I once met Alize Johnson in the Scranton airport and he simply couldn’t believe that some little dork recognized him

Morning Kickaround is live talking USL expansion, stadium construction, and more. youtube.com/live/R4jnPWT...

they made Texoma real

Historic moment really. First time they’ve ever made a wax figure of a wax figure.

come watch and chat and whatnot>>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCQc...

🚨LIVE SHOW TONIGHT🚨 9pm ET/6pm PT 🏆 How Lexington Won the Super League 🗺️ New Teams on the Map 🌴 Sarasota’s Big Win 🐎 Charlotte Wins Away 🎆 Fireworks in Jacksonville 🔥 Phoenix Dominates ⏳ Extra Time See you all at 9pm ET/6pm PT tonight!

Knoxville's midfield has become one of the most dynamic in League One, and it's got them back into the thick of the title race in 2026. On how that's happening (and much more!) in my weekly L1 column. ⬇️ www.backheeled.com/usl-league-o...

Phoenix Rising rolled to a 2-0 win over Sacramento Republic, in large part thanks to its smart midfield patterns. From this week’s This League!  📺 tinyurl.com/dtcfcy6c ➡️ tinyurl.com/5n7pmj56

Many people are saying it open.spotify.com/episode/4bzk...

A bunch of big movers, up and down, this week. Consider subscribing to our friends over at Backheeled.

The USL submitted four new clubs for sanctioning ahead of the 2027 season. Here's what we know about the group, those notably missing from the application, and some early indications of season format changes 👀

🟠 Why I’m loving the Knoxville midfield 🦉 Omaha’s underrated flexibility ➕ Analysis of all 17 clubs Come catch up on USL League One. www.backheeled.com/usl-league-o...

After the latest action in USL League One, which teams emerged looking most impressive? And who should be concerned? From One Knox's improvement to Union Omaha's versatility, @usltactics.com dives into anything and everything across League One. Read ⤵️

NEWSLETTER: Lexington SC are your 2025-2026 Super League champs, but how'd they get it done? I dive in. That, plus stray thoughts from the weekend on the men's side, including Pittsburgh, Omaha, and more. www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

THIS LEAGUE! is live, come catch up on the weekend in the Championship with Peyton and me www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii8x...

Indy didn’t get away from their usual style in Week 13, but they adjusted with the personnel at hand. Sequences like this – Jack Blake (LW) tucks in, Noble Okello (CM) runs over the top of him – are signs of a team that’s growing with the ball. On that and more. ⬇️ www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

Monterey is fun again, and it's largely because the Riley Bidois-Ilijah Paul partnership is giving Paul the freedom to do things like *this*. On that and more in the column. www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

🏁 Indy Eleven, the kings of pragmatism 🔴 Phoenix Rising on the rise 👶 Hamouda, Kimbrough, and youth dev All that and so, so much more in this week's USL Championship Power Rankings! www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

Wild weekend of results in the Championship, come catch up on it all.

After another weekend of USL Championship action, @usltactics.com ranks all 25 teams in the league 👀 📈 Indy Eleven, Phoenix Rising & more 📉 Louisville City, El Paso Locomotive & more Read up on the latest for your club ⤵️

Brooklyn FC - also not that great at defending. #USL-C Again, there are probably more goals in this one.

The Jacksonville defense: it's bad!

I genuinely think Jacksonville could go winless in the league

Peter Mangione gives @brooklynfc.bsky.social the lead with his first goal in the #USL-C after a good start from the visitors. This one might have some goals in it. Maybe not as many as Wednesday night, but still.

Fort Wayne's been the class of the 2026 expansion class for a lot of reasons, and their ability to lock down the midfield with their 4-4-2 press has been incredibly impressive. They flow from mark to mark here, getting support from a center back when needed until they can force a turnover and break.

Indy having the second-best goal difference in the Championship is an indictment of the entire league tbh

... and some postgame thoughts on three things that mattered as Lexington became the first side to win the league title and Players' Shield in the #GainbridgeSuperLegaue' short history. www.gainbridgesuperleague.com/news/2026/05...

So I have time to reflect on and feels like this edition of the Kickers is in its Everton era. Like we are big recognizable club yet we aren’t good enough to be in the top 4 but we aren’t bad enough to be bottom 2. Just feels like we are drifting

Great flow from the Moursou/Rivera/Gomez midfield for Phoenix tonight, their ability to connect through space and provide grit in the counterpress is the reason Rising's up 1-0. Moursou stars here, flying upfield to regain possession and help send Phoenix to the spot.

It's all going Lexington SC's way in extra time, Addie McCain adds a third for the hosts to make it 3-1 against Carolina Ascent. 15 minutes to go in the #GainbridgeSuperLeague Final for the visitors to try and rally on Peacock now.

As discussed with @dukekeith.bsky.social, the more movement Lexington can get from Nick Firmino and Blaine Ferri in their pivot, the better off they'll be. Here, both mids drop in, stretch the El Paso shape, and create the space that leads to a go-ahead LSC goal.

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Primo Colorado Springs here: you let Yosuke Hanya leak out in transition, and you followed up his attacking move with really strong midfield-driven counterpressure.

Tremendous strike from the edge of the penalty area by Mia Corbin, putting @carolinaascentfc.bsky.social ahead at the halftime break of the Final. #GainbridgeSuperLeague

Talked about this with @rifcpodcast.bsky.social, but the more RIFC can find quick breaks before Indy's wingers can get back, the better off they'll be.

Tampa Bay's really focusing on using Laurence Wyke as their play-driver from a back three. Distinct approach from what we've seen this year, but it's setting up some very nice second-ball situations.

Starting Lineups are in for tonight's #GainbridgeSuperLeague Final between Lexington SC and @carolinaascentfc.bsky.social. Tune in live at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.

Going to go out on a limb and say if one of your center backs has the most passes into the final third for your side, and he completed 25% of them, it doesn't bode well.

A tip of the hat to you, Mr. Madison 🎩 🦩MAD 2 - 0 COR 🦈

Continue to be smitten with Knoxville's flexibility in the press, they're really finding ways to make it work without losing the benefits of a dual No. 9 shape.

USL Odds, May 29 @theuslshow.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/statrobo...

This is one of the projects I got to work on in the last couple of months, the official #GainbridgeSuperLeague card set. Hope you'll look at picking up a set. Note: The deadline for player bios was before the end of the regular season, so you know. www.parksidecards.com/products/202...

Locadia and Tunbridge have quickly become the sharpest one-two punch on the break in the entire USL, Miami is fun.

Miami FC managed the result of the year, so far, in the USL Championship with its 4-3 win over Louisville. @usltactics.com and Peyton Gallaher tell us how Miami made it happen. From this week’s This League!  📺 tinyurl.com/3f42cxmk ➡️ tinyurl.com/43e5acy5

ICYMI: I talked to Dom Casciato and Lewis Hilton to break down Tampa Bay’s historic start to 2026.

Need to get prepped for the Super League final? I dig into Carolina and Lexington’s paths to the final and their impending matchup, including the import of sequences like this. www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

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It’s been a historic start for @tampabayrowdies.bsky.social, but how are they pulling off one of the biggest single-season rebounds in USL history? I talked to Dominic Casciato and Lewis Hilton to find out about the recruitment, tactics, and culture behind it all. www.backheeled.com/how-tampa-ba...

LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM: John Morrissey (@usltactics.com) joins the show to preview @rhodeislandfc.bsky.social as they hit the road to take on @indyeleven.bsky.social this weekend. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWV4...