2020 USL Championship Playoffs

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|

Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

Football tournament season

2020 USL Championship PlayoffsTournament details

Country| United States
Teams| 16
Final positions
Champions| Tampa Bay Rowdies
(Eastern Conference)
Phoenix Rising FC
(Western Conference)
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 14
Goals scored| 37 (2.64 per match)
Attendance| 25,836 (1,845 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)| Corey Hertzog
(3 goals)

<- 2019

2021 ->

The 2020 USL Championship Playoffs was the post-season championship of the 2020 USL Championship. It was the tenth edition of the USL Championship Playoffs. The playoffs began on October 10, and originally scheduled to conclude with the USL Championship Final on November 1. The Final was then cancelled the day before because several Tampa Bay Rowdies players and staff tested positive for COVID-19. The championship would not be awarded.[1]

Real Monarchs were the defending USL Championship champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs.

## Qualified teams

[edit]

Group A

* Reno 1868 FC
* Sacramento Republic FC

Group B

* Phoenix Rising FC
* LA Galaxy II

Group C

* El Paso Locomotive FC
* New Mexico United

Group D

* San Antonio FC
* FC Tulsa

Group E

* Louisville City FC
* Saint Louis FC

Group F

* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Hartford Athletic

Group G

* Charlotte Independence
* Birmingham Legion FC

Group H

* Tampa Bay Rowdies
* Charleston Battery

### Format

[edit]

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the 2020 Championship Playoffs. They will begin on October 10, featuring a single-elimination, 16-team bracket. Under the revised season format, four group winners in each conference will earn hosting rights for the Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals. Following the opening round, hosting rights will be determined by regular season record. All playoff matches will stream live on ESPN+ except the Championship final on ESPN.[2][3]

## Conference tables

[edit]

### Western Conference

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification

|
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1  | Reno 1868 FC | 16  | 11  | 2  | 3  | 43  | 21  | +22  | 36  | 2.25  | Conference Quarterfinals
2  | Phoenix Rising FC | 16  | 11  | 3  | 2  | 46  | 17  | +29  | 35  | 2.19
3  | San Antonio FC | 16  | 10  | 3  | 3  | 30  | 14  | +16  | 33  | 2.06
4  | El Paso Locomotive FC | 16  | 9  | 2  | 5  | 24  | 14  | +10  | 32  | 2.00
5  | Sacramento Republic | 16  | 8  | 2  | 6  | 27  | 17  | +10  | 30  | 1.88
6  | New Mexico United | 15  | 8  | 4  | 3  | 23  | 17  | +6  | 27  | 1.80
7  | FC Tulsa | 15  | 6  | 2  | 7  | 21  | 16  | +5  | 25  | 1.67
8  | LA Galaxy II | 16  | 8  | 6  | 2  | 29  | 32  | −3  | 26  | 1.63
9  | Orange County SC | 16  | 7  | 6  | 3  | 18  | 18  | 0  | 24  | 1.50  |
10  | San Diego Loyal SC | 16  | 6  | 5  | 5  | 17  | 18  | −1  | 23  | 1.44
11  | Austin Bold FC | 16  | 5  | 4  | 7  | 30  | 26  | +4  | 22  | 1.38
12  | Tacoma Defiance | 16  | 4  | 10  | 2  | 25  | 32  | −7  | 14  | 0.88
13  | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 16  | 2  | 7  | 7  | 19  | 28  | −9  | 13  | 0.81
14  | Real Monarchs | 16  | 3  | 11  | 2  | 14  | 25  | −11  | 11  | 0.69
15  | Las Vegas Lights FC | 16  | 2  | 9  | 5  | 24  | 34  | −10  | 11  | 0.69
16  | Rio Grande Valley Toros | 14  | 2  | 9  | 3  | 17  | 28  | −11  | 9  | 0.64
17  | OKC Energy FC | 16  | 1  | 8  | 7  | 12  | 29  | −17  | 10  | 0.63
18  | Portland Timbers 2 | 16  | 3  | 13  | 0  | 20  | 50  | −30  | 9  | 0.56

Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.

