Union Omaha

In 2019, USL1 awarded a franchise to Alliance Omaha Soccer Holdings to begin play in the 2020 season. The decision to bring the league to Omaha, Nebraska, came as part of the USL's initiative to bring teams to communities without professional soccer. An addition more than two years in the making finally became a reality in October 2019, when Alliance Omaha Soccer unveiled the team's name, colors and crest design. Prior to its inaugural season, Union Omaha named former University of Nebraska Omaha head soccer coach Jay Mims the club's first manager. Mims took the Owls to the playoffs in all three of his seasons at the helm and managed to get the club to the League One Finals in both 2020 and 2021. He remained in charge until his resignation on Dec. 16, 2022. Union Omaha finished the 2020 season in second place and qualified for the USL1 championship game. However, the match was canceled due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the team's roster. By defeating the Richmond Kickers 2–0 in the second to last match of the 2021 season, the Owls became the USL League One regular-season champions and clinched the top seed for the playoffs. Union Omaha then finished the season winning their first ever championship, beating defending champion Greenville Triumph SC 3–0 in the final. Union Omaha made a deep run in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, entering in the second round and advancing to the quarterfinals as the last remaining third division team in the competition. In April, the Owls defeated…