View source for USL First Division

{{Short description|Defunct men's soccer league in the United States}}
{{Distinguish|USL Division One|USL League One}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football league
| logo             = USL First Division logo.svg
| upright          = 0.8
| caption          = Logo from 2005–2010
| organiser        = [[United Soccer League]]
| country          = United States
| other countries  = Canada, Puerto Rico 
| confed           = [[CONCACAF]]
| first            = [[1996 USISL Select League|1996]]
| folded           = [[United Soccer Leagues 2010|2010]]
| successor        = {{Ubl|[[USSF Division 2 Professional League|USSF D2 Pro]] (temporary)|[[USL Pro]]}}
| levels           = 2
| pyramid          = United States soccer league system#Men's leagues
| domest_cup       = {{Ubl|[[U.S. Open Cup]]|[[Canadian Championship]]}}
| most_champs      = [[Rochester Rhinos]] (3)
| shieldtitle      = Commissioner's<br />Cup
| most_shields     = [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] (3)
| most_appearances = [[Mauro Biello]] (320)
| top_goalscorer   = [[Eduardo Sebrango]] (100)
| tv               = [[Fox Soccer]]
}}

The '''USL First Division''' ('''USL-1''') was a professional men's [[Association football|soccer]] league in the second tier of the [[United States soccer league system#Men's leagues|United States league system]]. It was organized by the [[United Soccer League]] as its premier league for men from 1996 to 2010, above the [[USL Second Division]]. It began in the [[1996 USISL Select League|1996 season]] as the '''Select League''' – consisting 21 of the league's best third-tier clubs. It soon merged with the [[American Professional Soccer League]] to become the '''A-League''' in the [[1997 USISL A-League|1997 season]]. It adopted its final name in the [[2005 United Soccer Leagues|2005 season]], following a restructure of the USL.

A controversial sale of [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]'s stake in the USL in 2009, along with general animosity between the league and club owners, led to several clubs seceding from the league to form the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL). Amid the dispute, [[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer]] organized a [[USSF Division 2 Professional League|mediatory second-tier league]] with the two warring groups of clubs in 2010. In the 2011 season, the NASL [[2011 North American Soccer League season|began play]] as a second-tier league, while the USL merged its First and Second Divisions into a new third-tier league, [[USL Championship|USL Pro]].

Fostering competition between fifty clubs from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico over its fifteen seasons of play, eight clubs won the league's championship, with the [[Rochester Rhinos]] winning the most (3). Nine clubs won the league's [[Season (sports)#Regular season|regular season]] championship – the winners of which were presented the ''Commissioner's Cup'' between 2005 and 2009. The [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] won the most regular season championships (3). As members of the league, the Rhinos and Impact also won a [[U.S. Open Cup]] and [[Canadian Championship]], respectively.

== History ==

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2025}}

=== Background ===

The origins of the A-League go back to 1986 and 1987 with the creation of three unrelated semi-professional soccer leagues.  On the north-west coast, the [[Western Soccer Alliance]] (WSA), a summer outdoor league, emerged in response to the collapse of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]].  In the southwest United States, the [[Southwest Indoor Soccer League]] was created in response to the upsurge in popularity of the [[MISL I|Major Indoor Soccer League]].  Finally, in 1987, the [[Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)|Canadian Soccer League]] emerged with eight teams across Canada. While the SISL remained virtually unknown to the wider soccer community, the Western Soccer Alliance grew in popularity and inspired the creation of the third [[American Soccer League (1988–89)|American Soccer League]] in 1988.

By the summer of 1989, these two leagues began considering a merger. At the same time, the SISL had grown to seventeen indoor teams and had added a summer outdoor schedule, known as the [[1989 Southwest Outdoor Soccer League|Southwest Outdoor Soccer League]] with included eight teams. In 1990, the [[1990 American Professional Soccer League|WSA and ASL merged]] to form the [[American Professional Soccer League]] with twenty-two teams across the United States.  At the same time, the SISL expanded to fourteen outdoor teams. In [[1992 United States Interregional Soccer League|1992]], the SISL renamed itself the [[United States Interregional Soccer League]] (USISL) and had grown to twenty-one teams. By the [[1993 United States Interregional Soccer League|1993 season]], the number of teams in the USISL had doubled to forty-two. 

