Almost two years after Major League Soccer and USL PRO agreed to a long-term technical and commercial alliance to improve player development, the 2015 version of USL PRO will have a very different look than the 2013 and 2014 editions.
Several MLS teams have opted to follow the path laid out by the LA Galaxy and field a stand-alone USL PRO team of their own, providing additional playing opportunities at the professional level for young or rehabbing players on loan, current MLS Academy players or previously unsigned prospects.
With no MLS Reserve League expected to operate in 2015, other teams will continue to partner with existing USL PRO clubs. The league has also added several teams in the midwestern United States.
Here are the teams currently announced as competitors in USL PRO's 2015 campaign:
MLS-operated clubs (8):
LA Galaxy II
Sounders 2 – new in 2015
Timbers 2 – new in 2015
FC Montreal – new in 2015
Real Monarchs SLC – new in 2015
Toronto FC II – new in 2015
Whitecaps FC 2 – new in 2015
New York Red Bulls II – new in 2015
Clubs with MLS affiliations (12)
* not all affiliations are confirmed for 2015
Arizona United SC – FC Dallas – new affiliation
Austin Aztex – Columbus Crew SC – new affiliation – re-classify from PDL in 2015
Charleston Battery – Houston Dynamo – new affiliation in 2015
Charlotte Independence – Colorado Rapids – new affiliation
Harrisburg City Islanders – Philadelphia Union – affiliated in 2013-14
Oklahoma City Energy – Sporting Kansas City – affiliated in 2014
Richmond Kickers – D.C. United – affiliated in 2013-14
Rochester Rhinos – New England Revolution – affiliated in 2013-14
Sacramento Republic – San Jose Earthquakes – co-affiliated (with Portland) in 2014
Saint Louis FC – Chicago Fire – new in 2015, new affiliation
Louisville City – Orlando City – new in 2015
Wilmington Hammerheads – New York City FC – new affiliation in 2015
Unaffiliated clubs (4)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks – new in 2015
OC Blues
Pittsburgh Riverhounds – affiliated with Houston Dynamo in 2014
Tulsa Roughnecks – new in 2015
