Home

The USL Championship announced Tuesday that its 31 teams, including Louisville City FC, will compete in four divisions across two conferences during the 2021 season.

LouCity was been assigned a spot in the Central Division, part of the Eastern Conference along with the Atlantic Division. The Western Conference has been split into Mountain and Pacific divisions.

Making up the Central Division are the boys in purple — conference finalists in all six of their seasons played — along with rival Indy Eleven, Atlanta United 2, Birmingham Legion FC, FC Tulsa, OKC Energy FC, Memphis 901 FC and Sporting Kansas City II.

During the regular season, each team will play its division opponents four times – twice home and twice away. In the Central Division, the four remaining games will be played against regional or cross-conference opponents.

The USL Championship will in the coming weeks roll out other competition-related announcements including home-opening matchups, the 2021 ESPN national broadcast schedule and full regular season schedule.

Season ticket memberships remain on sale at www.loucity.com/tickets. The club’s games can also be seen locally across WDRB Media’s family of stations, primarily WBKI-TV; heard on ESPN Louisville’s radio networks; as well as streamed locally via the WDRB Now app or nationally through ESPN+.

2021 USL Championship Conference Alignment

Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division: Charleston Battery, Charlotte Independence, Hartford Athletic, Loudoun United FC, Miami FC, New York Red Bulls II, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

Eastern Conference’s Central Division: Atlanta United 2, Birmingham Legion FC, FC Tulsa, Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC, Memphis 901 FC, OKC Energy FC, Sporting Kansas City II

Western Conference’s Mountain Division: Austin Bold FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, New Mexico United, Real Monarchs SLC, Rio Grande Valley FC, San Antonio FC

Western Conference’s Pacific Division: LA Galaxy II, Las Vegas Lights FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Diego Loyal SC, Tacoma Defiance

Toward the end of Louisville City FC’s 2020 season, Akil Watts felt change setting in.

His agent had in the weeks prior partnered the defender with a nutritionist who helped Watts cut back on a junk food habit. Watts improved his diet to the point that even when deciding to splurge on one of his favorite dishes to make, fettuccine alfredo includes broccoli.

“Going into training sessions, I felt like I had way more energy,” Watts said. “I’m making sure there’s color in my food — lots of green vegetables. I feel like keeping my body right has helped me a lot.”

The adjustment didn’t happen quite in time for Watts to see more minutes as LouCity went on a streak of 13 games unbeaten to reach the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference Final. Watts made four starts in his 11 appearances.

But a healthier lifestyle and a different overall mentality are what Watts is hoping gets him to his first goal in 2021.

“This season,” he said, “I want to be a starter. I feel like I can offer a lot.”

Longer term, Watts would like another shot at a contract in Europe. From Fort Wayne, Ind., he made future LouCity coach John Hackworth’s 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup roster, played within the Major League Soccer member Portland Timbers’ academy and in 2018 landed a deal with Spanish second division side RCD Mallorca.

Watts, now 21, looks back at his experience overseas as a measure of success he might have received at too young an age.

“There were lots of things I needed to learn,” he said.

There’s an opportunity to prove that education now. This isn’t exactly make or break for Watts, but it could go a ways toward defining his trajectory.

“He’s at that age where he’s going to transition from being thought of as a young pro,” Hackworth said. “When you’re in your third year in this league, you’re either going to establish yourself as a starter and a guy who’s super dependable, or especially at a club like Louisville City, you can say you were just part of a good team.

“But that’s not exactly the goal that Akil has for himself or the idea we had in bringing him here.”

Hackworth signed Watts in August of 2019 and didn’t hesitate to throw him right into important situations. His pro debut came in a 1-1 draw that same month against rival Indy Eleven. Watts totaled four appearances on a team that played in a USL Championship Final.

Watts has high technical abilities and a knack for making an opposing player look silly while on the ball. That led to time in LouCity’s midfield, but his focus for now has turned to exclusively right outside back, a role he’d have to take from last year’s regular starter, Pat McMahon.

“I have to perform, or they’re going to put a person in front of me,” Watts said.

What might separate him in the position battle?

“Hack loves for me to attack,” Watts said. “I feel like the more I can do that, the more chances we can create. Being able to get around their winger means a lot.”

“If he performs up to his potential,” Hackworth added, “we believe he’ll be one of the best players at his position in the league.”

Watts counts fellow Fort Wayne native DaMarcus Beasley as a role model and looks forward to offseason chances to play indoor with the former U.S. Men’s National Team member. But Watts considers the great Spanish star Andrés Iniesta as his inspiration, hence why his purple jersey has a No. 8 on its back.