The mergers between all of these leagues continued in 1993 with the collapse of the Canadian Soccer League. This led to three Canadian teams, the [[Vancouver 86ers]], [[Toronto Blizzard (1986–93)|Toronto Blizzard]] and [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] joining the American Professional Soccer League for the [[1993 American Professional Soccer League|1993 season]]. So by the summer of 1993, only two outdoor leagues competed for national attention in North America, the United States Interregional Soccer League and the American Professional Soccer League. However, by this time, the USISL was growing and the APSL was shrinking. In [[1995 A-League|1995]], the American Professional Soccer League was down to six teams – two Canadian and four American.  It also changed its name to the A-League. At the same time, the rapidly growing USISL had split its teams into two leagues, the fully professional [[1995 USISL Professional League|Professional League]] and the semi-professional [[1995 USISL Premier League season|Premier League]].

=== Foundation and merge with APSL (1996–2004) ===

{{Multiple image |align=right |total_width=300 |image1=ALeague.gif |alt1= |image2=ALeagueLogo.GIF |alt2= |footer=Logos of the USISL / USL A-League.}}

In 1996, the USISL launched the [[1996 USISL Select League|Select League]] as its highest tier of three leagues. It debuted with 21 of its most successful clubs. With the creation of the Select League, the USISL now competed directly with the A-League for Division II recognition. This led the two leagues, the A-League which was made up the remains of the old Western Soccer Alliance, American Soccer League and Canadian Soccer League, and the USISL to enter merger talks. The creation of [[Major League Soccer]] in 1996 as an American Division I league also spurred the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1995.html |title=The Year in American Soccer – 1995 |access-date=October 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805090441/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1995.html |archive-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead }}</ref>

In [[1997 A-League|1997]], six of the seven remaining A-League teams – [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]], [[Colorado Foxes]], [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]], [[Rochester Raging Rhinos]], [[Vancouver 86ers]] and [[Atlanta Ruckus]], plus two planned A-League expansion teams ([[Toronto Lynx]] and [[Hershey Wildcats]]) merged with the USISL Select League to form the USISL A-League, a consolidated American Division II league with twenty-four teams.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1996.html#aleague |title=The Year in American Soccer – 1996 |access-date=October 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805090457/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1996.html#aleague |archive-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, the USISL renamed itself the [[United Soccer Leagues]] (USL) which meant the league became the USL A-League.

=== Restructure (2005–2008) ===

The USL A-League was renamed the USL First Division (USL-1) in 2005, with 12 out of 16 teams returning from the previous season. The [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]] won the inaugural USL-1 championship, beating Richard on penalty kicks in the championship game after a 1–1 tie in regulation time. The [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1986–2010)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] won the first of their two USL-1 titles in 2006 by beating the [[Rochester Raging Rhinos]] 3–0 in the championship game, while Seattle won their second title in 2007 by overcoming the [[Atlanta Silverbacks]] in a one-sided 4–0 final. Vancouver won their second USL1 championship in 2008 by beating the [[Puerto Rico Islanders]] 2–1 in the first USL-1 final to feature no American teams; the championship went north of the border again in 2009 when [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] won their first USL-1 title, beating Vancouver 6–3 on aggregate over two legs in the first all-Canadian affair.

[[File:Soccer match - Rochester vs Carolina.JPG|thumb|A scene during a [[Rochester Rhinos]] game against the [[North Carolina FC|Carolina Railhawks]] in the [[2007 United Soccer Leagues|2007 season]].]]

Richmond was voluntarily relegated to the [[USL Second Division]] in 2006 to cut costs, Toronto was voluntarily relegated to the [[USL Premier Development League]] in 2007 because of [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] expansion, and on March 30, 2007, the [[Virginia Beach Mariners]] folded just prior to the start of the 2007 season due to an ownership dispute which left the team without financing. These teams were replaced by two new teams: the [[Carolina RailHawks FC|Carolina RailHawks]] from the [[The Triangle (North Carolina)|Triangle]] region of [[North Carolina]], playing out of [[Cary, North Carolina|Cary]], and [[California Victory]], a team in Northern [[California]] under the ownership of [[Dmitry Piterman]] (chairman of Spanish team [[Deportivo Alavés]]) which folded after the end of the 2007 season, having played only one season. On June 19, 2008, an announcement was made that an expansion slot had been awarded to a [[Tampa Bay, Florida]]-based franchise led by main investors [[Andrew Nestor]] (CEO) and [[Hinds Howard]] (chairman) of [[Citrus Ventures]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/article633711.ece|title=Tampa Bay Rowdies to get new life in USL|last=Encina|first=Eduardo A.|date=2008-06-19|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|access-date=2008-06-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628190409/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/article633711.ece|archive-date=2008-06-28}}</ref> The plan was for the club to join the league in 2010 and be named the [[Tampa Bay Rowdies]].

