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After 609 days of negotiations, the USL and USL Players Association have a tentative new Collective Bargaining Agreement through 2030.

We just dropped the full episode with John Morrissey (@USLTactics) breaking it all down.

Key Wins in the New Deal:

• Minimum salary → $42,000 (up from $36k)
• Entry-level contracts → $34,000 (up from $26k)
• Minimum contract length → 12 months (was 10)
• Every single club must provide health care
• Unilateral buyouts eliminated
• Stronger protections for players if a club folds
• USL Premier (2028): $67k minimum / $50k entry-level

Still being finalized: NIL/group licensing rights and the exact health care plan.

In this episode, John and I cover:

• What the long negotiation process was really like (including federal mediation)
• Which changes players are happiest about
• How big universal health care + buyout protections actually are
• What the 2028 Premier numbers mean for the league’s ambitions

Just dropped a super fun interview with Mackenzie George of Carolina Ascent — and she brought her dog Rocky along!

Mackenzie has had an awesome journey: California → Tennessee (college) → Iceland (first pro team) → Brooklyn FC → now playing in Charlotte. Rocky has been with her through all of it — he’s a legit world traveler.

We talked about:

• Her path through the Super League
• What it’s like being a pro soccer player and a dog mom
• Moving from Brooklyn to Charlotte
• Rocky’s personality and travel stories
• Music, Southern life, and plenty of laughs

Rocky basically steals the show a few times — it’s wholesome, funny, and a great look at the human (and canine) side of pro soccer.

I sat down with Danny Griffin, captain and one of the most respected players in the Pittsburgh Riverhounds organization.

Danny has been with the club since 2020, recently hit 200 appearances, surpassed 15,000 career minutes, and just signed a new multi-year contract. In this interview, he is very earnest about:

• What it actually takes to win the USL Championship
• Why he returned to Pittsburgh Riverhounds with his new deal
• The hidden side of long-term loyalty in lower-division soccer
• Building culture and standards at the Riverhounds
• His honest outlook on the 2026 season

He was thoughtful, honest, and gave a lot of insight you don’t usually hear from players.

Whether you’re a Riverhounds fan, a USL diehard, or just interested in player leadership and club-building stories, this is a good one.

Just dropped a new episode of United Soccer Lounge, where I drove halfway across the country to spend the weekend with Carolina Ascent + Charlotte Independence in Charlotte.

I take you around American Legion Memorial Stadium, a proper venue with a killer skyline view — and show what matchday feels like with one of the most fun teams in the Gainbridge Super League.

What’s in the video:

• Empty stadium tour + the history of the venue (Pearl Jam concerts, USFL, rugby, and now pro soccer)
• History of the Charlotte USL soccer landscape
• Matchday atmosphere, fan interview, and why the stadium feels so good as the sun sets over the skyscrappers
• A current Ascent player's story of falling in love with Charlotte... as an opponent.
• Emily Morris scored her first pro goal in front of a home crowd
• The players' true connection the kids and the community!

It’s a chill, on-location video that really shows how Carolina Ascent is building something genuine in Charlotte in just their second season.

Would love your thoughts if you’ve ever been to a game at American Legion Memorial Stadium or if you follow the Super League!

Lexington SC have officially clinched their playoff spot in the Gainbridge Super League, and they're riding high with Cat Barry leading the entire league in goals and Allison Pantuso leading the way in the back.

The 24-year-old forward currently sits atop the Golden Boot standings with 12 goals this season and has been a major reason for Lexington’s strong campaign while the veteran defender leads the league in passes.

This weekend they face their biggest test yet: a matchup against No. 1 Sporting JAX.

I sat down with Cat and Allison for a fun and relaxed interview from their hotel in Charlotte, NC.

We talked about:

• Cat’s scoring form and that viral long-range chip goal
• Allison’s insane durability streak
• Which position is harder? Attack or Defense!
• Their dogs Sally and Russell
• What the game day routine is to LOCK IN.

Plenty of laughs and good insight from both players.

Here's a really good chat with Leah Scarpelli, defender and co-captain of Brooklyn FC in the Super League.

Scarps opens up about her full journey: growing up in New Jersey, going overseas to Sporting CP in Portugal and Brisbane Roar in Australia, and then coming back home to sign with Brooklyn FC. She talks about stepping into the captain role, adapting to the Gainbridge Super League style, life in NYC, and her goals for the 2025/26 season.

Follow United Soccer Lounge on GOLZ TV for more Gainbridge Super League / USL Super League player interviews. More coming soon ⚽

We just recorded an episode with Marlon LeBlanc, Head Coach of Brooklyn FC, straight from the pitch in New York City!

Full episode here: https://youtu.be/hmZ1sN019LA

In this conversation, Marlon opens up about seeing his face on a billboard in the NYC Subway system. He also talks about leadership, the brotherhood in the locker room, working with captain Tommy McNamara, his tactical philosophy, and why playing “for the people that love you” matters so much in a place like Brooklyn.

Would genuinely love to hear the sub’s takes on this one. Brooklyn FC feels like one of the more interesting projects in the league right now.

Follow United Soccer Lounge on GOLZ TV for more episodes and USL conversations. More coming soon ⚽