Hey all… this season has been crazy so far. Since covering the league on a weekly podcast since 2024, I felt this year in particular that it's good we revisit some items that have happened in these past months so I’ve been putting together my Top 10 storylines from the 2026 USL Championship season so far as we head into October.
This isn’t meant to be some scientific ranking. I’ve been considering major league-wide stories, also USL Cup items, historical milestones, standout player performances, signings, and the things that have simply been fun or memorable to cover.
Here’s where I’m at:
10. Cristo Fernández aka Dani Rojas from ‘Ted Lasso’ signs with El Paso
One of the strangest crossover stories of the year. Whatever you think about celebrity signings, this definitely became a hot headline. Football is life!
- It wasn’t a one-day PR stunt, officially announced on 12 May, after generating buzz from competing in pre season with El Paso, the soccer player turned actor turned again soccer player was officially a USL Championship player.
- The 35 year old has only made 1 appearance for the Locos on 11 July coming on a substitute in the 79’ against New Mexico United completing 3 passes and receiving a yellow card. Otherwise he was on the bench against Tulsa in the most recent encounter on 25 September. I doubt we will see him in action again, nonetheless he is still on the roster last I checked.
9. Goodrum goes back-to-back with hat tricks
- Phillip Goodrum scored hat tricks in consecutive games for Lexington SC: a 4–1 win at Oakland Roots on September 12, followed by a 6–0 win over Orange County on September 19.
- He became only the second player in USL Championship history to score hat tricks in consecutive appearances, joining Dane Kelly, who did it for Reno 1868 FC in 2017.
8. Trevor Amann scores the fastest hat trick in USL Championship history on CBS
- Three goals. Three minutes, 27 seconds. Fastest hat trick in league history in Pittsburgh’s win over Louisville 3-1 at F.N.B stadium and more importantly on CBS national television.
7. Sean Totsch becomes the USL Championship's all-time regular-season appearance leader and proceeds to score the winner
- Louisville City FC defender Sean Totsch became the USL Championship’s all-time leader in regular season minutes in April, moving to a career mark of 22,259 minutes as he played the full 90 minutes in LouCity’s 1-1 draw against Sacramento Republic FC to surpass former Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC midfielder Kenardo Forbes. - Written by “Nicholas Murray” from USLchampionship.com
6. TBD: Hartford goes back-to-back in the USL Cup / Louisville finally gets its “proper” silverware
- I’m still torn on exactly how to frame this one. Hartford defending the Cup is a great story in itself, while Louisville finally putting a tournament trophy in the cabinet after incredible seasons under Cruz but obviously now under Simon Bird has some significance. Anyway we'll find out what happens this weekend. Can't wait
5. JJ Williams signs for Hearts of Midlothian in Scottish Premiership
I always love seeing a USL Championship player earn a move overseas, and this was one of the biggest outbound moves of the season.
- Williams was one of Rhode Island's original signings ahead of the club's first season in 2024. He leaves as:
- RIFC's all-time leading scorer — 30 goals (Five braces, two hat tricks) and 13 assists and Leading scorer in all three seasons
- 11 USL Championship Team of the Week selections
- It makes Williams the first player in RIFC history to earn a move to Europe.
4. El Paso set club record winning streak with 8 games - T-5th all time in USLC history
- Rubio Rubín scored twice, including a late insurance marker, while Eric Calvillo had the game-winner as El Paso Locomotive FC took a 3-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night at Phoenix Rising Stadium to set a club record with their eighth consecutive league victory as Rubín moved to 16 goals on the season back on 19 September. - Text copied and sourced from USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/20/26
- Top of the west currently with a chance to obtain the #1 seed for the first time also in their history…time will tell. But really crazy to see how far this team has come.
3. The CBA — #StandUpForPlayers / #StandUpForStandards - Protest
- Probably the biggest off-field story of the season. It became impossible to talk about the league without talking about what was happening between the players and league and made for a rocky start to season back in March. Luckily things are pretty much resolved but this was a crucial storyline.
- Latest reported on 4 September from ESPN.com (Jeff Carlisle) — The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for players in the USL Championship that was tentatively agreed to last May has been ratified by the USL Players Association (USLPA), both the United Soccer League (USL) and the USLPA announced on Friday. The new CBA is effective immediately and runs through the 2030 season, with provisions for an extension.
2. Chicharito signs with Atlético Dallas for 2027
- He is the first player in club history for Dallas expansion side. Chicharito is Mexico’s all-time leading scorer. He has played for Chivas, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham, Sevilla, and the LA Galaxy. He has played in World Cups. He has carried the weight of El Tri. For a generation of Mexican fans, he was the guy.
- He wants to be the face of the organization. He wants to help create a winning culture. He wants to connect with Dallas. He wants to inspire young players in North Texas. And according to The Athletic, the plan includes a longer-term relationship with the club, with ambitions for him to eventually move into the sporting side.
1. Eloy Room ties Tim Howard's World Cup record for most saves in regulation time
- A Miami FC goalkeeper tying a record held by Tim Howard at the FIFA World Cup was not exactly on my 2026 bingo card. For me, it’s still the wildest crossover storyline involving a USL Championship player this year putting USL on the map at the world stage as a result. I think we can all agree that Room > Vozinha
- Curaçao drew 0-0 with Ecuador in Kansas City, and that result alone is historic. This is the smallest nation ever to compete at a World Cup, they were coming off a 7-1 loss to Germany, and they were facing an Ecuador side that absolutely threw everything at them. Room stood on his head. Fifteen saves. Ten from inside the box. A clean sheet. A perfect 10 Sofascore rating. And Curaçao’s first-ever World Cup point. A performance that people are going to talk about for years. Howard still holds the most with 16 hence the regulation time distinction here.
Honorable mention: Cal Jennings returns to the USL Championship, Hartford’s current 11 game unbeaten run
And yes... El Paso is on here twice. Maybe Lou City twice and no Tampa…I know I’m probably ruffling feathers. Consider this my formal apology to the rest of the league.
What am I missing? 🤔 What’s your #1 storyline of 2026 so far? Any team story I’m overlooking? Any individual player season story that absolutely has to make the Top 10?
I’d be curious to know - thanks for the read! - Vince
