First-year side Spokane Velocity FC reserved its spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs, presented by Terminix on October 12 after favorable results around the league ensured that they would finish the regular season above the playoff line.

Spokane followed up a strong start to its first regular season campaign with a bit of a slump, but 

Outside of the league's inaugural 2019 campaign, Spokane has now joined Omaha (2020) and Charlotte (2022) as the only clubs to qualify for the USL League One Playoffs in their first season in the league. Here are three reasons why the newcomers will be the last team standing and one reason why they won’t.

1. Wide Play

Spokane's attack has often functioned the best when the team looks to play the ball out wide to create goalscoring chances, utilizing wingers and midfielders that thrive in one-on-one scenarios to beat their man and then release the ball. Velocity FC has the second most total dribble attempts in League One and the second-highest dribble success rate at 48.7%, showcasing its reliance on individual duels for their attacking play.

When it comes to getting the ball into the wider channels, Spokane also sat amongst the top teams during the regular season for attack-minded passing. Spokane ranked first in total passes ending in the final third and total through balls completed with 33, alongside sitting third in successful long passes. Its postseason opponents will need to maintain a tight-knit defense if they want to avoid having Velocity FC glide through them with ease.

2. Possession Retention

Despite their tactical approach to attacking phases naturally creating more opportunities to turn over possession, Spokane holds on to the ball surprisingly well despite their risk-prone approach. Spokane rank fifth in total possession at 52.2%, however, the first-year side is second in average pass accuracy at 84.3% and is also second for total possessional passes.

An emphasis on attackers beating defenders individually leading to chance creation typically suggests that the attacking team will be more exposed on the counterattack, but Spokane's quality in its passing helps mitigate some risk the side carries when playing forward. Whoever faces Spokane will have to defend with extremely high quality to make any opportunities for themselves, or subjugate themselves to exclusively playing long balls.

3. Discipline

Velocity FC is currently poised to finish the regular season with the lowest total fouls conceded and have a chance to finish with the least amount of yellow cards. At the same time, Spokane are also joint-second in fewest total penalties faced and fewest total errors leading to opposition goals. While Spokane's overarching defensive numbers have turned a bit unfavorable, a reliance on composure can help guide them through the playoffs.

The postseason is a competition with heightened intensity, so being able to keep their cool in spite of continually mounting pressure will be a major mental advantage, especially given the physical and psychological profiles of some of their potential matchups. Omaha, for example, led the league in total fouls and yellow cards, and earlier in the season, Spokane beat the Owls 2-1 despite limited time on the ball. If they can keep their heads about them, they will have a good shot at surviving and advancing. 

Why Spokane Won’t Win it All

Spokane's form in the second phase of the regular season is worryingly poor, with their last win being a 3-2 victory over 11th-place Central Valley on Sept. 7. Since then, Spokane has gone winless across six matches and posted a goal difference of minus-9. This was a major factor in Spokane's accumulation of 35 total goals conceded this season, which is the most for a team in the playoffs.

Their late-stage defensive fallout will likely be the biggest talking point for any of their potential opponents, and given the attacking potency of some of these teams, an early playoff exit will be tricky to avoid unless major changes happen. With a save percentage of just 63.7% - the third lowest in the league - it will take some heroics and a major collective team effort for Spokane to advance through the postseason and reach the USL League One Final.