Drama on Final Matchday as Bracket Is Set for 2023 USL Championship Playoffs
October 15, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The bracket for the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs was set on Saturday night with 16 teams set to battle for a place in the 2023 USL Championship Final as the postseason begins next weekend.
New Mexico United and El Paso Locomotive FC claimed the final two berths in the Western Conference with impressive wins on the final weekend of the regular season, while Detroit City FC jumped into the final place in the Eastern Conference playoff positions as its draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Miami FC's loss to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night proved enough to send Le Rouge back to the postseason for a second consecutive season.
Detroit City will get an immediate return fixture against the Hounds, who enter the postseason as the USL Championship Players' Shield winner and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh will try to become the second team in as many seasons to both end the campaign with the best record in the regular season and lift the Championship title as it kicks off its postseason at Highmark Stadium next Saturday night.
Elsewhere in the East next Saturday, defending Conference champion Louisville City FC will head on the road to face Memphis 901 FC, while the Tampa Bay Rowdies will host Birmingham Legion FC in the third postseason meeting between the clubs over the past four years. Then on Sunday, the Charleston Battery will host Indy Eleven as both sides make their return to the playoffs this campaign.
In the Western Conference, No. 1 seed Republic FC will play host to New Mexico United in a rematch from last year's postseason that Sacramento claimed at Heart Health Park. Elsewhere on Saturday night, defending Championship title holders San Antonio FC will play host to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a rematch of last year's Western Conference Final, while Orange County SC will host Locomotive FC at Championship Soccer Stadium.
The weekend will wrap up as San Diego Loyal SC plays host to Phoenix Rising FC at Torero Stadium on Sunday night at 10 p.m. ET with the rivals set to meet in the postseason for the first time.
The 2023 USL Championship Playoffs will be played on a fixed bracket with no re-seeding after each round. The Conference Semifinals will be held the weekend of October 27-29, while the Conference Finals will be held the weekend of November 3-5 before the USL Championship Final on Sunday, November 12 on ESPN2 and SiriusXM FC.
2023 USL Championship Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Saturday, October 21
No. 4 Memphis 901 FC vs. No. 5 Louisville City FC, 6:30 p.m. ET, AutoZone Park
No. 1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. No. 8 Detroit City FC, 7 p.m. ET, Highmark Stadium
No. 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. No. 7 Birmingham Legion FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium
Sunday, October 22
No. 3 Charleston Battery vs. No. 6 Indy Eleven, 4 p.m. ET, Patriots Point
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Saturday, October 21
No. 4 San Antonio FC vs. No. 5 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 9 p.m. ET, Toyota Field
No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 8 New Mexico United, 10 p.m. ET, Heart Health Park
No. 2 Orange County SC vs. No. 7 El Paso Locomotive FC, 10:30 p.m. ET, Championship Soccer Stadium
Sunday, October 22
No. 3 San Diego Loyal SC vs. No. 6 Phoenix Rising FC, 10 p.m. ET, Torero Stadium
2023 USL Championship Final Hosting Priority
1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (67pts)
3. Sacramento Republic FC (64pts)
3. Tampa Bay Rowdies (63pts)
4. Charleston Battery (59pts)
5. Orange County SC (57pts)*
6. San Diego Loyal SC (57pts)
7. San Antonio FC (56pts)
8. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (53pts)
9. Memphis 901 FC (52pts)
10. Louisville City FC (50pts)
11. Indy Eleven (49pts)
12. Phoenix Rising FC (48pts)
13. El Paso Locomotive FC (47pts)
14. Birmingham Legion FC (46pts)*
15. New Mexico United (46pts)
16. Detroit City FC (41pts)
* - Orange County SC, Birmingham Legion FC hold head-to-head tiebreakers
United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 15, 2023
- Hounds' Dikwa Wins USL Championship Golden Boot - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC's Albert Dikwa Wins 2023 USL Championship Golden Boot - USL
- Detroit City FC Draws 0-0 v Pittsburgh, Earns Playoff Berth on Final Day of Season - Detroit City FC
- Orange County SC Clinches the Second Seed in the West with 1-0 Victory over Monterey Bay - Orange County SC
- SD Loyal Finishes Regular Season with 2-0 Win at Las Vegas Lights FC - San Diego Loyal
- Monterey Bay Wraps 2023 Campaign with 1-0 Defeat to Orange County SC in Season Finale at Cardinale Stadium - Monterey Bay FC
- Drama on Final Matchday as Bracket Is Set for 2023 USL Championship Playoffs - USL
- Sacramento Republic FC Edges Miami FC, 1-0 - Sacramento Republic FC
- Oakland Roots Lose And Fall Out Of The Playoffs On Final Day - Oakland Roots
- San Antonio FC Comes Back from Two Goals Down to Tie Indy Eleven 3-3 - San Antonio FC
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