“I think he learned some valuable lessons about his preparation and approach last year,” Hackworth said of Watts. “Especially with the break in the season we had that he struggled with, quite frankly.

“I’m really proud of the way he got back into it and became in every way a pro in our locker room where other players and staff respected the work he’s doing. He needs to do that consistently now.”

Now in its second year of existence, the Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC Academy has grown to become the only area club providing a pathway from the beginning of a player’s career to the professional level.

Registration is open for U-5 through U-8 age groups, coined Academy Juniors with more information available at a newly launched website (loucityracingacademy.com) that will feature updates for academy families and fans alike on rising soccer stars.

The girls and boys programs now range from the U-5 to U-19 levels, and a pipeline to become a pro is open after Oldham County native Elijah Wynder in December became the first academy player to sign a full first team LouCity contract. The same opportunity exists for Racing Louisville academy members to one day join the 2021 NWSL expansion side.

“This completes the youth player experience from the time they start kicking the ball,” said academy director Mario Sanchez. “Families can grow in the game of soccer as we continue to grow.”

When the academy launched in 2020, news and information was stored on the LouCity first team website. Now, those wanting to keep up with the burgeoning youth program have a separate home for keeping up on the future of their favorite clubs at loucityracingacademy.com.

“We’re really excited for the new website,” Sanchez said. “It will give soccer enthusiasts the opportunity to learn about all we’re offering within the LouCity and Racing youth teams.”

The Academy Juniors program, led by Junior Academy Director Kincaid Schmidt, will focus on developing players at younger levels. They may grow up with soccer as a hobby, though the hope is also to find the next Wynder to represent the community as a homegrown pro.

Schmidt said the U-5 and U-6 programming will focus on basics of movement and soccer skills. U-7 and U-8 players will be introduced to more technical aspects of the game and put in small-sided games.

“This helps us provide a home for young players who can see out their potential in the future,” said Schmidt, who previously held a leadership role within the Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids’ youth program. “It’s about fun, belonging and development. Fun first — feeling like they belong and then development comes as a long-term process.

“Whether you’re a girl or a boy, this club can be something special for you.”

Those looking to enroll a child in the Academy Juniors ranks can register for Spring Sessions set for March 12-April 23 or May 7-June 11.

Louisville City FC has struck a new deal that will see the club’s 2021 USL Championship games broadcast across the ESPN Louisville family of radio stations.

ESPN Louisville’s conglomerate includes AM 680 and FM 105.7 as well as FM 93.9 The Ville featuring local staples such as “The Deener Show” and “The Take with Andy Sweeney,” a pair of shows airing live Tuesday from Lynn Family Stadium to launch the partnership.

Additionally, this spring the popular “Soccer City” radio show will relaunch on ESPN Louisville with a familiar cast analyzing LouCity and the National Women’s Soccer League expansion club Racing Louisville FC.

“We’re pleased to continue airing Louisville City FC games on the radio and excited about aligning with a local leader in sports talk,” said LouCity president Brad Estes. “Supporters will be able to hear more than ever about our clubs as pro soccer’s following continues to grow in the community.”

A familiar cast will be at the microphone with distinguished local journalist Jeff Greer serving as LouCity’s play-by-play announcer and former University of Louisville player Casey Whitfield providing color commentary.

Greer, Whitfield and Lance McGarvey, the public address announcer at Lynn Family Stadium, are all expected to be regular “Soccer City” contributors.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be the radio broadcast partner of Louisville City FC,” Deener said. “Their fans bring amazing passion to the sport and, like us, they have great local owners who have invested in this community. We think it’s an awesome fit.”

“In a short amount of time Louisville City FC has become a championship franchise, and I’m pumped they now play on ESPN Louisville,” added Sweeney.

LouCity’s 32-game regular season will begin on or around May 1, adding to ESPN Louisville’s portfolio of rights deals including the Kentucky Derby, Cincinnati Reds and Bellarmine basketball.

The boys in purple return the core of a team that last season rattled off 13 games unbeaten into the playoffs and reached the USL’s Eastern Conference Final for a sixth straight season. A full 2021 league schedule, game times and broadcast assignments will be announced later.

TUNE INTO ESPN LOUISVILLE…

In advance of the 2021 season, Louisville City FC has signed seven players to USL Academy contracts that permit representing the first team while preserving amateur status and NCAA eligibility, it was announced Monday.

Joining the boys in purple for the upcoming USL Championship season on deals pending league and federation approval are forwards Dino Hodzic and Hunter Sekelsky; midfielder Carlos Moguel Jr.; as well as defenders Anthony Cano, Owen Damm, Sebastian Sanchez and Joshua Wynder.

