Western Conference (USL Championship)

Conference in USL Championship soccer

Western ConferenceLeague| USL Championship

|

Sport| Soccer
Founded| January 21, 2015
No. of teams| 12
Most recent
champion(s)| Colorado Springs Switchbacks (2024) (1st title)
Most titles| Phoenix Rising FC (3 titles)

The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the USL Championship, the second level of men's club soccer in the United States.[1]

## Current standings

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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1  | FC Tulsa | 16  | 8  | 3  | 5  | 24  | 16  | +8  | 29  | Playoffs
2  | San Antonio FC | 16  | 8  | 5  | 3  | 23  | 21  | +2  | 27
3  | New Mexico United | 15  | 8  | 6  | 1  | 22  | 17  | +5  | 25
4  | Sacramento Republic FC | 16  | 6  | 4  | 6  | 22  | 12  | +10  | 24[a]
5  | Phoenix Rising FC | 16  | 6  | 5  | 5  | 26  | 26  | 0  | 23[a]
6  | El Paso Locomotive FC | 16  | 6  | 5  | 5  | 24  | 25  | −1  | 23
7  | Monterey Bay FC | 18  | 6  | 8  | 4  | 19  | 23  | −4  | 22
8  | Orange County SC | 15  | 6  | 7  | 2  | 22  | 22  | 0  | 20[b]
9  | Oakland Roots SC | 17  | 6  | 9  | 2  | 19  | 25  | −6  | 20[b] |
10  | Lexington SC | 17  | 4  | 6  | 7  | 17  | 23  | −6  | 19[b]
11  | Las Vegas Lights FC | 17  | 5  | 9  | 3  | 13  | 28  | −15  | 18
12  | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 16  | 4  | 6  | 6  | 19  | 22  | −3  | 18

Updated to match(es) played on July 19, 2025. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:

1. ^ a b Sacramento Republic FC are ahead of Phoenix Rising FC on goal differential
2. ^ a b c Orange County SC are ahead of Oakland Roots SC and Lexington SC on head-to-head points: Orange County SC 4, Oakland Roots SC 3, Lexington SC 1

## Members

[edit]

### Current

[edit]

Club  | City  | Stadium

|
|

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Weidner Field
El Paso Locomotive FC | El Paso, Texas | Southwest University Park
FC Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | ONEOK Field
Las Vegas Lights FC | Las Vegas, Nevada | Cashman Field
Lexington SC | Lexington, Kentucky | Lexington SC Stadium
Monterey Bay FC | Seaside, California | Cardinale Stadium
New Mexico United | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Isotopes Park
Oakland Roots SC | Oakland, California | Pioneer Stadium
Orange County SC | Irvine, California | Championship Stadium
Phoenix Rising FC | Phoenix, Arizona | Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium
Sacramento Republic FC | Sacramento, California | Heart Health Park
San Antonio FC | San Antonio, Texas | Toyota Field

Colorado Springs

El Paso

Tulsa

Las Vegas

Lexington

Monterey

New Mexico

Oakland

Orange
County

Phoenix

Sacramento

San Antonio

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams for the 2024 USL Championship season

## Conference Lineups

[edit]

### Clubs timeline

[edit]

Conference Member   Club moved to Eastern Conference   Club playing in different league   Former clubs

### 2015 (12 teams)

[edit]

* Arizona United SC
* Austin Aztex
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* LA Galaxy II
* Oklahoma City Energy
* Orange County Blues
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Sacramento Republic
* Seattle Sounders 2
* Tulsa Roughnecks
* Vancouver Whitecaps 2

Changes from 2014: USL Pro expanded and was rebranded as simply USL; the round robin table was split into two conferences: Eastern and Western.

### 2016 (15 teams)

[edit]

* Arizona United SC
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* LA Galaxy II
* Oklahoma City Energy
* Orange County Blues
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* St. Louis FC
* San Antonio FC
* Seattle Sounders 2
* Swope Park Rangers
* Tulsa Roughnecks
* Vancouver Whitecaps 2

Changes from 2015: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, the Swope Park Rangers and San Antonio FC were added as expansion franchises;[2] Saint Louis FC moved in from the Eastern Conference; the Austin Aztex went on hiatus

### 2017 (15 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* LA Galaxy II
* Oklahoma City Energy
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Reno 1868 FC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* San Antonio FC
* Seattle Sounders 2
* Swope Park Rangers
* Tulsa Roughnecks
* Vancouver Whitecaps 2