### Eastern Conference

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Louisville City FC | 16  | 11  | 3  | 2  | 28  | 12  | +16  | 35  | 2.19  | Conference Quarterfinals
2  | Hartford Athletic | 16  | 11  | 3  | 2  | 31  | 24  | +7  | 35  | 2.19
3  | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 16  | 11  | 4  | 1  | 39  | 10  | +29  | 34  | 2.13
4  | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 16  | 10  | 3  | 3  | 25  | 11  | +14  | 33  | 2.06
5  | Charleston Battery | 15  | 9  | 3  | 3  | 26  | 15  | +11  | 30  | 2.00
6  | Charlotte Independence | 16  | 8  | 4  | 4  | 24  | 22  | +2  | 28  | 1.75
7  | Birmingham Legion FC | 16  | 7  | 5  | 4  | 29  | 19  | +10  | 25  | 1.56
8  | Saint Louis FC | 16  | 7  | 5  | 4  | 22  | 21  | +1  | 25  | 1.56
9  | Indy Eleven | 16  | 7  | 7  | 2  | 21  | 19  | +2  | 23  | 1.44  |
10  | North Carolina FC | 15  | 6  | 8  | 1  | 17  | 21  | −4  | 19  | 1.27
11  | Memphis 901 FC | 15  | 4  | 7  | 4  | 24  | 31  | −7  | 16  | 1.07
12  | Sporting Kansas City II | 16  | 5  | 10  | 1  | 21  | 30  | −9  | 16  | 1.00
13  | Miami FC | 16  | 4  | 8  | 4  | 20  | 34  | −14  | 16  | 1.00
14  | New York Red Bulls II | 16  | 5  | 11  | 0  | 30  | 37  | −7  | 15  | 0.94
15  | Atlanta United 2 | 16  | 3  | 10  | 3  | 23  | 33  | −10  | 12  | 0.75
16  | Philadelphia Union II | 16  | 2  | 11  | 3  | 20  | 45  | −25  | 9  | 0.56
17  | Loudoun United FC | 13  | 1  | 9  | 3  | 10  | 28  | −18  | 6  | 0.46

Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.

## Bracket

[edit]

| Conference Quarterfinals
October 10 | | | Conference Semifinals
October 17 | | | Conference Finals
October 24 | | | USL Championship
Cancelled |

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|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| A1 | Reno 1868 FC | 4 | | | |
| B2 | LA Galaxy II | 1 |
| | A1 | Reno 1868 FC | 2 (4) |
|  |
| | | B1 | Phoenix Rising FC (p) | 2 (5) |
| B1 | Phoenix Rising FC (a.e.t.) | 1 |

| A2 | Sacramento Republic FC | 0 |
| | B1 | Phoenix Rising FC (p) | 1 (4) |
| Western Conference |
| | | C1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1 (2) |
| C1 | El Paso Locomotive FC (p) | 2 (4) | |

| D2 | FC Tulsa | 2 (2) |
| | C1 | El Paso Locomotive FC (p) | 1 (5) |
|  |
| | | C2 | New Mexico United | 1 (3) |
| D1 | San Antonio FC | 0 |

| C2 | New Mexico United (a.e.t.) | 1 |
| | B1 | Phoenix Rising FC | Ø |
|  |
| | | H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Ø |
| E1 | Louisville City FC | 2 | | |

| F2 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 0 |
| | E1 | Louisville City FC | 2 |
|  |
| | | E2 | Saint Louis FC | 0 |
| F1 | Hartford Athletic | 0 |

| E2 | Saint Louis FC | 1 |
| | E1 | Louisville City FC | 1 |
| Eastern Conference |
| | | H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2 |
| G1 | Charlotte Independence | 1 | |

| H2 | Charleston Battery (a.e.t.) | 2 |
| | H2 | Charleston Battery | 0 |
|  |
| | | H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 |
| H1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4 |

| G2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 2 |

## Schedule

[edit]

### Conference Quarterfinals

[edit]

Hartford Athletic v Saint Louis FC October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) East| Hartford Athletic| 0–1|  Saint Louis FC | Hartford, Connecticut

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|

7:00 PM EDT |

* Silva 16'
* Strong 45+1'
* Barrera 61'
* Politz 90+3'

| Report |

* Greig 73'
* Fall 89'
* Rivas 90+3'

| Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Attendance: 2,194
Referee: Kevin Broadley

