Both FC Naples and Portland Hearts of Pine have recorded notable achievements in their inaugural seasons.

Hearts of Pine’s you probably know about. The side has built a nationwide following with its sharp crest and uniform designs while creating one of the best atmospheres in lower-division soccer in North America at Fitzpatrick Stadium, where it sold out every regular season game and set a League One record for single-game attendance at 6,440 in its penultimate contest of the campaign.

FC Naples might not be as familiar, but the side based at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex should also have your attention. Head Coach Matt Poland’s side was the most consistent expansion in the regular season, finishing two points ahead of Portland, and earned a fourth-place finish because of it. In turn, last Saturday night Naples became the first club to host a USL League One Playoffs game in its first season in the league.

Now, they’ve got the chance to make history together.

Should both teams win their respective Semifinals in the 2025 USL League One Playoffs presented by Terminix this weekend, it would create the first matchup between expansion clubs in a USL League One Final.

• ON THE SPOT: As eye-catching as Hearts of Pine’s attendance has been, Naples hasn’t been far behind in this year’s expansion class. The side regularly drew sellout crowds over the year, with La Barra 239 providing the Argentine-soaked atmosphere at games. Last Saturday, that crowd cheered the side onto a penalty shootout victory against defending title-holders Union Omaha and a place in the Semifinals as backup goalkeeper Joel Serrano proved the hero from the spot.

• WRIGHT ON: Hearts of Pine, meanwhile, delivered the only upset of the round, in keeping with the second half surge the side produced to reach the postseason. Ollie Wright scored a beautiful finish to send the No. 7 seed past No. 2 seed Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and extend its season another week, with Hunter Morse putting up a nine-save shutout in the victory.

• HIT THE ROAD: Both clubs will have to earn road results if they’re to meet in next weekend’s final. Naples gets No. 1 seed One Knoxville SC on Saturday night at Covenant Health Park (7 p.m. ET | ESPN+), where One Knox is undefeated this season. Hearts of Pine visit last year’s finalist and No. 3 seed Spokane Velocity FC on Sunday night at ONE Spokane Stadium (9 p.m. ET | ESPN+) hoping to emulate their late-season win when the sides met in Portland.

Whatever happens, both Naples and Portland have firmly established themselves in League One during their inaugural seasons. On Thursday, they earned three All-League selections apiece, with Wright being joined by defender Nathan Messer and midfielder Masashi Wada for Hearts of Pine and forward Karsen Henderlong and defenders Brecc Evans and Jake Dengler representing Naples.

Just one of the two making the League One Final would be historic – it’s only been done by two expansion clubs previously, Union Omaha in 2020 and Spokane Velocity last year.

If both were to manage it, though, it would only add to the plaudits both clubs deserve.