Hartford Athletic

On July 18, 2018, the USL announced that Hartford, Connecticut would have a USL Championship team, beginning play in 2019. A few months later on September 5, Jimmy Nielsen was named the first head coach for the club. In December 2018, Wojciech Wójcik, Jose Angulo and Alex Dixon were announced as the first signings in club history.

2019

Hartford Athletic's first game in club history was a 2–0 loss to Atlanta United 2. The club proceeded to lose its next seven games, scoring just four goals. However, Hartford picked up their first point in their inaugural home game, a 1–1 draw in front of 11,346 fans at Rentschler Field. The first competitive victory in club history came in the U.S. Open Cup, a 2–1 win over New York Cosmos B. The club finished the 2019 season on a three match unbeaten run, putting them at 17th in the Eastern Conference.

2020

In the COVID-19 affected 2020 season, Hartford finished atop Group F, and hosted St. Louis FC in the first round of the playoffs. However, a late goal from St. Louis eliminated Hartford in their first playoff game.

2021

Hartford regressed in 2021, finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs by six points.

2022

Hartford finished 10th in the Eastern Conference in 2022, and hosted MLS club New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, losing 2–1.

2023

2023 was the worst season in Hartford Athletic's short history, as the club finish dead last in both the Eastern Conference and league as a whole, as they picked up just 18 points, 23 behind the playoff positions.

2024

On December 12, 2023, Brendan Burke was announced as the new head coach and general manager. The offseason saw a large overhaul of the squad, with 23 new signings before the season, including former Sporting CP goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro and 2017 MLS Cup winner Jay Chapman. Hartford began the 2024 season with back-to-back wins, something they hadn't achieved since September 2022. However, a run of poor form between April and July saw the club pick up just nine points in 15 matches and slip down the table. In mid-summer though, a goalless draw vs. Phoenix Rising on July 26 began a great run for Hartford, as they lost just one of their next 11 matches (a 3–0 loss away at rivals Rhode Island FC). With two matches left in the season, Hartford essentially controlled their own destiny, as two wins would've gotten them into the playoffs. However, a 2–2 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies and a 3–2 loss at Orange County saw Hartford's season come to an end, as they ultimately finished four points out of the playoffs. At the end of the season, it was announced that Danny Barrera, who had been with the club since its inaugural season in 2019, would not return to the club after the expiration of his contract.

2025

Ahead of Brendan Burke's second season in charge, Hartford maintained a strong core of players from the previous season. However, starting goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro had his contract terminated by mutual consent before the season started. Notable pre-season signings included Sebastian Anderson, who played under Burke at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and former Cuban international Adrián Diz. After a 4–0 win at home against New Mexico United, Mamadou Dieng became the top scorer in club history.

Hartford Athletic won their first trophy in club history on October 4, 2025, in the 2025 USL Cup final. After defeating San Antonio FC in the quarterfinals and Greenville Triumph SC in the semifinals, Hartford defeated Sacramento Republic FC 1–0 at Heart Health Park in the final thanks to a second-half goal from Samuel Careaga.

Hartford qualified for the playoffs for the second time after a 3–2 win over Sacramento. They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against eventual USL champions Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a penalty shootout, 4-2, after the match ended in a scoreless draw.

In May 2025, the team announced that they would add a women's team competing in the USL W League for the 2026 season.

2026

In the 2026 season, Hartford Athletic once again reached the final of the USL Cup. The match was played at Trinity Health Stadium and marked the first professional championship game - in a series or in a one-off game - played in the city of Hartford since the 2000 Calder Cup Playoffs. It also marked the first championship-deciding match played in Connecticut in the state's professional sports history. In the 2026 USL Cup Final, Hartford Athletic lost 1-0 to Louisville City FC.