Changes from 2016: Arizona United SC was renamed Phoenix Rising FC; the Orange County Blues was renamed Orange County SC; the Austin Aztex folded; Reno 1868 FC was added as an expansion franchise; Saint Louis FC moved out to the Eastern Conference[3]

### 2018 (17 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* Fresno FC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* LA Galaxy II
* Oklahoma City Energy
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Reno 1868 FC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* Saint Louis FC
* San Antonio FC
* Seattle Sounders 2
* Swope Park Rangers
* Tulsa Roughnecks

Changes from 2017: Fresno FC and Las Vegas Lights FC were added as expansion franchises; the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 folded; Saint Louis FC moved in from the Western Conference.[4]

### 2019 (18 teams)

[edit]

* Austin Bold FC
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* Fresno FC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* LA Galaxy II
* New Mexico United
* Oklahoma City Energy
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Reno 1868 FC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* San Antonio FC
* Tacoma Defiance
* Tulsa Roughnecks

Changes from 2018: Austin Bold FC, El Paso Locomotive FC and the New Mexico United were added as expansion franchises.;[5] Saint Louis FC and the Swope Park Rangers moved out to the Eastern Conference; Seattle Sounders FC 2 rebranded as Tacoma Defiance.

### 2020 (18 teams)

[edit]

#### Group A (4 teams)

[edit]

* Portland Timbers 2
* Reno 1868 FC
* Sacramento Republic
* Tacoma Defiance

#### Group B (5 teams)

[edit]

* Las Vegas Lights FC
* LA Galaxy II
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* San Diego Loyal SC

#### Group C (4 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* New Mexico United
* Real Monarchs SLC

#### Group D (5 teams)

[edit]

* Austin Bold FC
* Oklahoma City Energy
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* San Antonio FC
* FC Tulsa

Changes from 2019: San Diego Loyal SC was added as an expansion franchise; the Tulsa Roughnecks were renamed FC Tulsa; Fresno FC was disbanded. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference was split into four groups. Two groups of four and two groups of five.[6]

### 2021 (15 teams)

[edit]

#### Mountain Division

[edit]

* Austin Bold FC
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* New Mexico United
* Real Monarchs SLC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* San Antonio FC

#### Pacific Division

[edit]

* Las Vegas Lights FC
* LA Galaxy II
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic
* San Diego Loyal SC
* Tacoma Defiance

Changes from 2020: The conference was divided into two divisions, Mountain and Pacific; Oakland Roots SC joined in from NISA: the Portland Timbers 2 was withdrawn by the MLS parent club; Reno 1868 FC was disbanded; Oklahoma City Energy and FC Tulsa moved out to the Eastern Conference.[7]

### 2022 (13 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* New Mexico United
* Monterey Bay FC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* LA Galaxy II
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC
* San Diego Loyal SC

Changes from 2021: The Mountain and Pacific divisions were dropped; Monterey Bay FC was added as an expansion franchise; the Real Monarchs and the Tacoma Defiance were withdrawn by their MLS parent clubs and moved to MLS Next Pro; Austin Bold FC went on hiatus; will move to a yet-to-be-named Texas city for the 2023 season.[8]

### 2023 (12 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* New Mexico United
* Monterey Bay FC
* Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC
* San Diego Loyal SC

Changes from 2022: The LA Galaxy II was withdrawn by their MLS parent club and moved to MLS Next Pro;[9]

### 2024 (12 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* FC Tulsa
* New Mexico United
* Monterey Bay FC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* Memphis 901 FC
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC

Changes from 2023: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros[10] and San Diego Loyal SC[11] folded. FC Tulsa and Memphis 901 FC moved from the Eastern Conference.[12]

### 2025 (12 teams)

[edit]

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* FC Tulsa
* Lexington SC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* Monterey Bay FC
* New Mexico United
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC

Changes from 2024: Lexington SC joined from USL League One. Memphis 901 FC folded. [13]

## Western Conference Playoff champions by year

[edit]

