Welcome to The Weekender, where we’ll get you set up for what you need to know going into the upcoming weekend of USL League One action.

We’re heading into a six-game weekend after Wednesday night’s pair of games, including a nationally televised clash on Sunday night that for multiple reasons should have high entertainment value as the top three clubs look to close in on clinching a postseason berth.

1. Game of the Weekend – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. Charlotte Independence

Two of the highest-scoring teams in USL League One will square off on Saturday night at CHI Memorial Stadium (7 p.m. ET | ESPN+), but there’s a major contrast between the current directions of league-leader Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and postseason contender the Charlotte Independence as they meet for the second time this season.

• BACK AND FORTH: The Independence have been involved in some of the most entertaining games in the league this season, and that hasn’t always been a good thing. Charlotte leads the league with 38 tallies in 22 games, but its defense has gone missing in recent weeks, conceding 13 goals in three defeats over its last four games. That’s brought the club’s goal differential back to even, with its 38 goals against tied for third-highest in the league.

• BALANCE AND POISE: By contrast, the Red Wolves have delivered at both the attacking and defensive ends of the field. Led by the trio of Pedro Hernandez, Matt Bentley, and Omar Hernandez, the side is tied for second in the league with 33 goals, but has also only conceded 19 goals. That’s backed up by the club’s underlying numbers, where the Red Wolves are ranked second with a 19.97 Expected Goals Against mark.

• YES, BUT: This series has been tilted toward the Independence for a few years. This season’s scoreless draw at American Legion Memorial Stadium in March extended Charlotte’s undefeated streak against the Red Wolves to six games, going 4-0-2 with a +10 goal differential over that span. Chattanooga is looking for its first win against Charlotte since late in the the 2022 regular season on Saturday.

The Red Wolves will be the favorites coming into this encounter, though. In addition to their current 10-game undefeated streak, they’re 7-0-4 at CHI Memorial Stadium in the league this season, a key component to their position at the top of the standings.

If there was ever a moment for the Independence to snap out of their funk and find a way back into the conversation for a top-four finish, though, this is the one. Victory here could shake up an awful lot as the final two months of the season begin.

2. Two More Games to Watch

Union Omaha vs. Texoma FC (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET | ESPN+)

• Ninth-place Union Omaha and eighth-place Texoma FC get a proper playoff six-pointer to kick off Saturday’s slate with Los Buhos looking for a little revenge on the League One newcomer. Texoma claimed a 2-1 victory when these teams met in May for the first win in its history, and now need a repeat performance to hold off a surging Omaha side that has won two in a row, and is starting to look like the side its underlying numbers have been saying its capable of being for a while.

FC Naples vs. Greenville Triumph SC (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+)

• Greenville Triumph is one of the big mysteries of this League One season. They’re in the Semifinals of the USL Jägermeister Cup next Wednesday against the USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic but are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time. Their trip to Naples is a crucial game after Wednesday night’s loss to Portland Hearts of Pine, but the hosts are undefeated in their last eight league games and have been strong on home turf this season.

3. Kit of the Week – AV ALTA FC’s “Inaugural Season”

We’ve loved Antelope Valley’s home greens since they were launched with the detail of the Joshua Tree in the heart of the high desert. It’ll be part of the best kit matchup of the weekend against Forward Madison FC on Saturday night.

4. Landmark of the Week – Derek Waldeck, Spokane Velocity FC

The veteran defender could become just the 14th player to pass 10,000 regular season minutes in League One for his career when Velocity hosts Westchester SC on CBS Sports Network on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT at ONE Spokane Stadium.

Check out Week 27’s News & Notes

5. Where to Watch

National Television
Sunday – Spokane Velocity FC vs. Westchester SC, 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

Full Week 27 Viewer’s Guide