USL Super League announces eight-team playoff, dates for competition's inaugural championship

The league's first champion is set to be crowned the weekend of June 14

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The inaugural USL Super League Championship game is set to be held on the weekend of June 14, the league announced Tuesday. The first postseason format in the competition's history, with an eight-team field, will begin on the weekend of June 7 with four matches.

  The No. 1 seed will play the No. 4 seed and the second and third-place seeded teams will face off, with the higher seed hosting on each side of the bracket.

• USL Super League

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USL Super League launched in August, 2024 and runs a fall-to-spring calendar opposite of the NWSL, while also holding Division One status in the U.S. Soccer landscape.

  "We are thrilled to unveil the dates for our inaugural playoffs," Amanda Vandervort, the USL Super League's president, said in a statement. "This marks an exciting new chapter for the USL Super League, as we bring together the top teams in the league to compete for the first-ever final. We can't wait for the playoffs in June and to see who will rise to the occasion and become the league's inaugural champions."

  Playoff games will follow FIFA's strict format, with extra-time and penalty kicks to follow if a regulation match ends in a draw. Carolina Ascent FC currently sit atop the league standings.

  Hosting rights for the playoffs are subject to league approval and venue availability, the USL Super League added in a statement.

  In addition to a Golden Boot winner for the top goal-scorer during the regular season, a Golden Glove will be handed to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-against average (at least 50 percent of regular season minutes) and the individual with the most assists will be named the Golden Playmaker.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  There's currently a three-way tie for the race for the Golden Boot, with Allie Thornton of Dallas Trinity FC, Fort Lauderdale United's Addie McCain and Carolina Ascent FC forward Mia Corbin all on nine goals this season.

• WHAT NEXT?

  The regular season will come to a close on May 31, with the final match of the campaign being between Spokane Zephyr FC and Fort Lauderdale United FC.