Bold | USL Champions

|

Season  | Champions  | Score  | Runners Up

|
|
|

2015 | LA Galaxy II | 2–1  | OKC Energy FC
2016 | Swope Park Rangers | 3–0  | Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
2017 | Swope Park Rangers | 0–0 (7–6 PK)  | OKC Energy FC
2018 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–1  | Orange County SC
2019 | Real Monarchs SLC | 2–1 (AET)  | El Paso Locomotive FC
2020[a] | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–1 (4–2 PK)  | El Paso Locomotive FC
2021 | Orange County SC | 1–1 (5–3 PK)  | San Antonio FC
2022 | San Antonio FC | 2–0  | Colorado Springs Switchbacks
2023 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–1  | Sacramento Republic FC
2024 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 1–0  | Las Vegas Lights FC

1. ^ USL Championship game canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak in the Tampa Bay Rowdies camp.[14]

## Western Conference regular season champions by year

[edit]

Bold | Players' Shield Champions

|

Season  | Team  | Record  | Playoffs result

|
|
|

2015 | Orange County Blues | 14–9–5 (+4)  | Lost conference semifinals
2016 | Sacramento Republic FC | 14–10–6 (+16)  | Lost conference quarterfinals
2017 | Real Monarchs SLC | 20–5–7 (+28)  | Lost conference quarterfinals
2018 | Orange County SC | 20–8–6 (+30)  | Lost conference final
2019 | Phoenix Rising FC | 24–4–6 (+53)  | Lost conference semifinals
2020 | Reno 1868 FC | 11–2–3 (+22)  | Lost conference semifinals
2021 | Phoenix Rising FC | 20–5–7 (+33)  | Lost conference quarterfinals
2022 | San Antonio FC | 24–5–5 (+28)  | Won USL Championship
2023 | Sacramento Republic FC | 18–6–10 (+25)  | Lost conference final
2024 | New Mexico United | 18–11–5 (+2)  | Lost conference semifinals

## See also

[edit]

* Eastern Conference (USL Championship)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Expanded USL Unveils 2015 Format". United Soccer League (USL). January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
2. ^ "2016 USL Alignment and Format Announced". United Soccer League (USL). January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
3. ^ "USL Announces 2017 Conference Alignment". www.uslsoccer.com. United Soccer League (USL). January 9, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
4. ^ "USL Announces 2018 Conference Alignment". soccerstadiumdigest.com. Soccer Stadium Digest. January 12, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
5. ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2019 Conference Alignment". United Soccer League (USL). December 13, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
6. ^ Lenard, John (June 26, 2020). "USL Championship announces Eastern Conference groups". 3rddegree.net. 3rd Degree. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
7. ^ "USL Championship Releases 2021 League Alignment, Republic FC in Pacific Division". www.sacrepublicfc.com. Sacramento Republic FC. March 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
8. ^ Krysinsky, John (December 21, 2021). "USL Championship releases 2022 schedule format and conference realignment". pittsburghsoccernow.com. Pittsburgh, PA: PGH Soccer Now. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
9. ^ "USL sets Championship's 2023 conference alignment, season format". www.loucity.com. Louisville, KY: Louisville City FC. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
10. ^ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Rio Grande Valley FC Cease Operations". www.RGVFC.com. Rio Grande Valley FC. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
11. ^ "USL to Transfer San Diego Franchise Rights" (Press release). USL Championship. August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
12. ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. USL Championship Staff. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
13. ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. USL Championship Staff. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
14. ^ Carlisle, Jeff (2020-10-31). "USL final between Tampa Bay and Phoenix canceled after COVID-19 positives". www.espn.com. ESPN. Archived from the original on 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2022-11-06. "The USL Championship final between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising has been canceled after multiple Tampa Bay players tested positive for COVID-19, the league announced on Saturday."

* v
* t
* e

USL Championship (2025)

* Eastern Conference
* Western Conference
* Foreign players
* USL Championship final

Eastern
Conference|

* Birmingham Legion FC
* Charleston Battery
* Detroit City FC
* Hartford Athletic
* Indy Eleven
* Loudoun United FC
* Louisville City FC
* Miami FC
* North Carolina FC
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Rhode Island FC
* Tampa Bay Rowdies

Western
Conference|

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* Lexington SC
* Monterey Bay FC
* New Mexico United
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC
* FC Tulsa

Future teams|

* Brooklyn FC (2026)
* Milwaukee Pro Soccer (2026)
* Santa Barbara Sky FC (2026)
* Sporting Club Jacksonville (2026)
* Atlético Dallas (2027)
* Buffalo Pro Soccer (2027)
* Ozark United FC (2027)
* Oklahoma City (2027)
* USL Pro Iowa (TBD)
* USL Palm Beach (TBD)

*[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