Welcome to our first Top 25 of the USL League Two season. With so many new clubs, and so much player movement, these rankings are sure to change as the year goes on. The defending champions have a new coach and a host of new players, while another club in our Top 10 loaded up on League Two experience. With 113 clubs entering the season, it's difficult to nail down a Top 25. Clubs will enter and leave the list at a frantic pace. But for now, here are your Top 25 teams as we kick off a new year!
Rank |
Team |
2021 |
First Game |
Summary |
1 | North Carolina Fusion U23 |
Record: 11-2-1 1st in South Atlantic |
vs North Carolina FC U23 May 11 7:30 p.m. ET |
After a one-goal loss to Des Moines Menace in last year’s League Two Final, NC Fusion U-23 came back in a big way. They’ve added 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team selection Yannick Bright, former All-American Paul Mayer, and are bringing back 2021 League Two All-League selection Joao Gomeiro. We got a sneak peek at their capabilities as they advanced to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup earlier this year. They’re here to win. |
2 | Des Moines Menace |
Record: 11-1-0 1st in Heartland |
at Minneapolis City SC May 8 3 p.m. CT |
While the Menace have had a lot of turnover – several players from last season have found their way to other clubs, as well as their title-winning head coach – it’s impossible to drop them any farther than this. They gave USL League One champions Union Omaha all they could handle in the Open Cup and will certainly be pushing for a third League Two title. They aren’t without their additions as well – Gabriel Rodriguez was South Georgia Tormenta FC 2’s leading scorer last season, and he’s making the trek up to Iowa to give Des Moines some more attacking power. |
3 | Capital FC |
Record: 9-1-1 1st in Northwest |
at Oly Town FC May 21 7 p.m. PT |
The rebranded Portland Timbers U23, Capital FC is returning three All-Western Conference selections in Emory Rapaport, David Brog and Jose Sosa after losing to Des Moines in last year’s National Semifinals. On top of that, they’re bringing in Mamadou Danso, who has MLS experience, and George Tasouris, the WAC Defensive Player of the Year and Cyprian international at the U-19 and U-21 levels. It’ll be hard to get through their rigid defense. |
4 | One Knoxville SC |
N/A | vs. Asheville City SC May 14 7:30 p.m. ET |
Our first expansion team on the list did what any expansion team would strive to do – get as many players as possible from the defending champions. 21 of their registered players have League Two experience, including nine from last year’s title winners the Des Moines Menace. Head Coach Mark McKeever has also made the trip from the touch lines in Iowa to lead the new Tennessee club, priming One Knoxville for a competitive run in its inaugural campaign. |
5 | Western Mass Pioneers |
Record: 10-2-2 1st in Northeast |
at Boston City FC May 11 7 p.m. ET |
Western Mass Pioneers are simply running it back, as much as that’s possible for them. After losing 3-1 against NC Fusion U-23 in last year’s National Semifinals, Western Mass is bringing back 15 players including Nicholas Oberrauch, who notched three goals and five assists a season ago. They’ve also added Jermaine Fordah, incoming from Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship. He saw the pitch 24 times for the pro club last season, and now brings his talents to Ludlow, Mass. |
6 | Kalamazoo FC |
Record: 9-1-4 1st in Great Lakes |
vs Oakland County FC May 13 7 p.m. ET |
Daire O’Riordan and Cyrus Harmon both made the League Two All-League Team last season. Both are back with Kalamazoo this season. They were also Kalamazoo’s two leading scorers, combining for 1.25 goals per 90 minutes played. That offensive punch will keep Kalamazoo competitive as one of the very best teams in League Two. |
