Velocity

Shavon John-Brown hails from River Saller, St. Patrick’s, Grenada. Born in Montreal, Quebec, John-Brown has traded his Central Valley Fuego FC kit for the Impact Blue Velocity FC kit to hit the pitch for the 2025 home opener on March 16 in Spokane, WA. 

During the 2024 season with the Central Valley Fuego FC, John-Brown scored five goals, had three assists and finished out the season playing 1,558 minutes. This forward has a career of skill in attack and power in the front line. 

Head Coach for Velocity FC, Leigh Veidman, spoke to Shavon John-Brown’s strength from the backline and how this will be an asset to the team as a whole. 

“We are really excited to welcome Shavon to the team. He brings a different dimension to our attack with power, pace and directness which he showed with five goals and three assists last season with Central Valley Fuego FC. He has proven he can be a real attacking threat in this league and adds to the firepower we will be bringing into the roster this season which the fans should stay tuned for.” 

Shavon John-Brown attended Bryant & Stratton College from 2014-2015. He rounded out his collegiate career at Alderson Broaddus in Phillippi, West Virginia, in 2017. 

John-Brown’s debut season on the Grenada League Premier Division was with Hard Rock FC, scoring eight goals during his time on the roster and assisting the team to an eventual league title in 2018. He earned his first cap for the Grenada National Team in February of 2012. Other honors earned by John-Brown include the 2019 NPSL North Atlantic Conference Champion and the 2019 NPSL Northeast Region Champion. 

Shavon John-Brown spoke about what he is looking forward to as the season kicks off. 

“I would say competing for Spokane Velocity FC at the highest-level while being encouraged by the amazing fans. Additionally, pushing for playoffs but this time pushing for home playoffs matches and the Championship.” 

Catch all the action on the pitch on Sunday, March 16 at ONE Spokane Stadium. 

For more information and to purchase tickets to the match visit: https://www.uslspokane.com/velocity-fc-tickets/ 

USL Spokane has launched two professional soccer teams in Spokane, Wash. Spokane Zephyr FC, a women’s professional team, plays in the USL Super League that is sanctioned as Division One by 

the U.S. Soccer Federation. The men’s team, Spokane Velocity FC, is a Division III team in USL League One that reached the league Final in their inaugural season. 

#Welcometotheedge 

Defender, Davíd Garcia, who scored two goals in 21 appearances with the Northern Colorado Hailstorm last season, is the latest addition to Spokane Velocity FC’s backline (pending league and federation approval). 

Garcia, who hails from Mallorca, Spain, moved to the United States to play soccer at Florida International University, where he started as a freshman and logged nearly 5,000 minutes. During his senior season, he started all 20 matches and helped the Panthers win eight shutouts and make it to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. He was named the American Conference Tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2022 and was named to the All-Conference Team all four years. 

Garcia, 24, signed his first professional contract with North Carolina FC in 2023, starting 25 matches and helping the club win the USL League One Championship. He then signed with Hailstorm, starting 21 matches and helping the club win the Jägermeister Cup. 

That history of winning made Garcia an appealing addition to Velocity’s roster. 

“We are excited to add Davíd to the back line this year, he has shown incredible value over the past two years with Hailstorm in winning the Jägermeister Cup in 2024 and with North Carolina in winning the USL League One Championship in 2023,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. 

“He brings a good balance of a defending-first mentality with quality on the ball but most importantly, a winning mentality and a real leader on the pitch.” 

His experience playing against Velocity last season – including Velocity’s thrilling victory in the playoff quarterfinals – also made an impression. 

“My goal is to win a championship again and I believe that Spokane is the best club in the league,” Garcia said. “I’m excited about playing in front of our amazing fans and to make them proud. We will achieve big things together this year!” 

USL Spokane has launched two professional soccer teams in Spokane, Wash. Spokane Zephyr FC, a women’s professional team, plays in the USL Super League that is sanctioned as Division One by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The men’s team, Spokane Velocity FC, is a Division III team in USL League One that reached the league Final in their inaugural season. 

Neco Brett, a Jamaican forward who has demonstrated explosive goal-scoring ability in USL Championship, is bringing his talents to Spokane Velocity FC (pending league and federation approval).

Brett is among the leading scorers in USL Championship history, netting 85 goals in 207 regular season and playoff appearances.

The 32-year-old from Kingston came up through the Jamaican national program, playing for the Under-17 and Under-20 teams, logging 8 caps for country. He came to the United States to play for Robert Morris University from 2012-15. He amassed 42 goals and 16 assists in 67 matches for Robert Morris, before being drafted in the 2016 MLS Superdraft by the Portland Timbers. He spent that season on loan to the Portland Timbers 2 of USL Championship, scoring eight goals on 28 appearances.

