It might be the dead of winter, but USL preseason camps began across the league last week. The offseason is still in full swing, and only a few clubs have announced the big move that’ll define their 2025 seasons. Still, we’re starting to get a solid sense of the competitive landscape.
Who’s on top as preseason camps begin, and how have clubs repositioned themselves over the offseason? Let’s dig in.
1. Rhode Island
Reading too deeply into a playoff run can be a trap. Form is a fickle thing, and maybe Rhode Island got hot at the right time on the way to an Eastern Conference final.
I tend to think otherwise. Khano Smith’s team got a little bit better with each passing week in their expansion season, culminating in away wins against Indy, Louisville, and Charleston in November. The entire core that got the job done – loanee Morris Duggan is their only notable loss – is back for more, and RIFC has already added all-USL midfielder Maxi Rodriguez to the mix.
Rhode Island excelled as a counter attacking team, knew how to pack into a low-block 5-3-2 or diamond-coded 5-4-1, and picked their spots in the press. Now, they’ve got the USL’s best multi-level midfield creator. Entering 2025 at their own soccer-specific stadium, RIFC is the title favorite.
2. Louisville
In my humble opinion, the 2024 version of LouCity was the best team in USL history, bar none. Yes, Rhode Island proved to be the kryptonite that ended their Superman march to the Players’ Shield, but that doesn't erase the fact that Louisville averaged 2.5 goals per match and posted a plus-43 goal difference in a 34-game regular season.
