The 2024 USL Championship season kicks off on Saturday night with a nine-game slate of action to get us underway on CBS Sports Golazo Network, ESPN+ and local networks.

Here are eight key storylines we’re going to be following as the games unfold, plus some additional thoughts on other topics to follow.

1. STAGE SET FOR SOUTHERN DERBY

After three seasons in USL League One, there might be no better way for North Carolina FC to make its return to the USL Championship on Saturday night than by hosting the Charleston Battery. The Southern Derby clash – which will air live on CBS Sports Golazo Network – is a renewal of one of most historic series in North American soccer.

Through different lineups of clubs, Charleston has claimed the Southern Derby on more occasions than its rivals for the trophy, and entering the new campaign is the defending Eastern Conference title holder after its remarkable turnaround a season ago under Head Coach Ben Pirmann. The addition of two-time All-League midfielder Aaron Molloy, defender Graham Smith and two new young forwards in MD Myers and Jackson Conway has added to the expectation that the Battery are going to be a contender again, and victory on the road against their closest rival would be a big opening statement.

North Carolina arrives with its own silverware, however, having claimed the League One title a season ago for the first league title in club history. Alongside 10 players it has retained from that squad, there’s been the arrival of USL Championship veterans that figure to strengthen the lineup’s spine in center back Paco Craig, midfielders Collin Martin and Jacori Hayes, and forward Rodrigo Da Costa.

The potential for entertainment is high and should be worth your time.

2. JAUREGUI READY FOR PRIMETIME IN SACRAMENTO?

The back-end of the CBS Sports Golazo Network doubleheader brings the top two teams in the Western Conference from a season ago together as Sacramento Republic FC hosts Orange County SC at Heart Health Park. As many key pieces have returned from a season ago for the two clubs, there could be a new youngster ready for his breakout moment as well.

Rafael Jauregui turned pro with Sacramento from its Academy ahead of the 2021 season, but after flashes of what he’s capable of in league play over the past three years this preseason the 19-year-old old has shown signs that this could be his breakout moment. Jauregui was in the starting lineup last weekend for Republic FC’s final preseason outing, and could be in line to get his chance in one of the high-profile games of the weekend.

“I’m really, really pleased for Rafa and what he’s shown over the course of this preseason,” Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs told USLChampionship.com recently. “This is the year that he really has to grow up and really has to step up, and so far in preseason he’s really done that. Hopefully we can continue with that progress and the progress of the other youngsters that are coming through.

“It’s always a huge positive to have somebody from your system come through the whole system – I think Rafa joined the club at 12 years old – so to have Rafa come through the whole club and go through each age group and then come onto the First Team, it’s taken a few years for his development to come to where it is, but now we really feel he’s ready to push and really make an impact on the USL Championship.”

3. PHOENIX AWARE OF TARGET ON BACK

Given the club’s position in and recent history of silverware, Phoenix Rising FC has typically been a target for other teams looking to stake their own claim as a contender in the USL Championship.

After winning the USL Championship title for the first time a season ago, though, the sense for Rising Head Coach Danny Stone as he takes the reins this campaign is the side will be a different sort of target as defending title holders.

“Of course, it’s a huge positive for the club and for the team,” said Stone in his weekly media availability. “The difference clearly is that as defending champions you have a different sort of target, potentially, on your back. Every team that we play – and I’ve said this a few times – we will be a target and we will be something that every team will chase so we need to be ready for that, we need to be prepared for that.

“The players are certainly focused in that regard, and know what to expect, but at the same we will always frame things first and foremost from our own perspective. We have very good players, we have a very good group, and we will play in our way, and we will approach games in our direction while also being aware of what games potentially might mean to anybody we play this season.”

Rising has undergone some notable changes since it lifted the trophy last November in Charleston, including the departure of its two leading goalscorers in Danny Trejo and Manuel Arteaga and key midfielder Carlos Harvey. The side is undefeated in its home openers dating since the 2017 season, however, which should provide optimism of a solid start in front of its home fans.

4. LEGION AIMING FOR CONSISTENCY

At times a season ago, it felt like Birmingham Legion FC had a split personality. There was the team that could sweep all three games of the season – including a postseason road victory – against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, earn a home-and-home sweep of Louisville City FC, and advance to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by defeating Charlotte FC before giving Inter Miami CF a run for its money.

Then there was the side that got swept by Miami FC and Detroit City FC and lost games to non-playoff sides like Rio Grande Valley FC and Oakland Roots SC.

So, the question for Legion this season is can it be the best version of itself more consistently? The preseason has offered positives. The side earned a solid draw at home against Atlanta United FC after just a week of preseason camp, and then went out and secured a solid 3-0 win to wrap up its preseason last Saturday on the road against MLS NEXT Pro’s Chattanooga FC. New forward Mohamed Buya Turay seems to have settled in well with goals in each of the past two preseason outings, and the evergreen Enzo Martinez looks ready to be the team’s engine again. Going to face Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday in the first game of the season is a challenge, but one Birmingham could meet.

5. NEW MEXICO FEELING UNITED AHEAD OF OPENER

In a quirk of the calendar, three teams will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of their inaugural home opener on Saturday in Memphis 901 FC, El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United, all of which played their first home games in the Championship on March 9, 2019. In New Mexico, they’re bringing back retro-style kits to celebrate the occasion as a large crowd is expected at Isotopes Park.

