After a challenging season in 2022, Miami FC began the season’s first four games with a 2-1-1 record. The team slowly began to adapt to a new coaching style and gained momentum that helped them qualify for Finals. Additionally, Lorenzo DiMercurio became the first Miami FC academy graduate made his debut for the first team.

Key Player: Felipe “Pipe” Rodriguez

Secret Weapon: Lucas Costa

The Royals find themselves returning to the USL Academy Finals for the second year in a row following a good season in the Lonestar Division.  The young team have shown the same form and fight the USL League Two team showed this past summer and have enjoyed competing in the USL Academy format.  The team is made up of creative, hardworking, like-minded players who never seem to be out of a game and enjoy having the chance to showcase their talents at this level.  

Key Moment of Season:

After a few early wins the Royals found themselves down at home to local rivals Houston FC with 10 mins to go.  As has become a theme this season, the belief and work ethic from the team meant they did not give up and a late substitution brought a debut brace from one of the club's 2008 players to get back in the game. 

Key Player: Karson Baquero

Secret Weapon: Brayden Lehner

This has been another successful season for the SAFC Academy with the quality of the young player pool providing opportunities for players. The club embraced the importance of the USL Academy league for the program to compete in meaningful matches for a vast pool of the top U15-U18 players throughout the year.

Key Moment of Season:

The introduction of two 2009 players and four 2008 players without losing the quality of the team's overall performance.

Key Player: Andy Bacho

Secret Weapon: Eduardo Fernandez

The final two matches of the season would require the Academy to play both Chattanooga Red Wolves and South Georgia Tormenta in the same weekend. East Atlanta had never notched a win against Chattanooga, and Tormenta was in great form at the top of the table. East Atlanta was able to find their first ever win over Chattanooga with a 1-0 scoreline due to a goal in the final five minutes, setting up a South Central Division Championship match Sunday in South Georgia. It was a match worthy of the stage with 8 yellow cards, 1 red card, and five goals between the two teams. In the end, East Atlanta was able to pull out a 3-2 win and obtain its first-ever ticket to the USL Academy Finals.

Key Player: Jaylen Yearwood 

Secret Weapon: Will Stewart