In November 2008, the [[Atlanta Silverbacks]] announced that they would sit out the 2009 season to "reassess the landscape," and would possibly return at a future date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/news/displaynews.php?id=1046&cat=1 |title=Atlanta Silverbacks |access-date=2008-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229221854/http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/news/displaynews.php?id=1046&cat=1 |archive-date=2008-12-29 }}</ref>
Similarly, the [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]] left prior to the 2009 season due to the imminent entrance of [[Seattle Sounders FC]] into [[Major League Soccer]]. Their spot in the league was taken by the [[Cleveland City Stars]], who won the [[USL Second Division]] title in 2008, and voluntarily moved up to USL-1 for the 2009 season,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=ec02001e-f74c-4ba1-9242-7a34cf0a3eaf |title=Business as usual in the United Soccer League |access-date=2008-11-23 |archive-date=2012-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105135818/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=ec02001e-f74c-4ba1-9242-7a34cf0a3eaf |url-status=live }}</ref> folded at the end of the year.

Several cities had been mentioned as being locations where future USL-1 franchises might launch, including [[St. Louis, Missouri]] (led by the current [[USL Premier Development League]] (PDL) franchise [[St. Louis Lions]]);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stllions.com/|title=Home - St. Louis Lions|website=www.stllions.com|access-date=2008-12-22|archive-date=2009-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614193001/http://www.stllions.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Orlando, Florida]] (with Mexican side [[C.F. Pachuca|Pachuca]] being rumored as connected to it);<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_soccerblog/2009/01/mls-atlanta-out.html|title=MLS: Atlanta Out! Orlando to USL. St Louis weak? Philly behind schedule...|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=2009-01-16|access-date=2009-02-06|archive-date=2009-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219104544/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_soccerblog/2009/01/mls-atlanta-out.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]; [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]; [[Hamilton, Ontario]];<ref>[http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=268484&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_soccer]{{dead link|date=December 2021}}</ref> [[San Antonio, Texas]]; and [[Ottawa, Ontario]]. On September 1, 2009, a group from Ottawa formally applied for USL-1 team, contingent on the approval of updates to [[Lansdowne Park]]. The team would share a field with the [[Ottawa Redblacks]] football team.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/361425.html |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |access-date=2009-09-02 |archive-date=2009-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904134534/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/361425.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Ottawa group subsequently committed to the NASL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottawafury.com/ottawaNASL |title=NASL |access-date=2012-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315100356/http://www.ottawafury.com/ottawaNASL |archive-date=2012-03-15 }}</ref>

=== NASL split and demise (2009–2010) ===

On August 27, 2009, [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] agreed to sell its stake in the [[United Soccer Leagues]] (USL) to [[Rob Hoskins]] and Alec Papadakis of [[Atlanta]]-based NuRock Soccer Holdings, instead of to the USL Team Owner's Association (TOA), a group comprising the owners of several USL First Division clubs. In the months that followed, several prominent TOA members began to voice their concerns about the state of the league in general, its management structure and ownership model, the leadership of USL president Francisco Marcos, and about the sale of the league to NuRock, which the TOA felt was counter-productive and detrimental to the development of the league. Within several weeks, a number of TOA member clubs threatened to break away from USL and start their own league; this break away became official on November 10, 2009, when the majority of USL-1 clubs, as well as one of the expected 2010 expansion franchises, applied to the [[United States Soccer Federation]], the [[Canadian Soccer Association]], and [[FIFA]] for approval to create a new [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2009/11/10/1616579/teams-split-from-usl-1-to-form-new-league-in-2010 |title=Teams Split From USL-1; To Form New League In 2010 |publisher=Goal.com |date=2009-11-10 |access-date=2009-11-20 |archive-date=2009-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113174546/http://goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2009/11/10/1616579/teams-split-from-usl-1-to-form-new-league-in-2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> reducing the league's membership to just three teams.

