USL clubs live and die on their ability to connect with local communities, and no team does it better than the Oakland Roots. From their 2019 debut in NISA to their move to the Oakland Coliseum ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season, the Roots have leveraged fan investment, grassroots sensibilities, and lovingly hand-crafted marketing to win over the East Bay.
The hard work was on display for the American soccer world to see on Saturday night, when Oakland drew more than 26,000 spectators to their first-ever Coliseum match. Rocking kits inspired by the classic Oakland A’s green-sleeved look, the Roots may’ve lost, but they gave a city used to losing their sports teams something deeper to cheer for. Oakland doesn’t have the USL’s highest budget or a sterling record of on-field success, but this weekend showed how the Roots are drawing the blueprint for that all-important community connection.
What defined Oakland’s performance on the pitch, and how did the USL Championship’s 23 other clubs fare this week? Let’s dig in.
1. Louisville City
Trending: No change
Result: 2-0 win v. Loudoun
Louisville are driven by their press, and Danny Cruz upped the intensity to the highest level yet seen in 2025 with Loudoun coming to town this weekend. This isn't the pushover version of Loudoun we've seen in prior seasons, and LouCity understood that they needed to deny their guests in the central areas while limiting room between the lines to connect with stars like Abdellatif Aboukoura.
