The USL Championship season is here, but the action on the pitch wasn’t the headline of opening weekend. Instead, concerted protests by players across the league took center stage. As soon as the referee blew the opening whistle to begin each match in Week 1, the players stood still for a full minute with hands behind their backs, sending a clear message about the state of ongoing CBA negotiations between the USLPA and the USL itself.
With a CBA deal still pending, Lexington and Louisville begin the season with a minute-long moment of stillness.
— John Morrissey (@usltactics.com) 2026-03-07T00:41:12.978Z
The players’ protests were meant to raise awareness of the labor talks among casual fans that might not have been tuned into the ins and outs. More than 60,000 fans across the country learned that lesson over the weekend. Time will tell what the demonstrations actually mean at the negotiating table; there’s still a real chance that the USLPA goes on strike ahead of next weekend.
Beyond the bargaining, Week 1 was filled with plenty of on-field intrigue and featured a few statement results. Who stood out, and how did it affect 2026’s inaugural power rankings? Let’s dig in.
1. Louisville City
Result: 2-1 win at Lexington
To declare 2026 the year of experimentation for Louisville would be premature, but it’s not out of the question after Week 1. There were always going to be changes after a record-setting run to the Players’ Shield was deflated by a first-round playoff exit last November, of course. The extent to which Danny Cruz shook things up – only four starters from that loss to Detroit City remained in the lineup on Friday – was a mild surprise.
Injury issues influenced that squad selection, but there were genuine nits to pick. Louisville looked noticeably rusty in the counterpress, giving Lexington too much time and space to play over the top. Zach Duncan and Taylor Davila lacked defensive chemistry, including in the run-up to LSC’s opening goal when neither claimed a loose ball outside of the box. Goalkeeper Ryan Troutman, making just his second league start since joining Louisville in 2024, should’ve done better against that long-range shot.