After lawsuits were filed and heated press statements exchanged, the [[United States Soccer Federation]] (USSF) declared they would sanction neither the NASL nor the USL First Division in 2010, and ordered both "camps" to work together on a plan to temporarily allow their teams to play a 2010 season. The interim solution was announced on January 7, 2010, with the USSF running the new [[USSF Division 2 Professional League|USSF D2 Pro League]] comprising clubs from both USL-1 and NASL.<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/01/Division-2-Professional-League-To-Operate-in-2010.aspx
 |title       = Division 2 Professional League To Operate in 2010
 |publisher   = ussoccer.com
 |date        = 2010-01-07
 |access-date  = 2010-01-09
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100110070921/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/01/Division-2-Professional-League-To-Operate-in-2010.aspx
 |archive-date = 2010-01-10
}}</ref> On December 2, 2009, Inside Minnesota Soccer reported that the USL had asked the City Stars to terminate the contracts of all the players, as the franchise was to be dissolved. Posting an email addressed to all players under contract with the Cleveland City Stars and written by team president Jonathan Ortlip and executive director Aaron Tredway, the club executives went on to accept the decision to terminate the franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/|title=Cleveland City Stars Release Players from Contracts - IMS Soccer News|date=December 2, 2009 |access-date=2009-12-04|archive-date=2009-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206044529/http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/|url-status=live}}</ref>

All 12 teams from the USL First Division and the NASL competed in the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010, which was won by the [[Puerto Rico Islanders]]. On September 8, 2010, the USL announced the formation of [[United Soccer League|USL Pro]] which would merge the USL First Division and [[USL Second Division]] to begin play in 2011. The merger is meant to consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on commercial growth and professional development of soccer in 4 main regions throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/464019.html
 |title       = USL Restructures Professional Division
 |publisher   = www.uslsoccer.com
 |date        = 2010-09-08
 |access-date  = 2010-09-08
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101011101750/http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/464019.html
 |archive-date = 2010-10-11
}}</ref> The First Division was formally dissolved following the completion of the temporary season to make way for [[United Soccer League|USL Pro]].<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/464019.html
 |title       = USL Restructures Professional Division
 |publisher   = www.uslsoccer.com
 |date        = 2010-09-08
 |access-date  = 2010-09-10
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101011101750/http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/464019.html
 |archive-date = 2010-10-11
}}</ref>

== Format ==

Unlike most other nations, there is no system of merit-based [[promotion and relegation]] in the [[American Soccer Pyramid|American]] and [[Canadian Soccer Pyramid|Canadian pyramids]], meaning that the champions of USL-1 could not move up to [[Major League Soccer]] and, similarly, the worst teams in MLS were not in danger of being demoted to USL-1. However, some USL-1 teams had in the past chosen to take voluntary relegation to a lower level of the USL system, often to reduce operating costs, while teams had also decided to move up to USL-1 after finding success at the lower levels.

The top seven teams advanced to the playoff tournament, with the Commissioner's Cup winner (regular season champion) receiving a bye into the semi-finals. Each round consisted of two legs, the lower seeded team hosting the first leg, and the higher seed hosting the second. Prior to 2009, the final was played as a single leg at the higher seed's stadium. After the first legs were completed, the lowest remaining seed played the Commissioner's Cup winner, and the higher seeds played each other. The highest remaining seed hosted the penultimate game of the Finals. The playoffs started the week after the completion of the regular season, and typically ended in mid-October.