“These academy signings are another step for our club in creating a true pathway for our elite youth players to reach their full potential,” said LouCity’s head coach and sporting director, John Hackworth. “We have already had several of them training with us during this preseason. We will continue to integrate them with the first team and look forward to seeing them develop as players and people.”

In addition to any first team duties, all seven players are expected to see time for LouCity’s USL Academy League side launching this year. The USL Academy League bridges clubs’ youth programs and their professional clubs, creating a clearer trajectory to pro careers.

The academy league schedule is still to be released. LouCity will compete within an East-Central Division against, among others, familiar regional USL rivals Indy Eleven and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

“This is an exciting time for our academy and in particular these players,” said Mario Sanchez, the academy’s director. “Each of these young men have consistently performed at a high level in training and in games, which has earned them the opportunity to continue along our pathway toward one day hopefully playing and earning a first team contract with LouCity.”

LouCity’s youth academy, along with the Racing Louisville FC program for girls, ranges in age up to the U-19 level. The academies started play last year and reached a landmark moment when Oldham County native Elijah Wynder signed a LouCity pro contract in December.

Here’s more on those hoping to follow Wynder’s path…

Anthony Cano is a defender from Bowling Green, Ky. The South Warren High School senior has twice been recognized as a first-team All-State selection. Cano was also awarded as KHSSCA player of the year in 2020. He is the son of Diana and Jose Cano. 

Owen Damm, from Versailles, Ky., is a first team All-State selection out of Woodford County High School. The senior, son of mom Heechung Ko and dad John, plays outside back.

Dino Hodzic is a senior at Ballard High School. The forward has been recognized as a first-team All-State selection. He is the son of Medija and Suljo Hodzic.   

Carlos Moguel Jr. is a senior at Martha Layne Collins High School. The midfielder from Shelbyville, Ky., has been recognized as a Courier Journal All-Area, All-Louisville first team and All-State selection. He is the son of Carmen Gonzalez and Carlos Moguel Sr.  

Sebastian Sanchez, a defender, is also the son of the academy director Mario Sanchez and his wife, Shana. Sebastian was born in Akron, Ohio, and now attends Ballard High School. The junior has been recognized as a first team All-State selection.

Hunter Sekelsky, the son of Brian and Rebecca Sekelsky, is a senior forward at the Louisville Collegiate School, where this past season he was recognized as a 2020 High School All-American and first team All-State, among other honors.

Joshua Wynder, a central defender, is the younger brother of Elijah Wynder, the aforementioned pro. Joshua, born in 2005, has honed his skills against older teammates, earning his way on to a USL Academy deal as a standout for the LouCity Academy’s U-19 team. His parents are Ranae and Mike.

Each day, Louisville City FC Academy athletes work on their pathway to professional soccer. Earlier this week, they received some direct insight from a number of players to accomplish the feat.

Snowed in and unable to practice, academy athletes of all ages asked nine of LouCity’s first team members via Zoom about their various experiences, including how they rose to the pro level.

“We’re fortunate to have professional players who want to jump on these calls and talk to you all,” said Luke Spencer, the LouCity Academy’s assistant director who recently retired from the first team. “They all started out as kids just like you guys playing for love of the game. So they’ve been in your shoes.”

Put on the spot to answer any and all questions from the attendees were forwards Antoine Hoppenot and Brian Ownby; midfielders Corben Bone and Paolo DelPiccolo; as well as defenders Jonathan Gomez, Oscar Jimenez, Sean Totsch and Wes Charpie.

One theme was evident across the narratives: putting in the work outside of training.

“For me personally I ended up playing a lot on my own, but it was never a forced thing,” said Hoppenot, who has also competed in the Major League Soccer ranks. “I was playing because I enjoyed it. That means I’m playing every day. I’m training on little things, but it never felt like I was forcing myself to do all these things.”

Reiterating that point to his group of middle school-aged athletes, Totsch, an All-League First Teamer in 2020, shared how he too worked in extra time on the ball.

“It’s really about saying with it and being consistent,” Totsch said. “It was the little stuff I did. I had a family friend that I would go out in the evening and do little things with. It was finding stuff like that to help me.

“You have to find the things that you enjoy doing to get extra touches in. At this age if you go to training and that’s the only source of you getting your touches in, how are you going to separate yourself?”

McMahon, now approaching his ninth professional season and fourth in Louisville, chatted with the youngest LouCity Academy members, those born in 2009 and 2010.

“That’s the key — most people at this level talk about what they were doing at 8, 9, 10 and 11 coming up through college,” McMahon said. “It doesn’t matter. They just played. Whether it was by themselves or with a team. The time you spend with a ball is key.

“Getting better every day If you’re focused on that, taking care of yourself and trying to get better you’re moving in the right direction.”

