Hattiesburg

The rivalry with Mississippi Brilla FC defines the local landscape, two Mississippi-based teams sharing the USL League Two Mid-South Division. They play each other regularly, and while there is no specific named derby. Hattiesburg FC plays its home matches at Tatum Park, a facility that opened in 2024. Before that, the club operated out of William Carey University. The new ground is a state-of-the-art turf field within the largest park in Hattiesburg, featuring two sections of bleacher seating on the east side with a VIP tent at midfield. It holds 500 seats.

The organization traces its roots to 1980, when it began as the first and largest grassroots soccer training program in the Pine Belt region of Mississippi. Danny Owens, the Director of Coaching and Executive Director, has been the women’s soccer coach at William Carey University since 2005, leading them to four NAIA national championship appearances and one title in 2018. His vision extended beyond the university. In 2019, the club started fielding semi-pro teams in the Gulf Coast Premiere League (GCPL). The men’s side was nicknamed 'The Thunder'.

Progress has been uneven. In July 2023, the women’s team won the GCPL Cup Women's Championship, defeating Mississippi Blues 3-2 in a dramatic comeback with a last-minute goal by Amber Fortenberry in the 89th minute. That success did not translate immediately to the men’s side. In 2024, the men’s team was relegated from the GCPL and moved up to USL League Two. The women’s team made their WPSL debut in 2025 as an expansion team in the South Region, Mississippi Delta Conference, finishing 2nd in the conference with a 4-2-2 record. The club plays in navy blue.

Despite the history of the parent organization and the recent championship win, Hattiesburg FC has not won any trophies or notable achievements in USL League Two or WPSL to date. They are still building on the foundation laid decades ago.