Every sports fan loves an underdog. Whether its a team overcoming impossible odds to win the title or a player who makes good after toiling away out of the spotlight, these are the stories that keep fresh life in decade-old leagues. In the lower divisions of U.S. soccer, there are countless examples of these personnel flying under the radar. Throughout the season, The Athletic has looked at some of the coaches primed for a closer look.



Now, it’s time to look at those on the field itself — particularly the ones who aren’t on loan from MLS clubs.



The USL Championship regular season came to a close last weekend, marking the end of the road for 16 clubs. Ten sides from each conference advance to the postseason, which kicked off on Wednesday night.



2019 saw a number of players step up, with quite a few looking capable of taking their game to the next level. While not all of these players feature in the ongoing playoffs, you may be hearing...