2025 Las Vegas Lights FC season
| 2025 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Owner | José Bautista | |||
| Head coach | Devin Rensing | |||
| Stadium | Cashman Field | |||
| USL Championship | Western Conference: 12th Overall: 24th | |||
| USL Championship Playoffs | DNQ | |||
| U.S. Open Cup | Third Round | |||
|
| ||||
The 2025 Las Vegas Lights FC season was the club's eighth season, and their eighth season in the United Soccer League Championship (USLC), the second division of American soccer.
During the offseason, the Lights underwent a notable coaching change. Following their first playoff appearance in club history the previous season under head coach Dennis Sanchez, who took the club all the way to the Western Conference Final,[1] Sanchez was hired by New Mexico United.[2] He was replaced by Antonio Nocerino, who previously led fellow USL Championship club Miami FC to a league-worst eleven points all season.[3][4]
Twelve games into the season, after poor performance that saw the Lights out of a playoff position, Nocerino was let go by the Lights.[5] He was later replaced by Devin Rensing, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Charleston Battery.[6]
Squad
Roster
- As of March 13, 2025[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
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- ^ USL Academy contract
Staff
| Title | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | José Bautista | Dominican Republic |
| CEO | Shawn McIntosh | United States[8] |
| Sporting director | Gianleonardo Neglia | Italy[9] |
| Head coach | Devin Rensing | United States |
| Assistant coach | Gerson Echeverry | Colombia |
| Assistant coach | Ivan Mirkovic | Serbia |
| Goalkeeping coach | Armando Quezada | United States |
Competitions
USL Championship
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 30 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 35 | 47 | −12 | 37 | Playoffs |
| 9 | Lexington SC | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 31 | 42 | −11 | 36 | |
| 10 | Oakland Roots SC | 30 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 42 | 52 | −10 | 32 | |
| 11 | Monterey Bay FC | 30 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 27 | 45 | −18 | 29 | |
| 12 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 30 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 23 | 50 | −27 | 27 |
Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per-game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per-game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Match results
On December 19, 2024, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.[10]
All times are in Pacific Standard Time.
March
| March 8 1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–0 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:00 PM | Pinzon 74' | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 3,258 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| March 15 2 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 2–3 | New Mexico United | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Rodriguez 72' Gyau 90' |
Report | Gaines 52' Hurst 69' Seymore 90'+5' |
Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 1,851 Referee: Elton García |
| March 29 3 | Oakland Roots SC | 0–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Oakland, California |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum Attendance: 7,077 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
April
| April 5 4 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–0 | Orange County SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Pickering 90'+3' | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,353 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| April 12 5 | Lexington SC | 0–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Lexington, Kentucky |
| 4:00 PM | Report |
|
Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium Attendance: 3,337 Referee: Calin Radosav |
| April 19 6 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–4 | FC Tulsa | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Noël 51' (pen.) | Report | Lukic 14' Calheira 28' (pen.), 67' Dalou 42' |
Stadium: Cashman Field Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
May
| May 3 7 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–0 | Loudoun United FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Rodriguez 25' | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,189 Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
| May 10 8 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 0–0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 3,148 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| May 17 9 | Sacramento Republic FC | 5–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Sacramento, California |
| 7:00 PM | Herrera 30' Gurr 36' Jamieson 44' Ross 66' (pen.) Amann 86' |
Report | Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 10,194 Referee: Corbyn May |
| May 24 10 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–2 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Rodriguez 7' | Report | Cabrera 37', 64' | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,396 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| May 28 11 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 0–1 | Phoenix Rising FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Report | Okello 24' | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,165 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
June
| June 7 12 | San Antonio FC | 3–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | San Antonio, Texas |
| 6:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 5,393 Referee: Atahan Yaya |
| June 14 13 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 2–0 | Monterey Bay FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM |
|
Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,632 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández |
| June 21 14 | Indy Eleven | 0–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 5:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Carroll Stadium Attendance: 9,132 Referee: John Griggs |
July
| July 4 15 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 0−2 | Sacramento Republic FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 3,538 Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
| July 12 16 | FC Tulsa | 4–3 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 5:30 PM | Report | Stadium: ONEOK Field Attendance: 2,605 Referee: Adorae Monroy |
| July 19 15 | Orange County SC | 4-0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Elton García |
August
| August 2 18 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 6–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | El Paso, Texas |
| 6:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 4,722 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
