The Charleston Battery welcome Phoenix Rising to Patriots Point for the second time this season. This time, there is a USL Championship on the line and a potential happy ending for one of two Cinderella tales. Last season, both of these teams failed to make the playoffs. The Battery, under 2022 USL Championship Coach of the Year Ben Pirmann from Memphis 901, now have the record for the greatest turnaround season in USL Championship history with 34 more points this season than last season (25 in 2022 to 59 in 2023). Coach Pirmann is a finalist for Coach of the Year this year also. Young Player of the Year finalist Fidel Barajas of the Battery will not be playing as he is on national team duty for the Mexico U17s in Indonesia.

Phoenix Rising FC photos courtesy Rising Facebook Page

Phoenix Rising also have a great coaching addition in Juan Guerra who has been going through his Pro Licensing with Pirmann and the two keep in touch but Sunday that goes out the window. Guerra has done a great job after taking over from Rick Schantz late last year. He brought in D Alejandro Fuenmayor, MF Jose Hernandez, and Dariusz Formella from his team in Oakland. Pirmann did a similar thing by bringing in former players like GK Trey Muse, MF Chris Allan and more recently Mark Segbers from Miami FC about a month ago.

Charleston Battery photos courtesy Battery Facebook Page

Charleston and Phoenix took two completely different paths to get to the Final. Thanks to upsets to the #1 seed Pittsurgh and #2 seed Tampa Bay Rowdies, #3 seed Charleston was able to host all three playoff games against Indy Eleven, Birmingham Legion and Louisville City. On the other hand, Phoenix Rising were a #6 seed and played all three games in California beating #3 seed San Diego Loyal (RIP), #2 seed Orange County and #1 seed Sacramento. Sunday, the Battery will have home field advantage with what will be a SOLD OUT Patriots Point.

The NISA Championship match will take place Sunday, November 12th.

- Del Shaffer