Louisville City FC and WDRB Media have renewed an agreement that will see each of the club’s USL Championship games again broadcast over the air in 2021, it was announced Thursday.

Additionally, WDRB Media will carry on as a leading source of LouCity news and game day weather updates as the season kicks off around May 1.

“We’re very proud to extend our longstanding partnership with WDRB,” said LouCity President Brad Estes. “Providing free access to all games is important to us, and we are happy to be able to continue with that tradition.”

The vast majority of LouCity’s 32 regular-season games are expected to air on WBKI, Louisville’s CW, with My58-TV also an option in the event of a scheduling conflict. Additionally, the Fox network affiliate WDRB will broadcast up to four games on its main station.

For a second year, fans in the Louisville TV market can also live stream games via the free WDRB Now app available through the Apple Store, Google Play and streaming services such as Roku and Amazon Fire. All USL Championship games stream through the subscription service ESPN+ as well.

“WDRB and WBKI share the same goals as our partner, LouCity, in breaking new ground and pursuing excellence,” said Dale Woods, president and general manager of WDRB Media. “We have watched this determined organization rise to some great heights over the past few years on and off the field. We are thrilled to be the official television partner showcasing the upcoming season.”

WDRB has served as LouCity’s flagship TV station since 2017 when a multimillion-dollar initiative, USL Productions, upped broadcast quality for games across the league. Since then, league experts have called the games, with Florida-based VISTA Worldlink producing home and away shows.

The 2021 schedule and broadcast assignments will be announced at later dates.

DOWNLOAD WDRB NOW…

When Abdou Thiam took a transcontinental leap in his teenage years, accepting a soccer scholarship to the University of Connecticut, the Senegalese forward did so not knowing a bit of English.

His first couple of months in the United States were especially difficult. Thiam found it one thing to translate a new language in the classroom but another to do so comfortably in social situations.

The decision to move eventually did lead to unanimous first team all-conference honors at UConn as well as a contract with Louisville City FC. Visits home, however, remain rare, with Thiam returning to West Africa this past offseason for the first time in three years.

“Mentally, it’s going to help me this season,” he said. “Sometimes you forget where you come from. Going back, I learned a lot about how life is and how lucky I am to be here right now.”

That is all to say what Thiam endured in 2020 — with a scintillating preseason followed by little playing time after the COVID-19 pandemic both interrupted and shortened the campaign — doesn’t rank too highly on the list of obstacles he has had to overcome.

The 29-year-old is simply happy to be back in purple on his new contract, still close to his other family.

“That’s how I feel,” Thiam said. “In the locker room, we’re not just talking about soccer. We’re talking about life, too. People come to the locker room two hours before practice because we like to talk. That’s something really, really good.”

It was an environment in which Thiam shined perhaps no brighter than the 2020 preseason, when he scored in five straight games and helped LouCity capture the Wasatch Winter Cup, a four-team tournament hosted by Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.

The ramp up to the regular season, as with just about everything else, came to a halt weeks later due to the pandemic. LouCity also augmented its striker depth chart when former USL Golden Boot winner Cameron Lancaster came in on loan, complementing veteran forward Luke Spencer.

“Things changed rather quickly,” said John Hackwork, LouCity’s head coach and sporting director.

Thiam went on to tally totals of seven shots taken in six appearances without a goal during the USL Championship season.

“What we really appreciated about Abdou was he never wavered in his commitment to showing up every day, training hard and being a good teammate,” Hackworth added. “We still believe that he has so much talent.

“Sometimes it’s not the athlete’s fault for not getting on the field; in this case, he just had two really good players in front of him. Us bringing him back, we’re investing in him being the true No. 2 nine.”

So, yes, Thiam offers more than “one of the best smiles we’ve ever seen” — Hackworth’s words. He appeared both out wide on the wings and in behind the top of formations in 2020, carving out that limited playing time with an imaginative style.

Thiam doesn’t possess quite the power of Lancaster or the size to play with his back to the goal like Spencer, who retired from playing after the season. But those who saw Thiam appear in 26 games as a LouCity rookie in 2019 will remember how he tended to create offense when presented a chance.

“If you look at what happened last year when you have a player and at the end of the season he’s played so little but you decide to bring him back, that meant a lot to me,” Thiam said. “I was one of the guys who put energy on the field in practice and gave 100%. This is going to give me more motivation, because they know what I can do for the team, or they never would have signed me again.”

“We looked at his body of work overall,” Hackworth added. “If we give him more chances like that, he’ll be more successful. We as a staff feel like there was a lot of potential we didn’t tap into last year. It’s going to be a really good opportunity this coming season.”