== Teams ==

:{{Resizediv|''Champions in '''Bold'''''}}
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
{{Resizediv|
* [[Austin Aztex FC]] (2008–2010)
* [[Atlanta Silverbacks]] (1995–2008; as ''Atlanta Ruckus'' 1995–98){{Efn|name=NASL|Moved to the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL).}}
* [[Boston Bulldogs (soccer)|Boston Bulldogs]] (1997–2000; as ''Worcester Wildfire'' 1997–1998)
* [[Calgary Mustangs (USL)|Calgary Mustangs]] (2002–2004; as ''Calgary Storm'' 2002–2003)
* '''[[California Jaguars]]''' (1995–1998)
* [[California Victory]] (2007)
* [[Carolina Dynamo]] (1997)
* [[North Carolina FC|Carolina RailHawks]] (2007–2009){{Efn|name=NASL}}{{Efn|name=USSF|Played in the [[USSF Division 2 Professional League]] as an NASL Conference member.}}
* '''[[Charleston Battery]]''' (1997–2009)
* [[Charlotte Eagles]] (2001–2003)
* [[Cincinnati Riverhawks]] (1998–2003)
* [[Cleveland City Stars]] (2009)
* [[Connecticut Wolves]] (1995–2001)
* [[Edmonton Aviators]] (2004)
* [[El Paso Patriots]] (1997–2003)
* [[FC Tampa Bay]] (2010){{Efn|name=NASL}}
* [[Hershey Wildcats]] (1997–2001)
* [[Indiana Blast]] (1999–2003)
* [[Jacksonville Cyclones]] (1997–1999)
* [[Lehigh Valley Steam]] (1999)
* [[Long Island Rough Riders]] (1997–2001)
* [[Maryland Mania]] (1999)
* [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2006–2016)|Miami FC]] (2006–2009){{Efn|name=NASL}}{{Efn|name=USSF}}
* '''[[Milwaukee Rampage]]''' (1997–2002)
* [[Milwaukee Wave United]] (2003–2004)
}}
{{col-2}}
{{Resizediv|
* '''[[Minnesota Thunder]]''' (1997–2009)
* [[MLS Project 40]] (1998–2000)
* '''[[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]]''' (1995–2009){{Efn|name=NASL}}{{Efn|name=USSF}}
* [[Nashville Metros]] (1997–2001; as ''Tennessee Rhythm'' 1999–2000)
* [[New Orleans Storm]] (1997–1999; as ''New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers'' 1997)
* [[New York Centaurs]] (1995)
* [[New York Fever]] (1996)
* [[Minnesota United FC (2010–2016)|NSC Minnesota]] (2010){{Efn|name=NASL}}
* [[Orange County Blue Star|Orange County Waves]] (1997–2000; as ''Orange County Zodiac'' 1997–99)
* [[Orlando Sundogs]] (1997)
* [[Pittsburgh Riverhounds]] (1999–2003)
* [[Portland Timbers (2001–2010)|Portland Timbers]] (2001–2010)
* [[Puerto Rico Islanders]] (2004–2010){{Efn|name=NASL}}
* [[Raleigh Capital Express]] (1997–2000; as ''Raleigh Flyers'' 1997–98, and ''Raleigh Express'' 1999)
* [[Richmond Kickers]] (1997–2005)
* '''[[Rochester Raging Rhinos|Rochester Rhinos]]''' (1997–2010; as ''Rochester Raging Rhinos'' 1997–2007)
* [[Sacramento Geckos]] (1998–1999; as ''Albuquerque Geckos'' 1998)
* [[San Diego Flash]] (1995–2001; as [[Colorado Foxes]] 1995–1997)
* [[San Francisco Seals (soccer)|San Francisco Bay Seals]] (1998–2000; as ''Bay Area Seals'' 2000)
* '''[[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]]''' (1995–2008){{Efn|name=MLS|Moved to [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS).}}
* [[Staten Island Vipers]] (1998–99)
* [[Syracuse Salty Dogs]] (2003–04)
* [[Toronto Lynx]] (1997–2006)
* '''[[Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)|Vancouver Whitecaps]]''' (1995–2009; as ''Vancouver 86ers'' 1995–2000){{Efn|name=USSF}}{{Efn|name=MLS}}
* [[Virginia Beach Mariners]] (1997–2006; as ''Hampton Roads Mariners'' 1997–2000, 2002)
}}
{{col-end}}

