USL announced an update to the league's alignment on Wednesday, plus a refreshed regular season and playoff format ahead of the 2016 season.
Six new teams will join the league this year, with a total of 29 set to compete in USL's sixth season. Seattle Sounders FC 2 (S2) competes in the league's Western Conference along with 14 other teams, while the Eastern Conference is comprised of 14 teams. The 30-game regular season will run over 27 weeks, with the opening weekend kicking off on Friday, March 25 and the regular season concluding on Sept. 25. 21 teams, including Seattle, are affliated with MLS clubs.
S2 begins its second year in USL after an impressive inaugural season that concluded with the club's first-ever playoff berth. In 2016, the team with the best record across both conferences will earn the 2016 USL Regular Season Title, with the top eight teams in each conference advancing to the playoffs. The playoffs use a single-elimination bracket format, with two conference champions advancing to the 2016 USL Championship.
S2 made its debut in 2015, reaching the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Western Conference
- Arizona United SC
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- LA Galaxy II
- OKC Energy FC
- Portland Timbers 2
- Real Monarchs SLC
- Rio Grande FC
- Sacramento Republic FC
- Saint Louis FC
- San Antonio
- Seattle Sounders FC 2
- Swope Park Rangers
- Tulsa Roughnecks FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Eastern Conference
- Bethlehem Steel FC
- Charleston Battery
- Charlotte Independence
- FC Cincinnati
- Harrisburg City Islanders
- Louisville City FC
- FC Montreal
- New York Red Bulls II
- Orlando City B
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds
- Richmond Kickers
- Rochester Rhinos
- Toronto FC II
- Wilmington Hammerheads FC
