Tulsa Athletic | UPSL
Founded: 2013
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Open Cup History: 2014 (Debut), 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024
There’s no serious discussion about the best amateur teams in the country without talk turning to Tulsa Athletic. Founded back in 2013, by local restaurateur Sonny Dalesandro, the Oklahomans are heading into their seventh U.S. Open Cup after knocking out fellow national amateur giants Chicago House AC. They’ll aim to make the kind of waves they did back in 2023. That year, a win at their home base of Hicks Park over local USL Championship pros Tulsa FC set up a game in the Third Round against MLS side – and four-time Open Cup Champions Sporting KC. “We know what the Open Cup represents and we do what we do to show who we are,” said Aaron Ugbah, veteran player of that famous side from 2023 and a six-season member of the team. “It’s all about family and working hard here at Tulsa Athletic.”