=== Timeline ===

<timeline>
DateFormat  = mm/dd/yyyy
Define $now  = 09/01/2014
ImageSize   = width:800 height:auto barincrement:22
Period      = from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2014
TimeAxis    = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea    = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph,  use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#
Colors =  id:barcolor  value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)
          id:line      value:black
          id:lightline value:rgb(0.5,0.5,0.5)
          id:bg        value:white
          id:Full   value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a current club
          id:Former value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a former club
          id:USSFD2 value:rgb(0.000,0.996,0.996) # Use this color to denote a USSF D2 season
          id:MLS    value:rgb(0.996,0.598,0.996) # Use this color to denote a club that moved on to MLS
          id:NASL   value:rgb(0.398,0.699,0.996) # Use this color to denote a club that went to NASL
          id:USL    value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a club that went to USL league
          id:PDL-D2 value:rgb(0.897,0.698,0.698) # Use this color to denote a club that went to PDL
          id:Hiatus value:rgb(0.996,0.797,0.598) # Use this color to denote a club that was on hiatus for a period but returned

PlotData=
   width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

   bar:1  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2008 text:[[Atlanta Silverbacks]] (2005–08)
   bar:1  color:Hiatus from:01/01/2009 till:12/31/2010
   bar:1  color:NASL   from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:[[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|NASL]] (2011-2015)

   bar:2  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Charleston Battery]] (2005–2009)
   bar:2  color:PDL-D2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:[[USL Second Division|USL 2nd Div]] 
   bar:2  color:USL    from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:[[United Soccer League|USL Pro]] (2011-present)

   bar:3  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text: [[Minnesota Thunder]] (2005–2009)

   bar:4  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] (2005–2009)
   bar:4  color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:[[USSF Division 2|USSF D2]]
   bar:4  color:NASL   from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2012 text:NASL (2011)
   bar:4  color:MLS    from:01/01/2012 till:end        text:[[CF Montreal|Montreal Impact]] in MLS (2012-present)

   bar:5  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Portland Timbers (2001–10)|Portland Timbers]] (2005–2009)
   bar:5  color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:5  color:MLS    from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:[[Portland Timbers]] in MLS (2011-present)

   bar:15  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Puerto Rico Islanders]] (2005–2009)
   bar:15  color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:15  color:NASL   from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2012 text:NASL (2011-2012)

   bar:6  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2005 text:[[Richmond Kickers]] (2005) 
   bar:6  color:PDL-D2 from:01/01/2006 till:12/31/2010 shift:(50,-5) text:[[USL Second Division]] (2006-2010) 
   bar:6  color:USL    from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:USL Pro (2011-present)

   bar:7  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Rochester Rhinos]] (2005–2009) 
   bar:7  color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:7  color:USL    from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:USL Pro (2011-present)

   bar:8  color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2008 text:[[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]] (2005–2008)
   bar:8  color:MLS    from:01/01/2009 till:end        text:[[Seattle Sounders FC]] in MLS (2009-present)

   bar:9  color:Former from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2006 text:[[Toronto Lynx]] (2005–2006)
   bar:9  color:PDL-D2 from:01/01/2007 till:12/31/2014 text:[[Premier Development League|USL PDL]] (2008-2014)

   bar:10 color:Full   from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] (2005–2009)
   bar:10 color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:10 color:MLS    from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] in MLS (2011-present)

   bar:11 color:Former from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2006 text:[[Virginia Beach Mariners]] (2005–2006)

   bar:12 color:Full   from:01/01/2006 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Miami FC (2006)|Miami FC]] (2006–2009)
   bar:12 color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:12 color:NASL   from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:[[Fort Lauderdale Strikers]] in NASL (2011-present)

   bar:13 color:Former from:01/01/2007 till:12/31/2007 text:[[California Victory]] (2007)

   bar:14 color:Full   from:01/01/2007 till:12/31/2009 text:[[North Carolina FC|Carolina RailHawks]] (2007–2009)
   bar:14 color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:14 color:NASL   from:01/01/2011 till:end        text:NASL (2011-2017); USL (2018–)

   bar:20 color:Full   from:01/01/2008 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Austin Aztex FC|Austin Aztex]] (2008–09) 
   bar:20 color:USSFD2 from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2
   bar:20 color:Hiatus from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2011 
   bar:20 color:PDL-D2 from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2014 text:USL PDL (2012-14)†
   bar:20 color:USL    from:01/01/2014 till:end        text:USL Pro (2015-)

   bar:21 color:Former from:01/01/2009 till:12/31/2009 text:[[Cleveland City Stars]] (2009)

ScaleMajor  = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/2005
ScaleMinor  = gridcolor:lightline unit:month increment:6 start:01/01/2005

