Jul 3, 2026
Minnesota Aurora FC begins Central Conference title defense, faces Union FC Macomb in USL W League playoffs
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Reigning Central Conference champions Minnesota Aurora FC begin their USL W League Playoff run Friday against Union FC Macomb.
The first ever meeting between the two kicks off at 2:30 PM Central Time at Pittsburgh’s FNB Stadium.
Aurora FC, winners of the Heartland Division for an unprecedented fifth straight season, enter the postseason 12-0-0 overall, the second time in club history Aurora has completed a perfect regular season. They are the only club in the USL W League this season to finish with a perfect record and only one of five teams in the league to close out the regular season with zero losses.
The top seed in the Central Conference, Aurora FC are also in the midst of their best defensive season in club history, having allowed a single goal all campaign, tied with Real Colorado for the fewest conceded in the league. It also marks the fewest goals against during a regular season in club history.
Aurora also set new club records for total clean sheets (11), consecutive clean sheets (9) and consecutive minutes without conceding (837).
The Heartland Division champions return to Pittsburgh, where a calendar year ago, the club won its first ever Central Conference title, upending hosts Pittsburgh Riveters in the opening round before dispatching Kings Hammer FC to claim the title.
Overall, Aurora FC are 5-4-0 all time in the USL W League playoffs.
Union FC Macomb, out of Michigan, are embarking on their maiden playoff voyage in 2026, having claimed the Great Lakes Division crown with a 7-2-1 overall mark. After dropping back-to-back matches to open the season, the Hammers closed out the campaign unbeaten in eight straight, winning seven of their final eight matches.
Union FC proved to be a difficult defense to break down, allowing the fewest goals (8) in the Great Lakes Division. Half of their total goals conceded in 2026 came over the course of the final three matches.
Andie Jones, current high schooler and Auburn Tiger signee, paces the Hammers’ attack with six goals. Xavier University defender McKinley Berry leads the squad in minutes played with 842, while United States U16 Youth National Team winger Hannah Yu grabbed headlines with a three assist outing against Detroit City FC last match.
News & Notes
There will officially be a first time USL W League champion in 2026; prior champions Utah United (2025), NC Courage U23s (2024) and Indy Eleven (2023) all failed to qualify for the postseason, while 2022 champions South Georgia Tormenta FC ceased operations prior to the start of the season.
Forward Ai Kitagawa heads into Friday’s match in a tie for second place in the league’s Golden Boot race, awarded annually to the player with the most goals at season’s end. Long Island’s Kayleigh Goodrich sits atop the leaderboard with 17 goals.
Across their last 270 minutes of playoff football, Aurora FC have only conceded one goal, coming at the hands of eventual 2025 champions Utah United in last season’s National Semifinal round.
With a win Friday, Aurora FC would tie the 2023 squad for the longest win streak in club history.
Postseason Picture
Elsewhere around the Central Conference, playoff hosts Pittsburgh Riveters face Racing Louisville Friday evening, with the winner playing the winner of Aurora FC/Union FC on Sunday at FNB Stadium.
Pittsburgh finished 12 points clear of Cleveland Force to claim their second straight Great Forest Division title. The Riveters enter the 2026 postseason winners of eight straight matches after drawing with Flower City Union earlier in the season. 15 different players have scored this season for Pittsburgh, including keeper Bailey Herfurth in stoppage time back in May.
Racing Louisville are into the postseason for the first time in club history, having narrowly eked by Indy Eleven to claim the Valley Division by one point.
Racing Lou closed out the regular season with three consecutive wins, scoring 9 goals while only allowing 4 in that span. Kansas Jayhawk Livvy Moore, as well as high schoolers Maci Barlow and Cooper Stiefvater all lead the way with three goals each.
The aforementioned Barlow, now in her fourth season in Louisville, is the youngest goal scorer in USL W League history, grabbing a goal back in 2023 as a 13 year old.
Follow Along
Aurora FC’s playoff match will be carried on FOX 9 broadcast platforms for the fourth season, available over-the-air on FOX 9+ and streaming on FOX Local | Minnesota.
FOX9+ can be found on Comcast channel 10/807, DirecTV channel 29, DISH channel 29, Spectrum channel 10, Mediacom channel 10/803, and Over-The-Air channel 9.2. You can also access FOX 9+ on Hulu with LiveTV, Sling TV, Tubi, fuboTV and YouTube TV. In addition, games stream on FOX Local | Minnesota, FOX 9’s mobile and on FOX9.com, the FOX 9 YouTube page.
