Preseason is in full swing across the USL Championship with a little over a month to go before the 2025 season officially kicks off on Saturday, March 8, and with that most clubs are getting close to completing their roster builds for the new season.

As is the case most preseasons, though, there are still roster spots up for grabs as trialists look to earn their spot on a club for the new campaign. The spots they’re vying for? Well, that could be for a variety of different positions as clubs look for upgrades on their current squad or additional talent to fill out their depth chart.

Here’s a look at which position in particular looks like it needs to be addressed in the upcoming weeks by each club in the Western Conference. You can find the list for the Eastern Conference here.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Center Forward

There’s plenty to like about what Colorado Springs has done in bolstering its squad for a title defense, getting Matt Real back on a permanent deal and bringing in Anthony Fontana among the moves. If there’s one spot in the lineup where they might need either an upgrade or another option, it’s at center forward, where the current tandem appears to consist of Justin Dhillon and Juan Tejada.

That’s not a knock at either player, who bring positives to the front line, but it’s also worth remembering each has only recorded one season in which they’ve recorded double-digit goals in a season, and each was in 2019. This is still a good squad, but after Ronaldo Damus’ proved the successor to Romario Williams in leading the line last year, the Switchbacks could be in the market for someone to add to their center forward rotation.

El Paso Locomotive FC – Full Backs

Locomotive has seen more departures than arrivals this offseason, which shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise when the side finished last in the Western Conference a season ago, but while there have been some notable new arrivals in some areas of the field, the full back position is looking pretty thin in the current squad.

Offseason signing Memo Diaz at least offers a high-level starter should he maintain his form with Oakland Roots a season ago, but aside from that the only other listed full back in the squad is Alvaro Quezada. While Ricky Ruiz could theoretically fill in if necessary, this is an area Locomotive needs to address in the next few weeks to give its backline greater solidity and two-way threat.

Las Vegas Lights FC – Central Midfield

The Lights are in new territory this offseason with a strong core of players set to return after the club’s run to the Western Conference Final in 2024. That includes the notable re-signing of Shawn Smart to a new contract and the arrival of young forward talent Nighte Pickering to join the club’s attacking options.

Where the Lights should be looking for additional options right now, however, is in the center of midfield. While veteran Charlie Adams is set to return and the side has added Patrick Leal from New England Revolution II, the depth chart feels a little bit thin with the end of loan stints of J.C. Ngando (Vancouver) and Ousman Jabang (Montreal). Adding some experience to the center of the park should be the priority over the next few weeks.

Lexington SC – Wingback Depth

The overhaul of Lexington SC’s squad as it moves into the USL Championship has been extensive this offseason, bringing in plenty of players with prior experience in the league to add to the small contingent of retained players from the 2024 USL League One campaign.

That didn’t appear to leave too many gaps to fill as the side began its preseason slate this weekend against Nashville SC, but if there’s a potential open spot it could be at the wingback position. With LSC opening its preseason with a three-player back line – and the wingback depth chart currently featuring Lucas Stauffer, Jacob Greene and loanee Kieran Sargeant – one more to add competition and depth might be the final piece of the puzzle for Head Coach Terry Boss.

Monterey Bay FC – Goalkeepers

Antony Siaha and Carlos Herrera shared the minutes for Monterey Bay during the 2024 season, and now both are at new destinations in the Eastern Conference with Siaha having joined Indy Eleven and Herrera going to Detroit City FC.

So far, MBFC has brought in former St. Louis CITY2 goalkeeper Sam Gomez for the new season, bringing only two appearances in MLS NEXT Pro with him. That makes finding an experienced shot-stopper the biggest priority for the side as it builds toward its first full season under Head Coach Jordan Stewart.

New Mexico United – Central Midfield

New Mexico United has a solid contingent of returnees back as it looks to build on its first-place finish, but the past two weeks have seen the side’s depth in the center of the park take a hit. First there was the departure of Houssou Landry to the Charleston Battery before the transfer of Marco Micaletto to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

That duo rated as New Mexico’s top central midfielders in American Soccer Analysis’ Goal Added metric (Landry at +4.05, Micaletto at +3.07), leaving Zico Lewis and new arrival Tomas Pondeca looking like the current starters on the roster. As a result, reinforcements feel like they’re going to be needed before the opening weekend of the regular season.

Oakland Roots SC – Attackers

It’s basically accurate to describe Oakland Roots’ attack a season ago as Johnny Rodriguez and not much else after the local legend accounted for almost one third – 12 of 37 – of the tallies the side recorded excluding own goals in 2024.

Rodriguez is back for 2025 and Roots has looked to make changes with the departures of Dom Dwyer and Miche-Naider Chery and arrival of Panos Armenakas and Peter Wilson to fill out a potential starting lineup. There’s still not a lot of depth beyond that as the side prepares for its first season at the Coliseum, something Head Coach Gavin Glinton will need to address over the next few weeks.

Orange County SC – Central Defenders

There’s still a lot that can happen over the next month at Orange County SC – veterans like Dillon Powers could strike new deals, for example – but as it stands Orange County is looking at homegrown product Ashton Miles as its lone center back on the depth chart.

With the club’s attack having been well addressed with the arrivals of 2024 USL League One Player of the Year Lyam MacKinnon and the likes of Tristan Trager and Ousmane Sylla also jumping aboard, finding both experience and depth in the center of defense is the biggest task OCSC has between now and the season kicking off.

Phoenix Rising FC – Defensive Experience

At this point of preseason, Phoenix Rising looks to have on paper a back line of Collin Smith, Pape Mar Boye, Mo Traore and Harvey Neville, with Ryan Flood offering an option at full back.

That’s not a lot to go into the new season with, obviously, especially with that quartet offering a current average age of 21.5 years old. Rising looks pretty well set at the midfield and forward positions going into the new season, but this is an area that is probably going to have to add some experience over the next few weeks.

Sacramento Republic FC – Central Defenders

Republic FC’s back line has been among its biggest strengths over the past few seasons, but with the departures of Shane Wiedt to Detroit City and Conor Donovan to North Carolina FC, there’s clear need to supplement what’s currently in the squad with veterans Lee Desmond and Jared Timmer and Academy product Chibi Ukaegbu currently the three center backs in the squad.

With new Head Coach Neill Collins having typically preferred a three-player back line, there will need to be reinforcements at Heart Health Park over the next few weeks.

San Antonio FC – Central Defenders

On one hand, San Antonio’s addition of Alex Crognale to mainstay Mitchell Taintor could give the 2022 title-winners one of the best center back tandems in the Championship this season.

At the same time, the only support that’s arrived so far this offseason is Alexis Souahy from FC Tulsa. After the end of Kevon Lambert’s loan, the retirement of Carter Manley and the move of Kendall Burks to Lexington SC this offseason, SAFC should be looking for depth to go along with its top-line starters.

FC Tulsa – Central Midfielders

So far this offseason, Tulsa has brought in some eye-catching arrivals including former Loudoun United playmaker Kalil ElMedkhar and 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Best XI forward Taylor Calheira.

Where the side really seems to need reinforcement, though, is in the center of midfield where Edwin Laszo and Andrew Booth return to the squad, but new faces are yet to arrive. The turnover the side saw last year – including the transfers of Justin Portillo to Sacramento Republic FC and Nate Worth to the Tampa Bay Rowdies – ended up feeling key as it faltered with only two wins in its final 11 games. Adding depth here is going to be key for the side’s progression.