What followed were exceptionally productive seasons with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds – 32 goals in 67 matches from 2018-19 – and with Birmingham Legion – 27 goals in 48 matches in 2020-21. After a jaunt west to play with New Mexico United for the 2022 season, and making 7 goals in 23 appearances, he returned to Birmingham, notching another 12 goals in 30 matches in 2023.

This past season he signed with Memphis 901 FC but played only four matches because of injury.

The opportunity for Spokane to bring a player of such high quality as Brett to the Velocity roster was too good to ignore.

“Neco has been one of the most prolific strikers in his past 9-plus years in the USL. He’s coming off an upper body injury that kept him out of most of the 2024 season, but he is incredibly hungry and excited to get back on the pitch and into his goalscoring ways and show why he sits top three in the All-Time USL top scorers list,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. “It’s important to note that Neco gets a lot of plaudits for the attacking side of the game, but he is a hardworking, humble and team-first person who will fit perfectly with our team, club and community.”

For his part, Brett is eager to play in front of Velocity’s supportive fan base.

“What excites me the most about joining Spokane is the stadium, the winning culture established in year one, and the very vibrant fanbase,” Brett said. “I can’t wait to get there and join my new teammates to continue creating history!”

Spokane Velocity FC home opener is Sunday, March 16 2025. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at ONE Spokane Stadium. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.uslspokane.com/velocity-fc-tickets/

USL Spokane has launched two professional soccer teams in Spokane, Wash. Spokane Zephyr FC, a women’s professional team, plays in the USL Super League that is sanctioned as Division One by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The men’s team, Spokane Velocity FC, is a Division III team in USL League One that reached the league Final in their inaugural season.

#Welcometotheedge

Midfielder Nil Vinyals, who was named to USL League One’s All-League First Team in 2023, is bringing his “killer instinct” to Spokane Velocity FC ahead of the new season (pending league and federation approval).

Vinyals, a 28-year-old from Barcelona, Spain, comes to Spokane from the Richmond Kickers, a club he joined in 2021. Before that, he was with South Georgia Tormenta in both League One and League Two. He’s made 140 appearances in League One play in his career; 106 of those were with Richmond, where he has scored 15 goals in the past four seasons and helped the Kickers win the Players’ Shield in 2022.

“Nil brings real quality and a killer instinct to our attack,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. “His consistent production year on year, along with his winning mentality, and leadership, are going to be a huge addition to our team. He brings excellent experience of what it takes to be successful from his Players Shield in 2022 to his community service work. He co-founded a nonprofit, Project Inspire, which works with athletes who have intellectual disabilities. We are gaining an amazing person who really cares about community.”

Vinyals grew up playing in FC Barcelona’s futsal program and came to the United States in 2014 to play for Union University before transferring to Winthrop University, where he helped the Eagles win the Big South Conference championship in 2015.

Now that his professional journey is bringing him to Spokane, Vinyals said he’s thrilled at the opportunity it presents.

“I’m really excited to join such a professional organization that’s focused on building a strong community and creating a great environment for players,” he said. “Spokane has quickly set a new standard for supporting players and creating a positive culture. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s success on the field and getting to know the incredible community around the team.”

Spokane Velocity FC returns for season two of USL League One action with a match at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16. For tickets, schedules and other information, visit www.uslspokane.com.

Spokane Velocity FC continues to add depth to its back line with the signing of Nigerian defender Lucky Opara, pending league and federation approval.

Opara, who played the past two seasons with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, is a veteran of European fútbol, having played professionally with Spartaks Jümala in Latvia, Switzerland’s FC Lugano, the Finnish club AC Oulu, and Narva Trans in Estonia.

The 25-year-old is from Owerri, Nigeria, and has been playing professionally since 2019. For Hailstorm, he scored five goals in 51 appearances.

As a former USL League One foe, Velocity coaches had ample opportunity to watch Opara in action, and they liked what they saw – especially in last season’s Jägermeister Cup, which the Hailstorm won.

“Lucky is an excellent addition to the back line,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. “He has shown over the past couple of years in the USL his ability to be a very good defender but also a force in attack, which is exactly what we look for in our full backs. He brings an incredible winning mentality, which we saw recently from his Jägermeister Cup victory in 2024. That’s an important attribute that’s going to push us forward as a club.”

Opara, who was in the starting lineup when Hailstorm played their first and only match in Spokane last season, said he came away from that experience – a 1-0 Velocity victory – with respect for the opposing side, and its home city.

“USL Spokane is so amazing,” Opara said. “I love the club and the city of Spokane as well. I’m excited to put an end to our team’s unfinished business from the previous season and to achieve success in my athletic goals.”

Spokane Velocity FC returns for season two of USL League One action with a match at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16. For tickets, schedules and other information, visit www.uslspokane.com.

