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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 1

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/11/24, 4:00PM EDT

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Birmingham, Hartford make move up after road victories to start season

One week in the books. How are the vibes?

For Hartford Athletic and Birmingham Legion FC, they’re both trending up.

Let’s start with Legion, which went on the road and found a way past defending title-holder Phoenix Rising FC thanks to a kind deflection – sorry, Diba Nwegbo – and a stellar display by goalkeeper Matt VanOekel.

Are there elements to clean up? Sure. VanOekel probably doesn’t want to be looking at eight shots on target per game this season. That’s not really a long-term set up for success. But was there good elsewhere that can translate into making a good challenge this year? You bet.

The final 15 minutes of the first half showed how Birmingham can be dangerous, now it’s just got to put that together for longer spells.

Then how about Athletic? The first impression we got of Head Coach Brendan Burke’s new side – especially the opening 15 minutes – said this is a team that’s ready to challenge. Hartford had won two season-openers in its first five seasons. Neither of those felt like a change in direction like this.

There will be good vibes around the club this week at Miami FC and Oakland Roots SC after their home victories, and at the same time I wouldn’t be too downhearted if I was at Indy Eleven, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC or Phoenix either. Good things should come if the best elements of those performances can be sustained.

When it comes to the next vibe-check for the Athletic and Legion, though, check back in Week 3.

Hartford hosts Birmingham at Trinity Health Stadium in the next outing for both clubs, gunning for two wins from two to start the season.

Should be intriguing.

Here’s how the rankings look this week.

Birmingham Legion FC Charleston Battery Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Detroit City FC El Paso Locomotive FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven
Las Vegas Lights Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC Memphis 901 FC The Miami FC Monterey Bay F.C. New Mexico United
North Carolina FC Oakland Roots SC Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rio Grande Valley FC Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC Tampa Bay Rowdies FC Tulsa