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Birmingham Legion FC October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) East|  Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4–2| Birmingham Legion FC| St. Petersburg, Florida

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|
|
|

7:30 PM EDT |

* Doherty 8'
* Guenzatti 38'
* Mkosana 78'
* Fernandes 80'

| Report |

* Crognale 10'
* Lopez 20'
* Williams 42'
* Kasim 57'
* Lapa 63'
* Cromwell 85'

| Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 1,098
Referee: Eric Tattersall

Louisville City FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) East|  Louisville City FC | 2–0| Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC| Louisville, Kentucky

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7:30 PM EDT |

* Lancaster 17'
* Souahy 26'
* Hoppenot 29'
* Jimenez 53'
* Bone 86'

| Report |

* Thomas 45'

| Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 4,900
Referee: Elton García

Charlotte Independence v Charleston Battery October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) East| Charlotte Independence| 1–2 (a.e.t.)|  Charleston Battery | Matthews, North Carolina

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8:00 PM EDT |

* Roberts 64'
* Martínez 90+4'
* Dimick 100'
* Sabella 118'

| Report |

* Daley 3'
* Crawford 63'
* Paterson 71'
* Marini 99'
* Bosua 101' 109'

| Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 100
Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Reno 1868 FC v LA Galaxy II October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) West|  Reno 1868 FC | 4–1| LA Galaxy II| Reno, Nevada

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7:00 PM MDT |

* Partida 4' 45'
* Hertzog 35', 59' (pen.) 77'
* Langsdorf 53'
* Beaury 85'

| Report |

* Neal 10'
* Romero 58'
* Hernández 66'
* Vázquez 74'
* Saldana 76'

| Stadium: Greater Nevada Field
Attendance: 250
Referee: Matthew Thompson

San Antonio FC v New Mexico United October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) West| San Antonio FC| 0–1 (a.e.t.)|  New Mexico United | San Antonio, Texas

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7:00 PM CDT |

* Taintor 51'
* Giro 104'
* Bailone 105+1'
* Parano 115'

| Report |

* Moreno 48'
* Mizell 94'
* Wehan 101' 105+2'
* Suggs 104'
* Tinari 105+3'
* Guzmán 107'

| Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 2,175
Referee: Elijio Arreguin

El Paso Locomotive FC v FC Tulsa October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) West|  El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)| FC Tulsa| El Paso, Texas

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|
|

7:30 PM MDT |

* Carrijó 19', 82'
* Borelli 67'
* Rebellón 96'

| Report |

* Bird 24'
* Da Costa 38'
* Chapman-Page 61' 101' 68'

| Stadium: Southwest University Park
Attendance: 1,659
Referee: Brandon Stevis
| Penalties|

* Ross
* Rebellón
* Ryan
* Robinson

|  |

* Altamirano
* Moloto
* Martínez
* Bourgeois

Phoenix Rising FC v Sacramento Republic FC October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) West|  Phoenix Rising FC | 1–0 (a.e.t.)| Sacramento Republic FC| Scottsdale, Arizona

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|
|

7:30 PM MST |

* Dadashov 44'
* Lambert 109'
* Asante 114'

| Report |

* Formella 12'
* López 45'
* Hilliard-Arce 74'
* McCrary 87'
* Keinan 90+1'

| Stadium: Casino Arizona Field
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

### Conference Semifinals

[edit]

Louisville City FC v Saint Louis FC October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) East|  Louisville City FC | 2–0| Saint Louis FC| Louisville, Kentucky

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|
|

7:30 PM EDT |

* Totsch 11'
* Lancaster 18'
* Williams 20'
* Lundt 75'
* Adewole 83' (o.g.)

| Report |

* Gee 25'
* Fink 82'
* Samb 90+3'

| Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 4,900
Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Charleston Battery October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) East|  Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1–0| Charleston Battery| St. Petersburg, Florida

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7:30 PM EDT |

* Scarlett 38'
* Mkosana 79'

| Report |

* Archer 57'

| Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 1,301
Referee: Ismir Pekmic

Reno 1868 FC v Phoenix Rising FC October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) West| Reno 1868 FC| 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)|  Phoenix Rising FC | Reno, Nevada

