Three teams will make their USL debuts this season, and all three have high hopes of success. The arrival of Ottawa Fury FC, Reno 1868 FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies has added three strong markets to the USL, with all three bringing the aspiration of following in the footsteps of Sacramento Republic FC, which claimed the USL Cup in its inaugural season three years ago.

For Ottawa and Tampa Bay, of course, this isn’t an ordinary expansion year. Both teams with strong histories on and off the field, Fury FC and the Rowdies entered the league this offseason with established cores of players and staff that further strengthened the USL’s growth as a whole. With the pedigree of players both teams have returning, immediate playoff contention would not be a surprise in the Eastern Conference.