ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Longtime rivals New Mexico United and Phoenix Rising FC will meet in the playoffs for the first time on Sunday night in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix as Rising kicks off its postseason title defense against No. 1 seed New Mexico. Kickoff at Isotopes Park is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

New Mexico United (18-11-5, 59pts) – New Mexico delivered its best season in club history in Head Coach Eric Quill’s first full campaign at the helm, finishing tied for the second-most victories in the league as it recorded club records for wins and points while producing a consistency that wasn’t matched by any of its rivals in the West. United produced an early-season run of nine wins in 10 games across all competitions that saw the side defeat Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake on home turf in the U.S. Open Cup before falling in the Quarterfinals to eventual title-winner Los Angeles FC. That consistently continued through most of the season – the side lost consecutive games only once through late September – but New Mexico ended the campaign in a downward slide, going winless in its final five games despite clinching the No. 1 seed with games to spare.

Phoenix Rising FC (11-14-9, 42pts) – Rising eked its way back into the postseason, doing just enough to earn the No. 8 seed despite an inconsistent overall campaign. After seeing numerous key departures during the offseason, Rising won only twice in its first seven games, and after a five-game undefeated run that followed the inconsistency returned, resulting in the club parting ways with promoted Head Coach Danny Stone in late June. The side continued its uneven run, but found key victories at the right times, including a 4-0 victory at home to San Antonio FC in September that ended up proving crucial in clinching a playoff berth. Phoenix took road wins against New Mexico and Oakland in October before dropping its final two games of the season, and will be hoping it can catch fire in the same way as it did a season ago in the postseason as it returns to Isotopes Park this weekend.

All-Time Series

Rising holds a 5-3-2 record all-time against New Mexico in the USL Championship, with each side taking victory on the road this season when they squared off. The sides have also previously faced each other in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on three occasions, with New Mexico advancing in a penalty shootout in 2019 and with a 2-1 victory in 2023, and Phoenix taking a 2-1 victory in 2022.

Opta Says

50 – New Mexico United converted only 50 percent of its penalty kicks in the regular season, scoring 5 of a league-high 10 penalty kicks it was awarded during the campaign.

33 – Phoenix Rising FC recorded only 33 goals in the regular season, tied for 20th in the league and the fewest goals of any team to reach the postseason.

Players to Watch

New Mexico United – Talen Maples: The center back put together a strong individual campaign, winning 73.9 percent of tackles and 54.7 percent of duels while completing 88.6 percent of 2,082 passes – a mark that ranked third overall in the Championship – and will look to lead his side defensively as it enters the playoffs.

Phoenix Rising FC – Charlie Dennis: The midseason acquisition recorded one goal and two assists after arriving from the Tampa Bay Rowdies but as a two-way playmaker proved his worth in Rising’s 2-1 victory against New Mexico on October 9, when he recorded a goal and assist to earn Player of the Match honors.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

New Mexico United – No suspensions

Phoenix Rising FC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Lorenzo Hernandez
AR1: Christian Clerc
AR2: Ricardo Ocampo
4TH: Muhammad Hassan