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|
|

6:00 PM PDT |

* Hertzog 6'
* Janjigian 31'
* Partida 40'
* Bone 57'
* Langsdorf 79'
* Ycaza 90+4'
* Boudadi 119'

| Report |

* King 23'
* Lambert 45+2' 51'
* Lowe 65'
* Asante 71'
* Moar 94'

| Stadium: Greater Nevada Field
Attendance: 700
Referee: Kevin Broadley
| Penalties|

* Hertzog
* Alfaro
* Richards
* Gleadle
* Apodaca

|  |

* Farrell
* Whelan
* Calistri
* King
* Dadashov

El Paso Locomotive FC v New Mexico United October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) West|  El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)| New Mexico United| El Paso, Texas

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|
|

7:30 PM MDT |

* Mares 30'
* Borelli 50'
* Gómez 52'
* Moreno 53'
* Diaz 112'

| Report |

* Hamilton 38'
* Parkes 90+5'

| Stadium: Southwest University Park
Attendance: 1,659
Referee: Jon Freemon
| Penalties|

* Borelli
* Ross
* Ryan
* Robinson
* Zola

|  |

* Sandoval
* Wehan
* Ryden
* Parkes

### Conference Finals

[edit]

Louisville City FC v Tampa Bay Rowdies October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24) East| Louisville City FC| 1–2|  Tampa Bay Rowdies | Louisville, Kentucky

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7:30 PM EDT |

* McMahon 27'
* Lachowecki 45' (o.g.)

| Report |

* Steinberger 3'
* Lasso 29'
* Dalgaard 38'
* Guenzatti 45+3'
* Guillén 83'
* Ekra 90+1'

| Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 4,900
Referee: Jon Freemon

Phoenix Rising FC v El Paso Locomotive FC October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24) West|  Phoenix Rising FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)| El Paso Locomotive FC| Scottsdale, Arizona

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7:30 PM MST |

* Schweitzer 18'
* Farrell 95'
* Asante 109'
* Lowe 113'

| Report |

* Monsalvez 4'
* King 54'
* Rebellón 59' 94'
* Herrera 105+2'
* Diaz 106'
* Ryan 108'
* Carrijó 111'

| Stadium: Casino Arizona Field
Referee: Elton García
| Penalties|
Bakero
Whelan
Farrell
Moar |  |  Carrijó
Ross
Ryan
Gómez

### USL Championship Final

[edit]

The Final was cancelled the day before because several Tampa Bay Rowdies players and staff tested positive for COVID-19. The championship would not be awarded.[1]

Tampa Bay Rowdies v Phoenix Rising FC November 1, 2020 (2020-11-01) |  Tampa Bay Rowdies | Cancelled|  Phoenix Rising FC | St. Petersburg, Florida

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8:30 PM EST |  |  |  | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Note: Phoenix relinquished the right to host the final as a gesture of respect to the LGBTQ community for the incident between Phoenix Rising and San Diego Loyal on September 30.[4]

## Top goalscorers

[edit]

As of October 31, 2020[5]
Rank  | Player  | Club  | Goals

|
|
|

1  |  Corey Hertzog | Reno 1868 FC | 3
2  |  Solomon Asante | Phoenix Rising FC | 2
Leandro Carrijó | El Paso Locomotive FC
Sebastián Guenzatti | Tampa Bay Rowdies
Cameron Lancaster | Louisville City FC
Lucky Mkosana | Tampa Bay Rowdies
Kevin Partida | Reno 1868 FC

## Awards

[edit]

* Goal of the Playoffs: Jordan Doherty (TBR)[6]
* Save of the Playoffs: Cody Mizell (NMU)[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners". USLChampionship.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
2. ^ "USL Championship Confirms 2020 Postseason Structure". USLChampionship.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
3. ^ "USL Championship Final to Air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes". USLChampionship.com. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
4. ^ "Phoenix Rising FC Relinquishes 2020 Championship Final Hosting Rights". USLChampionship.com. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
5. ^ "Playoffs Stats". United Soccer League. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
6. ^ "Tampa Bay's Doherty Claims Fans' Choice Goal of the Playoffs Award". USLChampionship.com Staff. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
7. ^ "New Mexico's Mizell Takes Fans' Choice Save of the Playoffs Award". USLChampionship.com Staff. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

