@lukermartin.bsky.social you’ve covered mascots without pants, but what about mascots without shirts??

The USL is expanding at a breakneck pace — and expansion fees stay at privately owned USL HQ. USL teams are folding at a breakneck pace. There's an incentive problem here. An essential piece on the USL + lower-division U.S. soccer from @usltactics.com.

Tuesday newsletter from your guy over here. I wrote about Tormenta FC shutting down 2 weeks from the start of the season and tossed in some MLS thoughts from Week 1. jason-davis-soccer-eagle.ghost.io/lights-out-i...

New at #Stormwatch912: Those things were fun, and fun is good. Tormenta suspends operations for 2026 and I wrote a lot of words that, hopefully, make sense. stormwatch912.blogspot.com/2026/02/thos...

The USL is desperate to enact pro/rel to grow its fanbase, but the league office offers little support to its clubs once the expansion checks clear. No revenue sharing, and an average of two clubs folding each offseason for a decade. So cynical to drop this update 2-3 weeks before kickoff.

I joined Bluesky to engage with the League One community and now I’m at a complete loss on what to do. If you have a local club, cherish every moment with it because you never know how long it will last.

After reports surfaced over the weekend, South Georgia Tormenta FC have officially confirmed their non-participation in the 2026 USL League One Season. More on the announcement and future of Statesboro's professional soccer club:

As promised: www.statesboroherald.com/sports/torme...

🚨EMERGENCY LIVE SHOW TONIGHT🚨 9pm ET/6pm PT Reports are saying that South Georgia Tormenta FC are going on hiatus for 2026. We are sitting down to discuss what that means for the Statesboro side.

The fears are confirmed. Heartbreaking for the team we won’t get to see, and a worrisome situation for the organization as a whole. Sad day in Statesboro. 💔

Seconding this. My phone has been blowing up all morning but when it comes to matters of business and money you have to get confirmation. And we’re told something is coming out this afternoon 👀

@tormentafc.bsky.social’s W League squad will once again be matched up with the Carolinian teams for the ‘26 W League season, which still includes the three time consecutive finalist NC Courage U23 side 😬

As the band Staind sang back in 2001, "It's Been Awhile" but #Stormwatch912 is back with a recap of @tormentafc.bsky.social's offseason moves so far as we prepare to kick of Tormenta's 10th season. stormwatch912.blogspot.com/2026/01/pres...

Spielman played every single minute of Charlotte’s 2025 season, and likely would’ve in 2024 as well if not for a single red card. Invaluable experience joining Tormenta’s back line in ‘26. Fun fact: Spielman played (and scored) against the inaugural Tormenta PDL squad in 2016 with Peachtree City

Former @tormentafc.bsky.social standout Nick Akoto’s Burton Albion side will HOST West Ham next month in the FA Cup Fourth Round 👀

Standout defender Makel Rasheed earns a jump to USL Championship side Indy Eleven after helping South Georgia Tormenta turn around its season. Well deserved promotion here, and a great comeback story 👀

Three years on and it still doesn’t get old 🥹

New at #Stormwatch912: I could try to recap the Tormenta/Velocity game, or we can all just kind of agree "hey, that happened, wasn't that a hell of a thing?" stormwatch912.blogspot.com/2025/11/thin...

Off to bed then

🤞🤞🤞 for some shootout magic out west…

Welp.

Excitement in Statesboro

95’ | IN THE NET BY OUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, MASON TUNBRIDGE!! ⚔️ The Englishman steps up to the penalty spot to give the Ibises the lead!! #SPKvTRM | TRM 1-0 SPK

Was 100% convinced Tunbridge was about to win this thing on the last kick

@tormentafc.bsky.social’s first postseason match since the 2022 USL1 Championship is UNDERWAY in Spokane! And a flurry of attacking chances already in the opening few minutes 👀

With Portland Hearts of Pine taking down the Red Wolves, a @tormentafc.bsky.social win tomorrow would mean a USL League One semifinal IN STATESBORO!

New at #Stormwatch912: Postseason Potpourri: Thoughts on Ian Cameron's impact on Tormenta's playoff run, a section on the future of the playoffs, and Mark McKeever's gratitude on coaching again. stormwatch912.blogspot.com

FT | Up the ‘Menta!! ⚡ Tormenta FC heads into the playoffs with another win in the books, making it eight wins in nine games for the Ibises! #TRMvTXO | TRM 3-0 TXO

Atlanta United fires Ronny Deila after worst season in club history Atlanta United has parted ways with manager Ronny Deila after a disastrous 2025 season that saw the Five Stripes finish almost last in MLS with just 5 wins. With the 2026 World Cup coming to Atlanta, major changes are underway.

Tormenta is PLAYOFF BOUND! At least one pro team in Georgia will be playing postseason soccer this year!

After a storied 21 year career, including 9 years with Atlanta United, the legendary goalkeeper announces his retirement at the end of the 2025 season.

What is happening????

THERE GOES THAT MAN AGAIN! WHAT A FREE KICK FROM NIALL REID STEPHEN!

Well, done watching the Atlanta United dumpster fire just in time to witness Austin Pack make an INSANE save

A depleted Atlanta United squad faces an Inter Miami (still featuring Lionel Messi!) tonight in a battle of Eastern Conference opposites. How many goals will he score?

Playoff clinching scenarios for @tormentafc.bsky.social tonight, per USL League One 👀 All three still on the table after AV’s loss to Charlotte last night.

Number 6 and counting!

NIALL’S ON FIRE 🔥 Banger of a goal, collected finish after a first time volley of an assist, @tormentafc.bsky.social with an early 1-0 lead!

For the fourth time in three matches: BAZINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! 1-0 @tormentafc.bsky.social!!

Statesboro celebrity @lukermartin.bsky.social sighting on the pregame broadcast!

It’s official: Mark McKeever is the new Head Coach of Tormenta FC! Since taking over as interim, he’s led us to a 5-1-1 record and earned USL League One Coach of the Week after our 3-0 win over AV Alta. Read more: bit.ly/4mvpjag

The cruelest part of being raptured today would’ve been missing out on Luke’s preview and watching Tormenta go for a club record setting *fifth* straight USL1 win this weekend. Luckily for us who got left behind, we get to do both!

FT | East coast is better than the west coast, but we already knew that!! 😎 Tormenta takes all three points to claim a playoff spot in the USL League One standings! See you next week at home! 😉 #AVvTRM | TRM 3-0 AV

Handwalla Bwana for 3️⃣! Four wins in a row for Tormenta and truly staking a claim in the USL1 playoff picture now!

Reid-Stephen to Bazini once again to double the lead for @tormentafc.bsky.social!! The Ibises are flying in the Antelope Valley!

BAZINIIIIIIIIII

Back from one soccer game and ready for another! Some rotation from Tormenta tonight, loanee Malou with a first start, Cabral on the bench replaced by Aaron Walker, Bazini switches with Vivas up top. Big one coming up soon in Cali!

🚨THREE TAKEAWAYS ARE LIVE @shwrites.bsky.social @hahiguita.bsky.social and @jpopkin.bsky.social put the wraps on Atlanta United's 1-1 draw against San Diego FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium scarvesandspikes.com/2025/09/20/a...

We out here for some relaxed, no-stakes soccer watching! What’s the opposite of buzzing?