7 | West Chester United SC |
Record: 11-1-2 1st in Mid Atlantic |
at Leheigh Valley United May 16 7 p.m. ET |
Luca Mellor headlines the returners for West Chester United. After dominating a tough Mid-Atlantic Division last season (11-1-2), they lost on a 12th-minute goal against Western Mass Pioneers in a 1-0 defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals. United returns its rigid defensive core, also bringing back Shane and Conor Bradley. Teams will have to go all-out to score against them. |
8 | South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 |
Record: 10-3-1 2nd in South Central |
vs. Tennessee SC May 13 7:30 p.m. PT |
Alexis Ledoux and his five goals returning is important for Tormenta 2, but even more so could be the acquisition they made from Mississippi Brilla. Jalen James is headed to Statesboro to add a scoring punch to a team that already scored 33 goals last season. The loss of Gabriel Rodriguez to Des Moines hurts, but they’re still primed to be an excellent team this season. |
9 | Minneapolis City SC |
N/A | vs. Des Moines Menace May 14 3 p.m. CT |
The second expansion team in our Top 10, Minneapolis City has been a top club in the amateur ranks prior to joining League Two this season. The Crows had a better record than anyone in their former league, winning 10 straight matches at one point. They’ve already gone up against Des Moines Menace in the Open Cup, losing 4-2 in an absolute thriller of a match. The club will also have strong backing – supporters group The Citizens is expected to pack Edor Nelson Field for their home opener, a rematch against Des Moines. |
10 | Flint City Bucks |
Record: 9-3-2 2nd in Great Lakes |
vs. Lansing City Football May 21 7 p.m. ET |
One of the longest-standing pillars in League Two, Flint City reached the postseason for the 10th time in 11 seasons after another impressive showing last season. After starting the year with mixed results, the Bucks found their form as the summer progressed. A loss to Grand Rapids held back what was a riveting bid for the Great Lakes Division title, and a more favorable matchup in the playoffs. Instead, they came up against Des Moines in the Conference Semifinals, and their season ended earlier than expected. A four-time title winner – most recently in 2019 – they’ll expect to go further this campaign. |
Rank |
Team |
2021 |
First Game |
11 | South Carolina United Bantams |
Record: 11-1-2 1st in South Central |
vs Peachtree City MOBA May 21 7:30 p.m. ET |
12 | Seacoast United Phantoms |
Record: 9-3-2 3rd in Northeast |
vs Vermont Green FC May 22 4 p.m. ET |
13 | Long Island Rough Riders |
Record: 9-1-4 1st in South Central |
vs Morris Elite May 22 7 p.m. ET |
14 | Vermont Green FC |
N/A | at Boston City FC May 15 6 p.m. ET |
15 | The Villages SC |
Record: 8-1-1 1st in Southeast |
at Tampa Bay United May 18 7 p.m. ET |
16 | Ocean City Nor'easters |
Record: 9-2-3 2nd in Mid Atlantic |
at Real Central New Jersey May 21 7:05 p.m. ET |
17 | Boston Bolts |
Record: 10-4-0 2nd in Northeast |
at Western Mass Pioneers May 20 7:30 p.m. ET |
18 | Mississippi Brilla FC |
Record: 8-2-3 1st in Mid South |
vs Little Rock Rangers May 21 7 p.m. CT |
19 | PDX FC |
Record: 7-4-1 2nd in Northwest |
at OVF Alliance May 21 6:30 p.m. PT |
20 | Ballard FC |
N/A | vs Lane United FC May 21 6 p.m. PT |
21 | West Virginia United |
Record: 9-3-2 3rd in South Atlantic |
at Wake FC May 14 7 p.m. ET |
22 | Lionsbridge FC |
Record: 9-3-2 2nd in South Atlantic |
at Virginia Beach United May 14 7 p.m. ET |
23 | Chicago FC United |
Record: 9-1-2 2nd in Heartland |
vs Chicago City SC May 21 6:30 p.m. PT |
24 | Kings Hammer FC |
Record: 8-2-4 3rd in South Atlantic |
vs Fort Wayne FC May 10 7 p.m. ET |
25 | Park City Red Wolves SC |
Record: 5-3-2 1st in Mountain |
vs Salt City SC May 21 7 p.m. MT |
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