For half a decade, Phoenix Rising and the Tampa Bay Rowdies were arguably the jewels in the USL Championship’s crown. Both clubs dominated their respective conferences, culminating in multiple title game berths for each. Phoenix and Tampa Bay were the model of consistency.
Fast forward to April 2025, and – spoiler alert – I’ve slotted that pair as two of the bottom three teams in the USL power rankings. That’s less a reflection of Rising’s or the Rowdies’ failures than a testament to the level of the Championship. Both of these clubs are well-poised to rebound and make their way into the playoffs, but it’s going to be a difficult task for one simple reason: there are no legitimately bad teams in the league this year.
After Week 7, where does your club sit in that high-parity environment, and what tactical decisions made the difference? Let’s dig in.
1. Charleston Battery
Trending: +1
Result: 3-1 win at Indy
Just when you thought the Charleston attack was dangerous enough, they’ve decided to level up. The fun began midweek when MD Myers found his shooting boots and bagged a hat trick against Tormenta in the Open Cup. Then, Tom Bogert broke the news that the Battery were adding Rubio Rubin – a player with seven goals in five career USL appearances on top of ample MLS and European bona fides – to their offensive group.