TextData =
    fontsize:L
    textcolor:black
    pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
    text:

#> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. {{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Current clubs}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Former clubs}} {{Font color||{{RGB|101|211|159}}|Future clubs}}
 <#  </timeline>

<small>{{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Active clubs}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Former Club}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|0|255|255}}|USSF D2 Season (2010)}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|255|153|255}}|Club moved to MLS}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|102|179|255}}|Club moved to NASL}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Club moved to USL}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|230|179|179}}|Club moved to USL 2nd Div or PDL}} 
&nbsp; {{Font color||{{RGB|255|204|153}}|Club on hiatus}}
</small>

== Seasons ==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
| style="background:#d4eeff" | {{Dagger}} || Won a [[Double (association football)|double]]
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:85%; width:100%"
|+ style="text-align:left" | List of Select League / A-League / First Division seasons
! style="width:1em"| {{Abbr|Yr.|Year}}
! style="width:1em"| {{Abbr|T|Number of teams}}
! style="width:1em"| {{Abbr|MP|Matches played by each team in the regular season}}
! Champion
! Runners-up
! {{Tooltip|Commissioner's Cup|Best regular season performance}}{{Efn|The Commissioner's Cup was not awarded from 1996 to 2004.}}
! {{Tooltip|Att.|Average attendance across all regular season games}}
! Top goalscorer
! class="unsortable" style="width:1em" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[1996 USISL Select League|1996]]'''
| 21
| 18
| '''[[California Jaguars]]'''
| [[Richmond Kickers]]
| [[North Carolina Fusion U23|Carolina Dynamo]]
| —
| data-sort-value="21" | {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Dan Stebbins|Stebbins]] (21)
| <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1996.html#aleague |title=The Year in American Soccer – 1996 |access-date=2013-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805090457/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1996.html#aleague |archive-date=2009-08-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[1997 USISL A-League|1997]]'''
| 24
| 28
| '''[[Milwaukee Rampage]]'''
| Carolina Dynamo
| [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]]
| —
| data-sort-value="23" | {{Flag icon|USA}} [[Doug Miller (soccer)|Miller]] (23)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[1998 USISL A-League|1998]]'''
| 28
| 28
| style="background:#d4eeff" | '''[[Rochester Rhinos|Rochester Raging Rhinos]]''' {{Dagger}}
| [[Minnesota Thunder]]
| style="background:#d4eeff" | Rochester Raging Rhinos {{Dagger}}
| —
| data-sort-value="24" | {{Flag icon|USA}} [[Mark Baena|Baena]] (24)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[1999 USL A-League|1999]]'''
| 30
| 28
| '''Minnesota Thunder'''
| Rochester Raging Rhinos
| Rochester Raging Rhinos (2)
| —
| data-sort-value="20" | {{Flag icon|USA}} Baena (20){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|CAN}} [[Niall Thompson (soccer, born 1974)|Thompson]] (20)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2000 USL A-League|2000]]'''
| 25
| 28
| '''Rochester Raging Rhinos''' (2)
| Minnesota Thunder
| Minnesota Thunder
| —
| data-sort-value="17" | {{Flag icon|USA}} [[Paul Conway (soccer)|Conway]] (17){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Greg Howes|Howes]] (17){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|LBR}} [[Johnny Menyongar|Menyongar]] (17)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2001 USL A-League|2001]]'''
| 21
| 26
| '''Rochester Raging Rhinos''' (3)
| [[Hershey Wildcats]]
| Richmond Kickers
| —
| data-sort-value="22" | {{Flag icon|USA}} Conway (22)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2002 USL A-League|2002]]'''
| 18
| 28
| '''Milwaukee Rampage''' (2)
| Richmond Kickers
| [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]]
| —
| data-sort-value="18" | {{Flag icon|SYR|1980}} [[Fadi Afash|Afash]] (18){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|USA}} [[McKinley Tennyson|Tennyson]] (18)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2003 USL A-League|2003]]'''
| 19
| 28
| '''[[Charleston Battery]]'''
| Minnesota Thunder
| [[Milwaukee Wave United]]
| —
| data-sort-value="22" | {{Flag icon|BRA}} [[Thiago Martins (footballer, born 1976)|Martins]] (22)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2004 USL A-League|2004]]'''
| 16
| 28
| '''Montreal Impact'''
| Seattle Sounders
| [[Portland Timbers (2001–2010)|Portland Timbers]]
| —
| data-sort-value="17" | {{Flag icon|USA}} [[Alan Gordon (soccer)|Gordon]] (17){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Dante Washington|Washington]] (17)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2005 United Soccer Leagues#First Division|2005]]'''
| 12
| 28
| '''Seattle Sounders'''
| Richmond Kickers
| Montreal Impact (2)
| 4,527
| data-sort-value="17" | {{Flagicon|CAN}} [[Jason Jordan (soccer)|Jordan]] (17)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2006 United Soccer Leagues#First Division|2006]]'''
| 12
| 28
| '''[[Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)|Vancouver Whitecaps]]'''
| Rochester Raging Rhinos
| Montreal Impact (3)
| 4,667
| data-sort-value="18" | {{Flag icon|BRA}} [[Romário]] (18){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Cam Weaver|Weaver]] (18)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2007 United Soccer Leagues#First Division|2007]]'''
| 12
| 28
| style="background:#d4eeff" | '''Seattle Sounders''' (2) {{Dagger}}
| [[Atlanta Silverbacks FC]]
| style="background:#d4eeff" | Seattle Sounders (2) {{Dagger}}
| 4,420
| data-sort-value="10" | {{Flag icon|CAN}} [[Charles Gbeke|Gbeke]] (10){{Hr}}{{Flag icon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Le Toux|Le Toux]] (10)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2008 United Soccer Leagues#First Division|2008]]'''
| 11
| 30
| '''Vancouver Whitecaps''' (2)
| Puerto Rico Islanders
| [[Puerto Rico Islanders]]
| 5,164
| data-sort-value="15" | {{Flag icon|BRA}} [[Alex Afonso|Afonso]] (15)
| 
|-
! scope="row" | '''[[2009 United Soccer Leagues#First Division|2009]]'''
| 11
| 30
| '''Montreal Impact''' (2)
| Vancouver Whitecaps
| Portland Timbers (2)
| 4,720 
| data-sort-value="12" | {{Flag icon|CAN}} Gbeke (12)
| 
|}