The team on the field is promising to have a new look as Head Coach Eric Quill got to work in rebuilding the squad to fit his on-field plan in the offseason. Club originals Josh Suggs and Austin Yearwood announced their retirements, while Chris Wehan departed after a setback to the knee injury that held him out of the second half of the 2023 season.

How the changing of the guard will affect the side on the field is going to be something to watch, but for newcomer Marco Micaletto – who is likely to be among the players making his United debut against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday – the locker room is in a strong place as the side gets ready for the campaign.

“The lads that were here last year were so welcoming when we came in, and you would be surprised how far it goes to feel welcomed within the locker room and see it translate to the field,” Micaletto told local media. “In that aspect I think it’s been a pretty easy transition for all of the newcomers and working out and we are doing what the coach wants us to do. So, there is no excuse on the team chemistry, the locker room is as strong as its going to get.”

6. INDY PRIMED FOR WEST COAST TRIP

It’s not always sensible to pay too much credence to preseason results, but it’s hard to ignore the momentum that Indy Eleven appears to have built as it goes into the new season. The side went 5-0-1 this preseason, logging victories against Detroit City FC and Lexington SC and a 7-1 thumping of Columbus Crew 2 along the way, as new Head Coach Sean McAuley implements his system.

There’s never been a question about Indy’s willingness to invest in its squad. After the arrivals of Aodhan Quinn, Cam Lindley, Jack Blake, Douglas Martinez Jr. and Sebastian Guenzatti last offseason, this year the side brought aboard Augustine Williams, Aedan Stanley and Danny Barbir this spring to create what looks like a loaded roster.

How that translates to the regular season will get its first look against Barbir’s former club – Oakland Roots SC – this Saturday. It should be a good first test for a side with big aspirations.

7. LAS VEGAS LOOKING FOR CONTROL IN NEW ERA

There are teams that have experienced major roster overhauls this offseason, but it’s fair to say what’s happened at Las Vegas Lights FC could be described as a sprint to the starting line. The Lights will visit Memphis 901 FC for the first official game of its new era under the ownership of José Bautista with aspirations of making the playoffs for the first time.

For Head Coach Dennis Sanchez, the club’s two-week training camp in Tucson, Ariz. and preseason scrimmages against fellow USL Championship sides New Mexico United, Phoenix Rising FC and Orange County SC – all of which ended in draws – have offered positive signs. How that translates to the club’s first official game will be worth watching, and Sanchez believes his side is embracing the identity he’s trying to instill.

“I think with our identity, and what we’re trying to do right now, we want to be the protagonist,” said Sanchez in his weekly media availability. “We want to be in control of the ball and in control of space, and we want teams to have to adapt to us. Regardless of who we play, there’s going to be a mutual respect and we know that there’s going to be a level of energy and effort and competitive spirit that we always have to instill. But we hope that our identity really comes out in the games and that we are in control overall.”

8. WITH “NO EGOS”, HARTFORD READY FOR RESET

The offseason overhaul that arrived at Hartford Athletic this offseason after Head Coach Brendan Burke’s appointment has brought in players who’ve played in top-flight leagues, earned numerous awards in the USL Championship, and been used to success.

For midfielder Jay Chapman – who arrived this offseason alongside a large contingent of newcomers – the refreshing part of how it’s all come together is the collective that’s been built, aiming to take Hartford to a level of consistent performance it hasn’t achieved in its five-season history.

“No egos,” Chapman told the Hartford Courant’s Dom Amore. “I’ve been a part of teams that had very big personalities, famous players and that hasn’t worked. I think it’s important that, before you can have good players, you have to have good people in the locker room. And I think we have that.”

Hartford will get a good test of that togetherness as it opens the season on the road against El Paso Locomotive FC, which has its own slew of potential offseason upgrades in tow. After earning a 3-0 victory against rival New Mexico United last weekend in its preseason finale, El Paso is also ready to get off on the right foot in front of its vociferous support.

Here’s what else we have our eye on this weekend across the USL Championship…

- San Antonio FC has expressed its desire to possess more while retaining its defensive bite this campaign. The new additions look good on paper, but there will be serious expectations to make a statement against Loudoun United FC.

- Loudoun United FC achieved an early-season surprise last year, defeating Memphis 901 FC on the road and then drawing at home to San Antonio FC in its first two outings. Head Coach Ryan Martin’s boys can’t do it again, can they?

- Neco Brett enters the new season as the leading active goalscorer in the USL Championship. Can he add to that total and make a good first impression for Memphis 901 FC?

- The one thing you can rely on from Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is its commitment and organization defensively. After its preseason shutout of Louisville City FC last weekend, the trip to New Mexico United will be a good test of that resilience.

- Miami FC has been extremely low-key this preseason as its new squad comes together under Head Coach Antonio Nocerino. That was for a reason – good or bad, we’ll likely find out against a strong Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC lineup.

- Oakland Roots SC has maybe the best kit lineup in the league this season. They’re going to want to protect Paul Blanchette more effectively than they did a season ago against what appears a potent Indy Eleven attack.