Phoenix Rising

  • USL Championship chaos through Week 5

    We’ve had a few weeks of USL Championship action, and while I was going to wait a bit longer before going all number nerdy, things have been far too chaotic to ignore. Upsets galore, some expansion teams doing unexpectedly well, some doing far worse than I predicted, and generally...
  • USSF Division III

    2019 USL Championship mega preview: Western Conference Part II

    Welcome back to the 2019 USL mega preview series, covering every single one of the 36 teams contesting the 2019 USL Championship season. If you missed Part I, go check it out here. We left off halfway through the Western Conference, so we’ll pick up right there and dive...
  • All-League Teams

    USL releases 2018 All-League Teams ahead of final

    The USL released its 2018 All-League Teams on Monday, honoring 22 of the best footballers in the league this season. Louisville City FC, last year’s champions, will host Didier Drogba and Phoenix Rising FC in Thursday’s USL Cup final looking to make it back-to-back titles. 2018 USL All-League First...
  • 2nd round

    2018 USL Cup radial bracket: 2nd round

    Eight teams remain, four in each conference, with the second round of the USL playoffs set to kick off this weekend. Which four sides do you think will advance to the conference finals? Drop a comment below with your predictions. Follow John on Twitter: @JohnMLTX. Support Soc Takes on Patreon...
  • Drogba

    Drogba, Carteron bond at core of Rising’s ascension

    PHOENIX — Didier Drogba, enduring the worst season of his storied Chelsea career in the spring of 2012, met a young French coach, Patrice Carteron. Five years later, the bond formed between the two is at the core of Phoenix Rising FC’s emergence as United Soccer League title contender and...
  • change stadiums

    Swope Park to change stadiums in 2018

    United Soccer League club Swope Park will not return to Swope Soccer Village and is exploring stadium options for the 2018 season. The club, which MLS club Sporting Kansas City owns and operates, is working with the league to meet the United States Soccer Federation’s Division II requirements. Swope...
  • Anchorage

    Project 50/50: Part I

    Right now, the American soccer landscape is in the best shape it has ever been. We have a thriving top-flight league in MLS, two growing Division 2 leagues and two newly announced Division 3 professional leagues in the USL D3 and NISA. With new leagues come new markets, and...