Philadelphia Union
Two Philly Teams Dancing: How Penn and Villanova mirror some of the best and weirdest Union seasons
Across all sports, Philly’s identity never changes, it just finds new teams to wear it, and this March it’s Penn and Villanova.
In seasons that mirror the current Philly hoops scene, Philadelphia Union fans have witnessed a heartbeat on the pitch. With the conclusion of the Eagles’ season and the pending Phillies 2026 campaign, Penn and Villanova are responsible for keeping Philly Sports’ pulse.
They begin their campaigns in the NCAA basketball tournament this Thursday and Friday.
And if any fanbase across the city knows how a season’s rhythm can define a team, it’s the Union faithful.
Former Union coach Jim Curtin boasts two MLS Coach of the Year selections, but these were built on early successful seasons that built identity. Curtin aided the union in finding two U.S. Open Cup final appearances in his first two seasons and later earned a Supporters’ Shield in 2020.
For their 2025-2026 course of action, Penn elected to bring in former Iowa head coach Fran McCaffrey. With the Ivy League title under his belt, he punches his 13th ticket to the dance in his inaugural season as the Quaker head coach.
Both coaches present early success and notable achievements; however, what ties them together is their connection to the city.
The two Philadelphia natives excelled in their respective sports prior to coaching. Curtin was a standout soccer player with Villanova, earning two All Big-East selections before finding his way back home.
McCaffrey graduated from Penn where he helped his alma-mater to three Ivy League titles playing on the same Palestra hardwood he now coaches from.
The storylines to this Quaker squad are instantly recognizable to Union fans and comparable to one of the most successful seasons in club history: 2022. The Union were led by veteran head coach Curtin and a star who was given up on after three seasons with Inter Miami: Julian Carranza.
In Penn’s case, they are led by a vet with notable past achievements in Senior Forward TJ Power, who bridges both roles seen in the 2022 Union counterparts.
Philly has a knack for giving a platform to shine for players that have been given up on. Think AJ Brown, Jimmy Butler, or Nick Foles.
This is no different in the MLS or college hoops scene.
Power began his college basketball journey at Duke before transferring to Virginia. Two programs that are consistently well touted come March. This is in great contrast to Penn who’s last trip to the dance was in 2018.
After searching for years to find a place where he could play meaningful minutes, he finally landed in the city of brotherly love. And he is thriving.
Power registered 44 points in an 88-84 victory over Yale in the Ivy League championship to send the Quakers dancing at the 14 seed. This included a dramatic buzzer beating triple that tied the game and sent it into overtime.
Likewise, to Union fans’ knowledge, the star on the 2022 squad was also in his first season in the city. Carranza was given up on by Inter Miami CF and went on loan to the Union in their historic 2022 playoff run.
He started 27/34 matches and all three playoff contests totaling 15 goals and a trip to the MLS Cup final.
After being written off, Carranza and Power both found a home in Philadelphia where in their first seasons accomplished plenty to be proud of. These accomplishments erected from an underdog rise in both years.
Penn has recognizable storylines and is the identity team that keeps the city’s spirit alive. They are the underdogs, a team that took a chance on two new additions and made an unexpected rise.
Villanova, however, is the perfect contrast that still upholds the city’s BPM.
Nova is the legacy team, they’ve registered three NCAA titles and consistently have high expectations barred on them come march. They are standard-bearers for Philly basketball; not the underdogs.
The expectation for Villanova hoops has been to go dancing come March; however, this is their first appearance since 2022. At this time, the Wildcats were still led by legendary head coach Jay Wright who resigned in April of that same year.
They clock into the bracket at the 8 seed and are seeking to reclaim the reputation Wright had led them to.
Similarly, the union had been prominent playoff figures from the years of 2018-2023; however Curtin was fired after a disappointing season the following year. In 2025, the Union were led by Bradley Carnell and won a second supporters shield and a playoff appearance.
The Union’s 2025 season is exactly what Villanova hopes to emulate. It was a reclamation of reputation following prominent roster and management changes.
One thing remains constant in Villanova — and across all Philly sports — the underdog mentality regardless of seeding, past achievements, or expectations.
Penn carries the chaos, the rise, the belief. They mirror the 2022 Philadelphia Union side that shocked its way into the city’s memory behind Julián Carranza and a system that clicked at the perfect time.
Villanova carries the standard. They mirror Union teams that didn’t just arrive, but sustained success, built expectation, and demanded results year after year. But now, they reflect a team trying to get back to the reputation they had spent years building.
Together, they form the full rhythm of Philadelphia sports.