Mark “Marky” Hernandez will bring his offensive power to Spokane Velocity FC this season, pending league and federation approval.

Hernández played the past three seasons with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, scoring 9 goals in the 2023 season – good for the second spot on the team leader board – and 6 in 2024.

The midfielder from Anaheim, California, came up through the Chivas USA program and played his college soccer at Golden West College, clocking 17 appearances and 9 goals from 2015-17, and at Cal State Fullerton, scoring 4 goals in 40 appearances from 2017-19. His senior year, he was named to the Big West All-Conference Second Team.

Hernández, 28, signed with Reno 1868 FC of USL Championship in 2019, then moved to USL League One ahead of the 2020 season to play for the Chattanooga Red Wolves. In two seasons he scored eight goals and was the No. 2 Red Wolves scorer in back-to-back seasons.

He comes to Spokane not only with a proven ability to put the ball in the net, but with playoff experience with both Red Wolves and the Hailstorm.

He knows first-hand what Velocity can do in the playoffs, being on the losing side of last year’s thrilling Spokane victory in the first round. The opportunity to return to the playoffs is one of the appeals of joining Velocity.

“I love the feeling of a hard-earned match win, but I’m most excited for the fans, playing for a playoff team, and to lift the playoff trophy with this season’s team,” Hernández said. 

Velocity coach Leigh Veidman called Hernandez a “very important addition” to the team’s offense.

“Regardless of his role on the team, Marky has a team-first mentality, which is important to the success of any team at any level. He does this while still producing, which can be a huge difference maker for any team,” Veidman said. “We are excited to have Marky’s experience and versatility added to our roster.”

Spokane Velocity FC kicks off its second season of USL League One action with a home match at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16 against One Knoxville SC. Season ticket packages and individual games are on sale now at uslspokane.com.

Spokane Velocity FC will have a long wait to get a rematch against Union Omaha, the club that ended Velocity’s fairy tale run to the USL League One Final in 2024. 

It will be nearly five months, in fact, from the start of league play on March 16 – a home match against One Knoxville – until Aug. 2, when Velocity hosts the Owls. In between, there will be matches against five expansion teams in League One and an expanded USL Jägermeister Cup series that for the first time will include teams from both League One and USL Championship.

“First and foremost, we’re excited to build and grow from an incredible season last year,” said Phil Harrison, Vice President of Spokane Velocity FC. “With our playoff run last season, we saw tremendous support from the community. It was exhilarating and inspiring, and we can’t wait to build on that energy in year two.”

League One continues in expansion mode, adding five clubs in 2025: FC Naples of Florida, Maine’s Portland Hearts of Pine SC, AV Alta FC from Los Angeles County, Westchester SC from New York, and Texoma FC, based in Sherman, Texas.

Velocity will get an early look at the new league additions, hosting Naples at ONE Spokane Stadium in the second match of the season on March 22. After an away game the following weekend against Greenville Triumph SC, Heart of Pine and Texoma will trek to Spokane for matches on April 5 and April 13. 

“The continued growth really reflects the success of the league,” Harrison said. “It’s really exciting and we’re looking forward to having new competition. It’s also going to be really beneficial not just to the club but to the community as a whole as we begin to expand Spokane’s exposure to these new markets.”

After an away trip to Southern California to face AV Alta on April 19, Velocity will begin Jägermeister Cup play, with matches April 27 against Oakland Roots of USL Championship and July 26 against Championship’s Sacramento Republic.

Spokane Velocity finds itself playing in Group 1, facing Oakland Roots, Sacramento FC, and Monterey Bay FC. The team will also have an opportunity for a rematch against the Las Vegas Lights, who defeated Spokane in the U.S. Open Cup during the 2024 tournament. 

The opportunity to compete against Championship teams is “really cool,” Harrison said. 

“Having a higher level of competition, from a division standpoint, is really fantastic,” Harrison said.  “We see this as a tremendous opportunity to show off the level of our play alongside really quality teams. The Jägermeister Cup promises to be something special next season.”

Including Jägermeister Cup matches, Velocity will host 17 home games in its second season. The season is balanced between home and away, with the longest away stretch being three matches, including back-to-back matches against Hearts of Pine in Maine, Aug. 17 and 23, and a return to Tennessee for an Aug. 31 match against One Knoxville. 

Velocity will wrap up its home season against Texoma on Oct. 11, and conclude regular season play with back-to-back road matches on Oct. 18 at Naples before getting a final crack at Union Omaha on Oct. 25.

For the full Spokane Velocity FC 2025 Schedule please visit our schedule page.

Single Match Ticket information will be available early in 2025. Fans can currently purchase Velocity FC Season Tickets at uslspokane.com/velocity-fc-season-tickets.