2020 USL Championship season

* Playoffs

Eastern|

* Atlanta United 2
* Birmingham Legion
* Charleston Battery
* Charlotte Independence
* Hartford Athletic
* Indy Eleven
* Loudoun United
* Louisville City
* Memphis 901
* Miami FC
* New York Red Bulls II
* North Carolina FC
* Philadelphia Union II
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Saint Louis FC
* Sporting Kansas City II
* Tampa Bay Rowdies

Western|

* Austin Bold
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive
* LA Galaxy II
* Las Vegas Lights
* New Mexico United
* OKC Energy
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Reno 1868 FC
* RGVFC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* San Antonio FC
* San Diego Loyal SC
* Tacoma Defiance
* FC Tulsa

* v
* t
* e

2020 in American soccer

« 2019

2021 »

| Leagues|

| Men|

* MLS
* MLS is Back tournament
* final
* MLS Cup
* playoffs
* USLC
* playoffs
* USL1
* ~~USL2~~
* NISA
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* ~~NPSL~~
* UPSL
* fall
* MASL
* 2019–20
* M2
* 2019–20
* NCAA
* Division I

|

Women|

* NWSL
* ~~NWSL Shield~~
* ~~NWSL Playoffs~~
* Challenge Cup
* final
* Fall Series
* NCAA
* Division I
* final

Cups|

* ~~U.S. Open Cup~~
* Qualification
* NPSL Members Cup
* ~~National Amateur Cup~~
* National Women's Open
* Men's College Cup
* ~~Hank Steinbrecher Cup~~

Other|

* ~~MLS All-Star Game~~
* MLS transfers

International

Club competitions|

* CONCACAF Champions League
* ~~Leagues Cup~~
* ~~Campeones Cup~~

Team seasons

Men|

| MLS|

* Atlanta United FC
* Chicago Fire FC
* FC Cincinnati
* Colorado Rapids
* Columbus Crew SC
* D.C. United
* FC Dallas
* Houston Dynamo
* Inter Miami CF
* LA Galaxy
* Los Angeles FC
* Minnesota United FC
* Montreal Impact
* Nashville SC
* New England Revolution
* New York City FC
* New York Red Bulls
* Orlando City SC
* Philadelphia Union
* Portland Timbers
* Real Salt Lake
* San Jose Earthquakes
* Seattle Sounders FC
* Sporting Kansas City
* Toronto FC
* Vancouver Whitecaps FC

|

USLC|

* Atlanta United 2
* Austin Bold
* Birmingham Legion
* Charleston Battery
* Charlotte Independence
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive
* Hartford Athletic
* Indy Eleven
* LA Galaxy II
* Las Vegas Lights
* Loudoun United
* Louisville City
* Memphis 901
* Miami FC
* New Mexico United
* New York Red Bulls II
* North Carolina FC
* OKC Energy
* Orange County SC
* Philadelphia Union II
* Phoenix Rising
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs
* Reno 1868
* RGVFC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* Saint Louis FC
* San Antonio FC
* San Diego Loyal
* Sporting Kansas City II
* Tacoma Defiance
* Tampa Bay Rowdies
* FC Tulsa

USL1|

* Chattanooga Red Wolves
* Fort Lauderdale CF
* Forward Madison
* Greenville Triumph
* North Texas SC
* Union Omaha
* Orlando City B
* Revolution II
* Richmond Kickers
* Tormenta FC
* Toronto FC II
* FC Tucson

NISA
(19–20)
(20–21)|

* Atlanta SC
* California United Strikers FC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* Chattanooga FC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* Detroit City FC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* Los Angeles Force
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* Miami FC
* Maryland Bobcats FC
* Michigan Stars FC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* New Amsterdam FC
* New York Cosmos
* Oakland Roots SC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* Philadelphia Fury
* San Diego 1904 FC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* Stumptown Athletic/AC
* 2019–20
* 2020–21

Women|

| NWSL|

* Chicago Red Stars
* Houston Dash
* North Carolina Courage
* Orlando Pride
* Portland Thorns
* OL Reign
* Sky Blue FC
* Utah Royals
* Washington Spirit

|

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[T]: Tied
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[PPG]: Points per game