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’ve got a full seven-game slate on tap across the three-day weekend that features the current front-runner for the Players’ Shield hosting the defending League One title-holders with each on lengthy undefeated streaks, plus the potential for multiple teams to close in on postseason berths.

1. Game of the Weekend – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. Union Omaha

Current favorite to claim this year’s League One Players’ Shield Chattanooga Red Wolves SC plays host to the league’s defending title-holder Union Omaha on Saturday night at CHI Memorial Stadium (7 p.m. ET | ESPN+) in a matchup between two of the hottest teams in the league right now.

And yet, it could also be a preview of the opening round of the 2025 USL League One Playoffs when November arrives.

• FLYING HIGH: The Red Wolves gained a firm hold on first place in the standings last Sunday evening with an impressive 2-1 victory against second-place Spokane Velocity FC. The result clinched Chattanooga’s place in the postseason but also created a five-point lead at the top as the side extended its undefeated streak to 13 games in league play. The Red Wolves are now projected to finish two points ahead of Spokane at the end of the season.

• PUSHING FORWARD: Omaha has the second-longest active winning streak in League One to the Red Wolves, going 4-0-2 over its last six outings. That run has moved Los Buhos above the playoff line after a challenging opening half of the season, but in their most recent outing they were pegged back in a 2-2 draw by One Knoxville SC to remain in seventh place in the standings.

• POTENTIAL DRAMA: When these teams last met, it didn’t provide a lot of goalmouth action, but made up for it with plenty of twists and turns. After the Red Wolves had rallied to take a lead at Werner Park on Yanis Lelin’s 84th-minute goal, Omaha struck back in the fourth minute of stoppage time to claim a 2-2 draw thanks to Stéfano Pinho.

With six games to play for each, Chattanooga has a chance to maintain pressure on Spokane and One Knoxville to match its result if it can earn another three points at home. For Union, as much good work as its done to get back into the playoff race, it must keep moving forward sitting only a point ahead of ninth-place AV ALTA FC. Taking a result against the current league-leaders makes it both more likely Los Buhos will be part of the postseason again, and also avoid a potential return to CHI Memorial Stadium to start the playoffs.

2. Two More Games to Watch

One Knoxville SC vs. Charlotte Independence (Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+)

• One Knox is well set for a top-four finish but it can apply pressure to both Spokane Velocity FC in second and halve the gap to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC at the top with victory at home against the Independence. After breaking a lengthy winless streak with a 3-2 victory against the Richmond Kickers last time out, Charlotte will try to build on that and make a late run at a potential top-four finish.

Spokane Velocity FC vs. Greenville Triumph SC (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET | ESPN+)

• Greenville Triumph produced an impressive 3-0 victory against Forward Madison FC last time out, breaking a run of defeats. The challenge for the former title-winners is they’ve still got a lot of ground to make up and not much time to do it in – five points to seventh-place Union Omaha and eighth-place South Georgia Tormenta FC in five games, to be precise, with both of those teams in better runs of form. With Velocity looking to rebound and remain in the hunt for the Players’ Shield, this is a big test for the visitors as their playoff streak hangs in the balance.

3. Kit of the Week – Portland Hearts of Pine’s “Blaze Kit”

Hearts of Pine unveiled the Blaze Kit earlier this week and will wear it for the first time on Saturday night when it hosts Texoma FC, with the Blaze orange camouflage design a tribute to registered Maine Guides, families walking rural roads, and sportsmen and women throughout the state’s vast wilderness.

4. Landmark of the Week – Lalo Delgado, FC Naples

FC Naples goalkeeper Lalo Delgado could become only the third goalkeeper to record 30 shutouts in League One’s regular season when his side hosts AV ALTA FC on Saturday night at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.

Check out Week 30’s News & Notes

5. Where to Watch

Every game in Week 30 will air nationally on ESPN+.