Biggest Movers

7 HFD 6 IND, PIT

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Sacramento Republic FC
(0-0-1)
Week 2: @ MIA
Last Week:
1		 Sacramento Republic FC only conceded three goals from corner kicks a season ago. Giving up two in the first game of the season cost them two points against a conference rival.
2 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(0-0-0)
Week 2: v. SA
Last Week:
2		 The Rowdies finished their tune-up for the season with a 3-0 win against Orlando City B on Friday night. This Saturday’s home opener against San Antonio could be an epic.
3 Louisville City FC
(0-0-0)
Week 2: @ ELP
Last Week:
3		 Wilson Harris added another two preseason goals on Saturday against One Knoxville SC. If he’s on form, LouCity’s going to get a major boost in its front line this season.
4 Charleston Battery
(0-0-1)
Week 2: @ OC
Last Week:
4		 The Battery dominated possession but didn’t quite create enough to earn a result against North Carolina FC. Solid start to the season, though, and the traveling support made itself heard.
5 Birmingham Legion FC
(1-0-0)
Week 2: ---		 4
Last Week:
9		 Three points on the road against the defending Championship title holders? Whatever way you earn it, that’s a great result, but there were positives to build on for Legion as well.
6 San Antonio FC
(0-0-1)
Week 2: @ TBR
Last Week:
6		 There was so much to like about San Antonio FC’s performance on Saturday, but it’s got to stop letting opponents hang around to steal points like that.
7 Hartford Athletic
(1-0-0)
Week 2: ---		 7
Last Week:
14		 All the hallmarks of a Brendan Burke side were on display in El Paso. At first glance, Hartford’s attack looks extremely dangerous, as anticipated.
8 New Mexico United
(1-0-0)
Week 2: @ RI 		3
Last Week:
11		 New Mexico only took five shots in its victory against Pittsburgh, but they were all in dangerous areas inside the penalty area. More of that, please.
9 Phoenix Rising FC
(0-1-0)
Week 1: @ MB		 1
Last Week:
8		 Sometimes, you just run into a great goalkeeping performance. There will be better results ahead for Phoenix if it keeps playing the way it did on Saturday.
10 Orange County SC
(0-0-1)
Week 2: @ PIT		 3
Last Week:
7		 Colin Shutler was already a cult hero at Championship Soccer Stadium. What a way to further endear yourself to the supporters.
11 Indy Eleven
(0-1-0)
Week 2: @ MEM		 6
Last Week:
5		 Indy Eleven was dominant in the first half against Oakland but couldn’t find a way to readjust to Roots’ tactical shift. Plenty to think about ahead of a trip to Memphis.
12 North Carolina FC
(0-0-1)
Week 2: @ LDN		 3
Last Week:
15		 North Carolina didn’t feel that dangerous in attack, but its defensive work was stellar. For that alone the side deserves credit and a bump up.
13 Memphis 901 FC
(1-0-0)
Week 2: v. IND		 3
Last Week:
16		 Finally, an opening day victory, and well deserved as well. If you’re not paying attention to 19-year-old Nighte Pickering yet, now’s the time to get on the bandwagon.
14 Oakland Roots SC
(1-0-0)
Week 2: v. CHS		 5
Last Week:
19		 Once Oakland brought on Daniel Gomez at halftime, it gave Irakoze Donasiyano the chance to shine. Sweet assist on Bryan Tamacas’ game-winner.
15 El Paso Locomotive
(0-1-0)
Week 2: v. MB, v. LOU		 5
Last Week:
10		 Locomotive hasn’t won a home opener since 2020 and has lost three in a row after falling to Hartford. There was potential on Saturday, but it didn’t quite click.
16 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(0-1-0)
Week 2: v. DET		 3
Last Week:
13		 On another day, the Switchbacks take advantage of their early chances and roll to a comfortable victory in Miami. The right post was not their friend on Saturday.
17 FC Tulsa
(0-0-0)
Week 2: @ LV
Last Week:
17		 New RedBud kits? Check, and very nice they are as well. Picking up a 3-0 win against North Texas SC also bodes well for the season opener on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
18 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(0-1-0)
Week 2: v. OC		 6
Last Week:
12		 The Hounds just weren’t at the races on Saturday in the first half. You’ll expect that will be addressed this week.
19 Rhode Island FC
(0-0-0)
Week 2: @ MB		 1
Last Week:
18		 Rhode Island FC will get a sellout debut at Beirne Stadium, and a tricky test from New Mexico United. We’re looking forward to seeing what this looks like.
20 Miami FC
(1-0-0)
Week 2: v. SAC		 4
Last Week:
24		 The togetherness and enthusiasm Miami showed on Saturday was a major upgrade from last season. We’ll see how far it carries the squad this season.
21 Loudoun United FC
(0-0-1)
Week 2: @ NC		 2
Last Week:
23		 Loudoun found a big finishing kick to get over the line with a point against San Antonio FC after hanging in admirably down to 10 players. That’s a nice boost before Saturday’s home opener.
22 Detroit City FC
(0-0-0)
Week 2: @ COS		 2
Last Week:
20		 Le Rouge head to Colorado Springs for their opener on Saturday, and we must say we’re fans of the halved secondary jerseys which are likely to be on display.
23 Las Vegas Lights FC
(0-1-0)
Week 2: v. TUL		 2
Last Week:
21		 We liked the ideas Las Vegas was putting forward in possession in Memphis. At the same time, this is still a work in progress and is going to need time to find its feet in attack.
24 Monterey Bay F.C.
(0-0-0)
Week 2: @ ELP, v. PHX		 2
Last Week:
22		 Monterey Bay gets a double-game week to start the season, kicking off on Wednesday night in El Paso. Are we going to get a fast start like a year ago?

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Tag(s): Power Rankings  San Antonio FC  CO Spring Switchbacks  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Sacramento Republic FC  FC Tulsa  Charleston Battery  Louisville City FC  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Las Vegas Lights FC  Birmingham Legion FC  North Carolina FC  Indy Eleven  Memphis 901 FC  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  San Diego Loyal SC  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay F.C.  Rhode Island FC 

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