The USL Championship playoffs are always a tight-run affair, but this year’s first round took things to a new level. Half of the matches went to extra time, and all but one were decided by a single goal or less. The Players’ Shield winners crashed out, and upsets abounded in the East and West alike.
As we head into the conference semifinals, which teams can contend? I’m power ranking the eight clubs left standing and digesting what went wrong for their eliminated foes.
1. Louisville City
Result: 1-0 win v. Pittsburgh
In 2025, LouCity entered the postseason in the wake of one of the best regular seasons in USL history. Then, they got upset in the first round. 2026 had been far less successful in regular season terms – USL Cup notwithstanding – but Friday night’s playoff opener against Pittsburgh was a chance to make things right.
Interim manager Simon Bird’s boldest call was to deploy midfielder Evan Davila as his right-sided No. 10, presumably to get Davila’s deft presence as a presser into the game. In a match where LouCity was largely happy to play against the Riverhounds’ possession game, that choice made sense. Whatever was lost in terms of Davila’s minimal one-on-one ball skills, his side made up thanks to the sharpness of their wide combination play.
