League

United Soccer League announces conference alignment for 2018 season

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The United Soccer League has announced its conference alignment heading into the 2018 season. The USL will contain 33 teams across two conferences in the upcoming season as the regular season expands to 34 games.


The Swope Park Rangers remain in the Western Conference for the third year of the club’s existence, and are rejoined in the West by cross-state Saint Louis FC – which is the only team to move conferences heading into 2018. The Western Conference will feature 17 teams in the new season, while the Eastern Conference comprise of 16 clubs.


Of the league’s expansion teams, Fresno FC and Las Vegas Lights FC will join the Western Conference, while ATL UTD 2, Indy Eleven, Nashville SC and North Carolina FC are placed in the Eastern Conference. Orlando City B and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 elected not to participate in the USL in 2018.

<strong>Western Conference</strong>
<strong>Eastern Conference</strong>
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
ATL UTD 2
Fresno FC
Bethlehem Steel FC
LA Galaxy II
Charleston Battery
Las Vegas Lights FC
Charlotte Independence
OKC Energy FC
FC Cincinnati
Orange County SC
Indy Eleven
Phoenix Rising FC
Louisville City FC
Portland Timbers 2
Nashville SC
Real Monarchs SLC
New York Red Bulls II
Reno 1868 FC
North Carolina FC
Rio Grande Valley FC
Ottawa Fury FC
Sacramento Republic FC
Penn FC
Saint Louis FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
San Antonio FC
Richmond Kickers
Seattle Sounders FC 2
Tampa Bay Rowdies
<strong>Swope Park Rangers</strong>
Toronto FC II
Tulsa Roughnecks FC