draw with Western Conference leader Sacramento Republic FC last Saturday as Moses Dyer notched a second-half equalizer. Tulsa has found the net in all three of its road contests so far this season, too, but it has yet to take a win after conceding six goals. As both teams look for a boost, this game could be tightly-fought until the final whistle.

Spotlight Players
Detroit City FC – Connor Rutz: The attacking midfielder has recorded two chances created and one shot on target so far this season and needs to start finding his groove in the final third to help lift Le Rouge’s attack.

FC Tulsa – Dario Suarez: The Cuban forward found the net when Tulsa last visited Keyworth Stadium in a 2-2 draw last season and will be hoping to open his league account this season this time around.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Venue: Al Lang Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: TBR 44%, PHX 29%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC will both look to build on victories last time out as they try to push up their respective conferences at Al Lang Stadium. The Rowdies (2-4-2, 8pts) earned their second win of the season last Saturday evening as Charlie Dennis’ penalty kick saw the side defeat Detroit City FC 1-0 at Keyworth Stadium, moving the side above the playoff line into seventh place after a positive attacking display. Tampa Bay will be aiming to continue its prior success against Phoenix over the past two seasons, with the Rowdies having taken victory in each of their two regular season contests. Rising FC (2-1-4, 10pts) is undefeated in its last five games, however, after a 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC at home last Saturday night that saw Manuel Arteaga and Jose Hernandez each record a goal and assist. Arteaga is now tied for the team-lead alongside Danny Trejo with three goals this season, while the side has received strong goalkeeping from Rocco Rios Novo, who sits third in the league with 27 saves through the first quarter of the season.

Spotlight Players
Tampa Bay Rowdies – Forrest Lasso: The center back produced an impressive display to help the Rowdies earn their second shutout of the season in Detroit and will be looking for more of the same against a good Phoenix group.

Phoenix Rising FC – Carlos Anguiano: The midfielder made his first start of the season against Loudoun and put in a solid display he’ll be hoping to build on while trying to help limit the Rowdies’ midfield qualities.

Orange County SC vs. San Diego Loyal SC

Venue: Championship Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: OC 41%, SD 33%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: Orange County SC will play its first game under interim Head Coach Morten Karlsen as it plays host to a San Diego Loyal SC side that has yet to win on the road so far this season as it heads to Championship Soccer Stadium. Orange County (1-4-3, 6pts) suffered a 3-1 defeat in its last outing at New Mexico United, which proved the last game in charge for former Head Coach Richard Chaplow, who had led the club to the 2021 USL Championship title. Karlsen – who was part of Denmark’s technical team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup – takes over aiming to turn things around for the club, especially defensively, where OCSC has recorded only one shutout this season. SD Loyal (4-2-2, 14pts) also fell in its most recent contest, suffering its first home defeat of the season in a 2-1 setback to El Paso Locomotive FC. San Diego has lost once and drawn twice previously away from home this season, but is undefeated in its last three contests against Orange County, including two wins and a draw in their series last season. The contest could see Orange County forward Thomas Amang face his former club, with the Cameroonian having made the move via transfer from SD Loyal this preseason but still looking for his first league goal in OCSC colors.

Spotlight Players
Orange County SC – Markus Nakkim: The Norwegian center back will need a strong performance to help limit SD Loyal’s attack and has 27 clearances and seven interceptions so far this campaign.

San Diego Loyal SC – Nick Moon: The right-sided midfielder has been ever-present in San Diego’s lineup this season and offers a consistent attacking threat that could put pressure on Orange County’s back line.