Legacy. Dynasty. History.
Over 12 seasons, those three words have come to represent Louisville City FC. It is the USL Championship’s winningest club, a two-time USL Championship title winner and a two-time Players’ Shield winner.
On Sunday, the boys in purple could add to the lore and complete the trophy case, as they visit Hartford Athletic in the Prinx Tires USL Cup Final.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Health Stadium. The game will air nationally on ESPN2, with local radio coverage on ESPN 680 and 105.7.
It is the fifth cup final appearance in club history and first since 2022. LouCity hasn’t won a cup final since 2018.
“The vision of this club, the trajectory of this club is we want to build a dynasty. We want to win trophies and this is obviously a really good opportunity to do that,” LouCity interim head coach Simon Bird said.
Winning means LouCity would be the first club to complete the USL trophy set, winning the USL Championship title, the Players’ Shield and the USL Cup.
It would also be LouCity’s third trophy in three years.
LouCity would become just the second club in United Soccer League history to win three or more league-wide trophies over a three-year span while also winning one trophy in three consecutive seasons, joining Orlando City SC from 2011 to 2014.
Across the entire USL system, only Union Omaha would have won more trophies over a comparable stretch. The League One club collected five trophies from 2021 to 2024, though it did not win a title in three consecutive seasons.
“We are trying to create a legacy as Louisville City here,” LouCity defender Amadou Dia said. “In order to do that you have to win every trophy possible.”
“In 10 years’ time when the club’s wherever the club is, what are they going to be talking about in 2026?” Captain Kyle Adams added.
To complete its trophy collection, LouCity needs to knock off the defending USL Cup champions, Hartford Athletic. Hartford won its first title of any kind last season, defeating Sacramento Republic in this tournament, then known as the USL Jägermeister Cup.
The game comes at an interesting point of the season. LouCity and Hartford faced one another last week, a 2-2 draw at Trinity Health Stadium in a league game. Facing the same team in consecutive weeks, this time with a trophy on the line, comes with challenges, but also simplifies the preparation, according to Bird.
“We know what we’re going to get from Hartford. They’re a very good team, very strong individuals, difficult to play against, direct, and I thought we handled it well all game,” Bird said. “… We’re really excited about playing them again and hopefully this time we can come out on top.”
In a season that has had its ups and downs — LouCity is sixth in the Eastern Conference standings in league play — winning Sunday would do more than just add to the trophy cabinet. It could also give LouCity a momentum boost toward the playoffs.
“If we win this cup and we go make a run in the playoffs and win that, no one cares about where we finish (in the league),” Adams said.
Follow Along
• The game will air nationally on ESPN2, with local radio coverage on ESPN Louisville’s 680 AM and 105.7 FM.
• Sports & Social at Fourth Street Live! will host the official LouCity watch party, with drink specials available for fans.
• For starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc on Twitter. Also, find the club at louisvillecityfc on Instagram and Louisville City FC on Facebook.
Storylines…
Team of the Week Taylor: LouCity’s Taylor Davila earned a place on the USL Championship Team of the Week this week. The 26-year-old tallied an assist in last week’s 2-2 draw at Hartford, his ninth of the league campaign and 10th overall. The selection marks the 18th time this season a LouCity player has been chosen for the USL Championship Team of the Week and Davila’s fourth.
Shootout: LouCity has participated in 10 penalty shootouts in club history, winning eight. That includes three in this season’s Prinx Tires USL Cup, at Detroit City FC in the group stage, at the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the quarterfinal and at San Antonio FC in the semifinal.
Going for two: In last week’s 2-2 draw, LouCity was the first team to score multiple goals against Hartford since Aug. 29, a span of seven games.
Quenzi is the (Huer)man: LouCity forward Quenzi Huerman has registered goal contributions in back-to-back games, tallying an assist versus Loudoun United and a goal last week at Hartford. That marks the first time this season he has managed the feat.
Series history: LouCity leads the all-time series between the clubs 8-1-4. Hartford’s lone win came at Trinity Health Stadium on Aug. 24, 2024, 2-1. LouCity is 3-1-3 at Hartford.
