The 1996 USISL Select League was a professional soccer competition in the United States that operated as part of the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL). It functioned as a second‑tier league beneath the USISL Professional League and was recognized by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a Division II league for the 1996 season.
League Structure and Season
- The league comprised 12 clubs from various regions of the United States.
- The regular season ran from April to September 1996, after which the top teams entered a playoff bracket to determine the league champion.
- The championship was decided in a two‑leg home‑and‑away final series.
Participating Teams Among the clubs that competed in the 1996 USISL Select League were:
- Rochester Raging Rhinos
- Richmond Kickers
- Long Island Rough Riders
- Charleston Battery
- Nashville Metros
- Austin Lone Stars
- Maryland Bays
- Milwaukee Rampage
- Tucson Amigos
- Greensboro Dynamo
- Albuquerque Geckos
- Wichita Blue
Significant Outcomes
- The Rochester Raging Rhinos captured the league title, defeating the Richmond Kickers in the finals.
- The season contributed to the rising profile of professional soccer in the United States during the mid‑1990s, preceding the formation of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) structure.
Transition and Legacy
- Following the 1996 season, the USISL Select League merged with the A‑League (formerly the American Professional Soccer League) to form the USL A‑League, which later evolved into the modern USL Championship.
- The 1996 season is thus regarded as a pivotal year in the consolidation of second‑division professional soccer in the United States.
