Ethan Noah Zubak

On this day in 2017, a Whitecaps 2 own goal and a 67th-minute strike from @ethanzubak gave LA Galaxy II a 2-0 victory over Vancouver at the StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium

On this day in 2017, LA Galaxy II lost 3-2 in a preseason scrimmage against Real Monarchs SLC at the StubHub Center. Goals scored by @DhillonJustin and @ethanzubak

On this day in 2019, LA Galaxy signed @EthanZubak on a Homegrown Player contract from LA Galaxy II. “Ethan’s personal and professional progression since his time with the Academy has shown in the meaningful and consistent minutes he has earned in the USL." - DTK

“USL is completely unique in professional sports that you have a privately held company that owns the league.” USL Players’ Association rejected latest CBA proposal from USL and authorized a strike. Connor Tobin, executive director of USLPA, explains the business model of USL. “USL is completely unique in professional sports that you have a privately held company that owns the league,” he said. “In every other sports league, the league entity does not act as an independent profit center.” “Instead, the league brings in income and then in some way, shape, or form, that revenue is then distributed out to its clubs. That's not how USL works.” “When the money comes into the league. Again, the league's privately held so those owners are the beneficiaries, not the team owners.” “And so one of the things that we have in this ecosystem is a misalignment of financial incentives.” “You have a lot of the investment to build these clubs and build these community assets that are happening at a localized level. Those are team owners that are putting that up.” “They're carrying a lot of the risk, but a lot of the benefits are held by the league office. There's a disconnect there.” “So we can have expansion, we can launch a new league, we can sell new teams. That benefits one entity, it doesn't necessarily stabilize the club entities.” “If the clubs aren't stable. What happens to the players? Because the clubs are our direct employer.” “So again, this is about an ecosystem and an overall business environment. Is it aligned? Is it in balance? Is it working in unison?” “It’s not just risk to the club owners, it’s risk to the players.” “You’re asking about Tormenta, you’re asking about NCFC (both clubs are now on hiatus). Players have signed contracts, who’s carrying the risk in these situations?” “These are guys that signed leases. They’ve moved families to those locations. They’ve sat in market, they’ve trained on their own. And all of a sudden, two weeks out from the season, there’s not gonna be a team, here is a three months of severance.” “What happens to the cost of breaking your lease? What happens to foreign players who might have visas? What happens in any of these situations?” “What are the opportunities for employment on the other side of it given the timing? Who’s carrying the risk? That’s a system that’s not working for anyone.” It will be interesting to see if both parties can find an agreement before Friday, when the USL Championship season is supposed to kick off. [via United Soccer Lounge with Riley James on GOLZ TV]

USLPA Statement

League HQ: 💰Sells the vision 🤑Announces the expansion 💵Collects the upside Players don’t have a 5-7 year runway. They have bodies, careers & bills right now. Major-league branding. Sub-professional conditions. #StandUpForStandards

Justin Papadakis, USL Deputy CEO & Chief Real Estate Officer, says right now, players are viewed as expenses. Soon, they’ll be assets. He says the quiet part out loud: Players are line items. A broken system treats labor like a cost — not professionals to protect.

The Cooper Test is for character development 😮‍💨

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧! Orange County SC is thrilled to announce that local standout Ethan Zubak will return for the 2026 season after signing a new contract with the club. 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 2026 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 🎫 bit.ly/474ltAs #ForCounty 🍊

Every one of them. Every single one of them. What a team. #ForCounty | #SACvOC

THE DODGERS ARE BACK-TO-BACK WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS 🔥🏆 @BRWalkoff THE FIRST REPEAT WINNER IN 25 SEASONS

Keeping his 𝘾𝙊𝙊𝙇 ❄️ @ethanzubak levels the match for @orangecountysc! #USLonCBS | @bestwestern

A 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 team move for @orangecountysc is capped off by @ethanzubak! 👊

Cool as you like 😎 @ethanzubak gives @orangecountysc some breathing room late!

Amen Charlie. Taking solace in the fact that you’re resting with the Lord 🙏🏽 May God bless and comfort your family.

Jesus defeated death so you can live.

𝙄𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 ❄️⚽️ #ForCounty 🍊

📈 IN FORM 📈 @ethanzubak's THIRD goal in as many matches puts @orangecountysc ahead in Pittsburgh!

Congrats, fellas! 👏 #USLonESPN