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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 17

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/30/25, 5:00PM EDT

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FC Tulsa’s attacking outburst against Chattanooga underlined the side’s potential

If there’s been anything holding FC Tulsa back so far this season, it’s been the club’s execution in the final third.

In USL Championship play, the side ranks in the top four in the league per Opta with a 19.29 Expected Goals mark in 12 games but has found the net only 15 times.

That’s left points on the table for Head Coach Luke Spencer’s side, who were impressive in performances against opponents like Phoenix Rising FC on June 14 or San Antonio FC on June 11 but forced to settle for draws in both outings.

Against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday night, however, we saw what the Scissortails can be when everything is firing as it should. The 4-1 victory led by Taylor Calheira’s one goal, one assist performance likely won’t be enough to set up Tulsa for a berth in the knockout stage of the USL Jägermeister Cup, but it’s the sort of performance the side can gain confidence from as it approaches the midway point of its season.

“When it’s clicking, when we score, we score a lot,” said Calheira. “It just comes down to confidence and finishing. ... Some nights we’re going to be killers, and we’re going to have a big night like tonight.”

Tulsa has undergone a shift in shape under Head Coach Luke Spencer in recent weeks, moving to a back four with two deeper-lying midfielders as detailed here by John Morrissey for his USL Tactics site.

With a four-point gap to New Mexico United in first place, and two games in hand as the side heads to face Miami FC on Saturday night, Tulsa’s progress is going to be well worth keeping an eye on.

Here are this week’s rankings.

Biggest Movers

7 RI 9 COS

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(10-1-4)
Week 18: @ COS		 4
Last Week:
5		 Two victories – avenging the two defeats the side has suffered against Championship opposition this season – put LouCity in sole possession of first, and still in with a chance to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup.
2 FC Tulsa
(6-3-3)
Week 18: @ MIA
Last Week:
2		 The fatal flaw for Tulsa so far this season has been finishing its chances. If Saturday’s an indication, this side could find a higher level and contend for first in the West very soon.
3 North Carolina FC
(7-4-2)
Week 18: @ CHS		 2
Last Week:
1		 North Carolina couldn’t repeat its feat of knocking off LouCity on the road, but it was right there with the Players’ Shield leaders throughout. Silver linings and all that.
4 Charleston Battery
(10-3-1)
Week 18: @ BHM; vs. NC		 1
Last Week:
3		 With advancement unlikely from Group 6, the Battery rotated and got plenty of players minutes. Jeremy Kelly’s addition could be a game-changer over the second half of the year.
5 New Mexico United
(8-4-1)
Week 18: @ PIT		 1
Last Week:
4		 On one hand, United would have loved to close out a regulation win against Colorado Springs on Saturday night. On the other, their task remains the same to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup, beat San Antonio in regulation on July 26.
6 San Antonio FC
(6-5-3)
Week 18: @ ELP		 4
Last Week:
10		 Big week for San Antonio as it retained its dominance over Colorado Springs and set itself up to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup. Now, time to carry that momentum into league play.
7 El Paso Locomotive FC
(6-3-5)
Week 18: vs. SA
Last Week:
7		 After a week off, El Paso gets one of the must-see games of the holiday weekend. Copa Tejas at home to San Antonio FC as a top-four clash in the West on the Fourth of July? Yes, please.
8 Phoenix Rising FC
(5-4-5)
Week 18: vs. LEX		 1
Last Week:
9		 Charlie Dennis’ hat trick and Emil Cuello’s late winner delivered a thrilling win against Texoma FC, but it didn’t do much for Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah. Still, a win’s a win.
9 Loudoun United FC
(8-5-1)
Week 18: vs. OC		 3
Last Week:
6		 Yanis Leerman’s red card was completely unnecessary, and took the steam out of Loudoun after it had bossed the first half against Louisville on Wednesday. Big lesson for United, which got wiped out late.
10 Las Vegas Lights FC
(5-6-3)
Week 18: vs. SAC 		3
Last Week:
13		 The Lights have won three in a row and haven’t conceded a goal since Giovanni Troise took over as interim Head Coach. Now they sit and wait to see if they’ve done enough to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup.
11 Miami FC
(5-7-1)
Week 18: vs. TUL		 3
Last Week:
8		 Miami ran into a great goalkeeping display against Greenville, but that’s consecutive setbacks with a challenging test at home to FC Tulsa up next. Big moment for Gastón Maddoni’s squad.
12 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(5-6-2)
Week 18: vs. NM		 2
Last Week:
14		 Another solid win for the Hounds, and getting Bertin Jacquesson on the board for the first time this season is good. Friday’s clash with New Mexico should be intriguing.
13 Orange County SC
(5-6-1)
Week 18: @ LDN		 3
Last Week:
16		 OCSC can’t advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup, but Pedro Guimaraes’ second goal of the season across all competitions earned a morale-boosting victory against Sacramento.
14 Indy Eleven
(3-5-5)
Week 18: vs. MB		 1
Last Week:
15		 Hunter Sulte came up big in regulation and the shootout to give the Boys in Blue the edge over Birmingham going to the final round in the USL Jägermeister Cup. Excellent performance.
15 Rhode Island FC
(4-7-3)
Week 18: vs. BHM		 7
Last Week:
22		 Take a bow, Albert Dikwa, but the interplay of Jojea Kwizera and Aldair Sanchez on the left side was also outstanding on Friday night. More of that would be very welcome.
16 Sacramento Republic FC
(4-4-5)
Week 18: @ LV 		5
Last Week:
11		 Republic FC’s attacking problems returned in Orange County, and it’s narrowed their options to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup. Big letdown after its prior two wins.
17 Lexington SC
(3-6-5)
Week 18: @ PHX
Last Week:
17		 It’s official, Lexington is showing real signs of life. Friday night’s game on the road in Phoenix should be one to stay up late for on the East Coast.
18 Oakland Roots SC
(4-8-2)
Week 18: vs. DET		 2
Last Week:
20		 Roots continue to trend up. Two wins via very positive performances in a row, and Morey Doner has been a great addition on the right side.
19 Birmingham Legion FC
(3-7-4)
Week 18: vs. CHS; @ RI		 2
Last Week:
21		 Given his track record, you’d have expected Ronaldo Damus to bury his penalty kick on Saturday against Indy. He didn’t, but Legion still isn’t in bad shape to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup.
20 Detroit City FC
(5-4-5)
Week 18: @ OAK		 1
Last Week:
19		 With the way Le Rouge hammered away at Hartford’s defense in the second half on Saturday, their late equalizer was well deserved. A lot needs to go right for the team to get a wild card, though.
21 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(3-5-6)
Week 18: vs. LOU 		9
Last Week:
12		 The Switchbacks’ inability to earn victory against San Antonio is becoming incredible. Tough week that likely ended the side’s chance to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup.
22 Hartford Athletic
(2-7-3)
Week 18: --- 		4
Last Week:
18		 Antony Siaha did his bit, it’s a shame his teammates couldn’t be more clinical from the spot. Hartford’s going to need to win in regulation at Rhode Island to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup.
23 Monterey Bay FC
(5-6-4)
Week 18: @ IND
Last Week:
23		 Luke Ivanovic’s finish against Oakland was excellent, but there wasn’t enough threat overall from Monterey Bay as it missed a big chance to take advantage of Sacramento’s late defeat.
24 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(3-9-2)
Week 18: @ NAP
Last Week:
24		 The Rowdies might be struggling, but they’ve got a chance to move top of Group 6 in the USL Jägermeister Cup on Friday night at FC Naples. It might be one of the biggest games of the season for the club.

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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  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay FC  Rhode Island FC  Lexington SC 

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