Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Carolina League: The Salem (VA) Red Sox of the Single-A Carolina League announced the team's new name will be the Salem RidgeYaks when starting the 2026 season. The name is inspired by the yak, which symbolizes strength and is also slang for a home run, and the area's Blue Ridge Mountains. Coastal Plain League: The summer-collegiate CPL will place a new team in Zebulon (NC) for the 2026 season and the roster will be comprised of elite players from Australia. The city lost the prof... Full Story

San Diego FC Advances to Western Conference Semifinals After Defeating Portland Timbers 4-0 at Snapdragon Stadium

SAN DIEGO - San Diego FC (SDFC) advanced to the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals after defeating the Portland Timbers 4-0 at Snapdragon Stadium. Forwards Anders Dreyer and Amahl Pellegrino both had a brace to help SDFC win the Round One Best-of-3 series (2-1) and become the first expansion team to win a Round One Best-of-3 series. SDFC will now host the Western Conference Semifinal against Minnesota United FC on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:00 p.m. PT in a single-elimination match. Dreyer gave SDFC a 1-0 lead when he charged into the penalty box and sent in a one-timer of h... Full Story

Velocity FC Advance to League One Final After Unbelievable Semifinal Win over Portland

Spokane, WA - Spokane Velocity FC rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Portland Hearts of Pine in a penalty shootout 6-5 on Sunday to advance to the USL League One Final for the second straight season. Spokane will play One Knoxville SC in the final on November 16th. Velocity FC is the first club in league history to advance to the championship match in back to back seasons. Velocity FC head coach Leigh Veidman spoke on what will be needed for Spokane to capture its first championship next Sunday. "I think our all around game has got to be at its highest level that we've had all seaso... Full Story

Havoc Tame Bulls, Dominate in Shootout

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Huntsville Havoc outlasted the Birmingham Bulls on Sunday night, taking a late shootout win. The Bulls opened scoring at 4:24 with a power-play goal, capitalizing on an early advantage. The Havoc answered on a power play of their own just five minutes later when Cole Reginato, assisted by Ethan Lindsay and Connor Fries, swiped a puck under the opposing goalie's stick, pulling even at 1-1. Tensions soared before the first intermission with three major penalties at 19:28. The second period remained comparably calm until Connor Fries put one on the top shelf at 19:08,... Full Story

• Washington Spirit Duo Named Finalists for NWSL's End-Of-Year Awards - Washington Spirit (NWSL)
• Racing's Yanez Named Finalist for NWSL Coach of the Year - Racing Louisville FC (NWSL)
• Manaka Matsukubo Named Finalist for NWSL MVP, Midfielder of the Year - North Carolina FC (USL)
• San Diego FC Advances to Western Conference Semifinals After Defeating Portland Timbers 4-0 at Snapdragon Stadium - San Diego FC (MLS)
• Velocity FC Advance to League One Final After Unbelievable Semifinal Win over Portland - Spokane Velocity FC (USL1)
• South Bay Lakers Open Season with Back-To-Back Wins over Valley Suns - South Bay Lakers (G League)
• Stockton Kings Split Series in Win over San Diego Clippers - Stockton Kings (G League)
• San Diego FC to Host Minnesota United FC in Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinal - San Diego FC (MLS)
• FC Cincinnati to Host Inter Miami CF in Eastern Conference Semifinals on Sunday, November 23 - FC Cincinnati (MLS)
• Wolverines Come back for a Sunday Win against the Jr. Blues - Anchorage Wolverines (NAHL)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Date set for FC Cincinnati's Eastern Conference semifinal clash with Messi, Inter Miami - MLS WLWT
• Gotham uses extra time to knock off Current in NWSL quarterfinals upset - NWSL Newark Star-Ledger
• Velocity return to USL1 final with wild penalty shootout win over Portland Hearts of Pine - USL1 Spokane Spokesman-Review
• Atletico Ottawa beat Cavalry and snow to win first CPL title - CPL Ottawa Citizen
• SDFCs Dreyer sets tone, puts exclamation point on series-clinching win - MLS San Diego Union-Tribune
• Mariners run winning streak to four with win over Railers - ECHL Portland Press Herald
• South Carolina Stingrays top Orlando Solar Bears at home - ECHL Charleston Post and Courier
• Rangers call up Gabe Perreault from Hartford to help spark offense - AHL New York Newsday
• Atlanta NWSL franchise owned by Arthur Blank may be introduced on Tuesday - NWSL Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Atlanta NWSL franchise owned by Arthur Blank may be introduced on Tuesday - MLS Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Playoff Loss Ends North Carolina FC Run in USL Championship by Fran Stuchbury
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Courage Close Season with a Win, Fall Short of Playoff Goal by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• North Carolina FC Rides Early Goal to Playoff Win over Loudoun United FC by Fran Stuchbury
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger

North Carolina FC thanks its fans (Fran Stuchbury)

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Columbia Fireflies - Carolina League (CarL)
2. B.C. Lions - Canadian Football League (CFL)
3. Tampa Bay Rowdies - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
4. York United FC - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
5. Inter Miami CF - Major League Soccer (MLS)
6. Indiana Fever - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
7. Topeka Scarecrows - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
8. Seattle Torrent - Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)
9. Richmond Flying Mummies - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
10. Vancouver Goldeneyes - Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

1. Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report
2. National Lacrosse League Expands Grassroots Reach to 48 Communities Across North America
3. MLS Announces Game 3 Schedule for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-Of-3 Series
4. Last Week around the Leagues
5. CJ Dos Santos Injury Update
6. WHL Announces Suspension of Broncos Coach DeSilva
7. Thunderbirds Sign F Milan Lucic to PTO
8. Utah Warriors Suspend Operations
9. Professional Indoor Football Lands In Memphis For 2026 Season
10. Courage Close Season with a Win, Fall Short of Playoff Goal

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Memphis - The Arena League (TAL)
• Rodeo SC - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• Los Angeles - Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL)
• San Francisco - Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL)
• Boston - Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL)
• New York - Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL)
• Long Beach - Pioneer League (PL)
• Reno Pro Soccer - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
• LOVB Los Angeles - League One Volleyball (LOVB)
• Michigan Arsenal - Arena Football One (AF1)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FLCL, FSL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL, WPBL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
AF1, IFL, NAL, TAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, UFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PWHL

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL, WLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
LOVB, MLV, NWLS

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
GSL, NSL, NWSL, WPSL Pro