At this point in 2024, all but three of the eventual playoff teams in the USL Championship had cemented their status as a top-eight seed. Nothing is certain, especially in a 2025 season defined by its parity, but we’re getting to the point where standings-watching is meaningful. This weekend was full of big results for clubs below the cut line, and the race is only going to get closer as October approaches.
Which teams made a statement, who fell flat, and how does it change the competitive landscape in the USL? Let’s dig in.
1. Charleston Battery
Trending: No change
Result: Bye
It’s easy to get caught up in Charleston’s abundance of outfield talent, but Luis Zamudio has quietly posted elite numbers in net. In his first year in the Lowcountry, Zamudio has posted a positively clinquant 4.9 goals prevented. That’s the second-best mark in the USL. The 27-year-old also ranks in the 72nd percentile for sweeping actions, knowing when to step off his line when opponents try to play through on the break. Whatever Ben Pirmann needs, Zamudio is providing it.
2. Louisville City
Trending: No change
Result: 4-1 win v. North Carolina
Louisville has played 45% more crosses in open play than your average USL club this year, a number that belies conventional assumptions about efficient attacking. You’re better off driving into the box on the ground, right? By Danny Cruz’s thinking, maximizing numbers within and service into the box is the name of the game, and that philosophy paid off within the opening five minutes against North Carolina on Saturday.