== Records ==

{{col-begin-small}}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:left"
|+Goals scored
!Rank !! Player !! Goals
|-
|1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Cuba}} [[Eduardo Sebrango]]||100
|-
|2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Baena]]||86
|-
|3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Paul Conway (soccer)|Paul Conway]] ||79
|-
|4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Doug Miller (soccer)|Doug Miller]]||77
|-
|5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Mauro Biello]]||76
|-
|6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Jason Jordan (soccer)|Jason Jordan]]||70
|-
|7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chance Fry]]||68
|-
|8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Domenic Mobilio]]||65
|-
|9
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jamel Mitchell]]||64
|-
|10
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|TRI}} [[Kevin Jeffrey]]||61
|}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:left"
|+Games played
!Rank !! Player !! Appearances
|-
|1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Mauro Biello]]||320
|-
|2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Nick DeSantis]] ||245
|-
|3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|JAM}} [[Lloyd Barker (soccer)|Lloyd Barker]]||242
|-
|4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Nevio Pizzolito]]||228
|-
|5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Scott Jenkins (soccer)|Scott Jenkins]]||220
|-
|6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lenin Steenkamp]]||219
|-
|7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bill Sedgewick]]||218
|-
|8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[David Diplacido]]||217
|-
|9
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Steve Klein (soccer)|Steve Klein]]||211
|}
{{col-end}}

== See also ==

{{Portal|Association football}}
* [[MLS Reserve League]] (2005–2014)
* [[Women's United Soccer Association]] (2001–2003)
* [[Women's Professional Soccer]] (2009–2011)

== References ==

'''Notes'''
{{Notelist}}
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080511172705/http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/ USL First Division] at [[United Soccer League]] {{Small|''(Archived May 11, 2008)''}}

{{USL First Division}}
{{United Soccer League}}
{{USDefunctSoccer}}
{{Soccer in the United States}}
{{Soccer in Canada}}
{{Football in Puerto Rico}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:USL First Division}}
[[Category:USL First Division| ]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:2010 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer leagues in Canada]]
[[Category:Defunct United Soccer League competitions|First Division, USL]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1996]]
[[Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2010]]