| August 9 19 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–1 | San Antonio FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Rodriguez 53' (pen.) | Report | Berrón 18' | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,811 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| August 16 20 | New Mexico United | 2–2 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 6:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 11,581 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
| August 23 21 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–2 | North Carolina FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Gannon 83' | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,504 Referee: Drew Klemp |
| August 30 22 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–0 | Lexington SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Thompson 17' (o.g.) | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,245 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
September
| September 5 23 | Phoenix Rising FC | 0–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 6:30 PM | Report | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,158 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández |
| September 13 24 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 0–0 | Miami FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 3,576 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
| September 20 25 | Louisville City FC | 3–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 4:30 PM | Report | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 10,825 Referee: Natalie Simon |
| September 27 26 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 1–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 4:00 PM | Williams 30' (pen.) | Report | Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 5,011 Referee: Amin Hadzic |
October
| October 5 27 | Rhode Island FC | 3−0 (F) | Las Vegas Lights FC | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| 2:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium Attendance: 9,879 Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva | ||
| Note: Though the match ended in a 3–1 win for Rhode Island, they were awarded a 3–0 forfeit victory due to Las Vegas Lights fielding an ineligible player, Vaughn Covil, starting in the 84th minute. All statistics from the game were wiped out. This included goals for RIFC by Bacharach, Fuson, and Williams in the 40th, 90th, and 90+5 minutes, and a Las Vegas goal by Stojanovic in the 46th minute. Yellow cards to Bacharach (40), Yao (62), Holstad (83) and Williams (90+5) for Rhode Island, and O'Driscoll (45+3) and Stojanovic (62) were all removed from official records. [11] | ||||
| October 11 28 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 2–2 | Oakland Roots SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM |
|
Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 4,570 Referee: Joe Surgan |
| October 18 29 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 1−0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| 5:00 PM | Fjeldberg 54' | Report | Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 7,364 Referee: Edson Carvajal |
| October 25 30 | Monterey Bay FC | 1–1 | Las Vegas Lights | Seaside, California |
| 7:00 PM | Malango 28' | Report | Leal 3' | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 3,608 Referee: Robert Vincze |
USL Cup
The Lights participated in the second edition of the USL Cup, the first edition to feature teams from both the USL Championship and League One.[12][13]
| April 26, 2025 | Orange County SC | 1–3 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,350 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| April 30, 2025 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 2–1 | AV Alta FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 1,795 Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva |
| May 31, 2025 | Sacramento Republic FC | 4–0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Sacramento, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Report | Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 9,437 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
| June 28, 2025 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 2–0 | Spokane Velocity FC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,597 Referee: Servando Berna Rico |
US Open Cup
The Lights, as a member of the second division USL Championship, entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Third Round based on its performance in the 2024 USL Championship season.[14] Drawn away against Division 3 USL League One club Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, the Lights lost in a penalty shootout.[15]
| April 16 | Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1) | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 p.m. PDT | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 1,061 Referee: Jaclyn Metz | ||
| Penalties | ||||
References
- ^ Alvarez, Christopher. "Las Vegas Lights FC made it to the playoffs for the first time this year". Nevada Public Radio | NPR and local news station in Las Vegas. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Catlin, Nick (December 24, 2024). "New Mexico United announce new head coach". KOAT. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Soccer America (January 10, 2025). "Las Vegas Lights name Antonio Nocerino head coach". Soccer America. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Webster, Dennis (January 9, 2025). "Lights FC hire new coach after best season in team history". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Webster, Danny (June 10, 2025). "Lights FC fires coach 12 games into 1st season with team". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Charleston Battery (August 5, 2025). "Devin Rensing departs Charleston Battery for head coach position at Las Vegas Lights FC". Live5 News. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "Lights FC New Roster Signings". Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- ^ "Las Vegas Lights FC hires veteran sports executive Shawn McIntosh as Club's Chief Executive Officer". Lights FC Communications. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Las Vegas Lights FC Appoints Gianleonardo Neglia as Sporting Director". Lights FC Communications. February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ USLSoccer Staff (December 19, 2024). "USL Championship reveals the 2025 season schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ USLChampionship com Staff (October 6, 2025). "USL Championship issues forfeit to Las Vegas Lights FC for use of ineligible player". USL Championship. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (December 12, 2024). "ANOTHER COMPETITION: USL adds Jägermeister Cup for Championship, League One teams". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ Silverman, Alex (December 12, 2024). "USL expanding Jägermeister Cup to all teams". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (April 17, 2025). "ROUND OF 32 DRAW: For the U.S. Open Cup". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Chattanooga Red Wolves win historic PK shootout over Las Vegas Lights". thecup.us. April 17, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.