MLS Power Rankings: Vancouver Whitecaps Soar to the Top
As the 2025 MLS season kicks into high gear, it’s time to take a closer look at the latest Power Rankings from ESPN. With Matchday 4 in the books, the league’s 30 teams are starting to show their true colors. So, who’s on the rise, and who’s struggling to find their footing? Let’s dive into the rankings and see how the teams stack up this week.
1. Vancouver Whitecaps
Previous ranking: 3
The Vancouver Whitecaps are off to a flying start this season. They recently advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals after a thrilling victory over Liga MX club Monterrey on away goals. On Saturday, they continued their winning streak by defeating Dallas 1-0. With a perfect 4-0-0 record, Vancouver is the only team to have won all their games this season, marking the best start in club history. This achievement makes them just the seventh MLS team to start the year with four straight wins.
2. Inter Miami CF
Previous ranking: 1
Inter Miami CF has taken the lead in the Eastern Conference after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Atlanta. Lionel Messi made his first start of March and quickly made an impact by leveling the score after Atlanta took an early lead. Despite Brad Guzan’s impressive performance in goal, Fafà Picault secured the win for Miami with his first goal for the club in the 89th minute.
3. Columbus Crew
Previous ranking: 6
The Columbus Crew managed to secure a 1-1 draw against San Diego, despite being outshot by the home team. Patrick Schulte’s seven saves kept Columbus in the game, but a red card in the 61st minute allowed San Diego to equalize. Columbus remains one of the three undefeated teams in the East, alongside Miami and D.C.
4. San Diego FC
Previous ranking: 9
San Diego FC, the league’s newest team, has had a promising start to their inaugural season. Despite missing key player Hirving “Chucky” Lozano due to injury, they managed to outshoot Columbus 17-6 and secure a 1-1 draw. San Diego capitalized on Columbus going down to 10 players, showing their potential in the league.
5. Charlotte FC
Previous ranking: 8
Charlotte FC’s Patrick Agyemang, who recently joined the U.S. men’s national team, scored his first goal of the year in a 2-0 victory against Cincinnati. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina was the star of the match, making seven saves to keep a clean sheet and secure the win for Charlotte.
6. Philadelphia Union
Previous ranking: 2
Philadelphia Union’s perfect run came to an end with a 3-1 loss to Nashville. Despite defensive struggles and a missed penalty, Jovan Lukic’s beautiful goal provided a silver lining for the team. Lukic has now scored in two consecutive games, showcasing his talent on the field.
7. Colorado Rapids
Previous ranking: 11
Zack Steffen’s remarkable 12 saves were instrumental in Colorado’s 2-1 win over San Jose. Steffen is now tied for first place in the league for most saves, having stopped 21 of 25 shots faced. His performance has been a key factor in Colorado’s success this season.
8. St. Louis City SC
Previous ranking: 14
St. Louis City SC remains the only MLS team that hasn’t conceded a goal in 2025. With two wins and two draws, they are one of seven undefeated teams left. Their solid defense and diverse offensive threats, including Eduard Löwen’s recent goal, have contributed to their strong start.
9. LAFC
Previous ranking: 5
LAFC has faced some challenges recently, losing three times in the past week between MLS regular season and Concacaf Champions Cup. However, they remain one of four MLS teams to progress to the CCC quarterfinals and continue to be one of the most talented teams in the league.
10. FC Cincinnati
Previous ranking: 4
FC Cincinnati experienced setbacks this week, getting knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 3-1 loss to Tigres and then losing 2-0 to Charlotte. Despite the losses, Cincinnati showed promise, with Charlotte relying on Kahlina’s seven saves to keep them at bay.
11. Minnesota United
Previous ranking: 7
Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi celebrated his inclusion in Canada’s Nations League roster by scoring his first two goals of the year against Kansas City. Despite leading 3-0, Minnesota collapsed in the latter stages, conceding two goals and an own goal to end the match in a 3-3 draw.
12. Nashville SC
Previous ranking: 22
Nashville SC has found their stride, collecting their second straight win by defeating the previously undefeated Union 3-1. Hany Mukhtar redeemed himself by scoring from the penalty spot, and the team heads into their next match with momentum on their side.
13. Seattle Sounders
Previous ranking: 10
Seattle Sounders faced a tough week, getting knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup by Cruz Azul and losing key players to injury. Back in MLS, they suffered a 1-0 defeat to an undefeated St. Louis, conceding a free kick in unusual circumstances.
14. New York Red Bulls
Previous ranking: 13
The New York Red Bulls recorded their second straight draw, this time a 2-2 result against Orlando. While the team has shown resilience, they need to find a way to turn these draws into wins to climb the rankings.
15. Chicago Fire
Previous ranking: 18
Chicago Fire secured their second straight win with a 2-1 victory over Toronto. Despite the opponent’s struggles, two consecutive wins provide solid momentum for the team. However, they face a tough challenge next week against undefeated Vancouver.
16. Atlanta United
Previous ranking: 15
Atlanta United showed promise against Miami, taking an early lead through Emanuel Latte Lath. However, Lionel Messi’s equalizer and Fafà Picault’s late winner left Atlanta with a 2-1 defeat. The team has talent but needs to address issues at both ends of the pitch.
17. San Jose Earthquakes
Previous ranking: 12
San Jose Earthquakes started the season with two wins but have since suffered two losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Colorado. Despite the setbacks, the team shows signs of improvement under new management.
18. New York City FC
Previous ranking: 16
New York City FC secured their second victory of the year with a 2-1 win over New England. Despite an own goal from Thiago Martins, NYCFC capitalized on their opponent’s lack of pressure to claim the win.
19. Orlando City
Previous ranking: 20
Orlando City’s Marco Pasalic scored his third goal of the year in a 2-2 draw with the Red Bulls. While the team can score goals, they need to tighten up their defense, as they are tied for the most goals conceded in the league.
20. Austin FC
Previous ranking: 23
Austin FC has had a mixed start to the season, with two wins and two losses, all decided by 1-0 scorelines. Guilherme Biro’s early goal secured a win against LAFC, but Austin needs to find more offensive firepower moving forward.
21. D.C. United
Previous ranking: 17
D.C. United remains undefeated in 2025, but a 0-0 draw with winless Montreal isn’t their best result. With one win and three draws, they are one of three undefeated teams in the East but sit in ninth place.
22. Real Salt Lake
Previous ranking: 21
Diego Luna scored his first goal of the season in Real Salt Lake’s 2-1 win against Houston. While the result is an improvement, it came against a struggling opponent, and the team will need to build on this performance.
23. FC Dallas
Previous ranking: 19
FC Dallas suffered their second straight loss with a 1-0 defeat against the undefeated Vancouver Whitecaps. With zero shots on target, Dallas needs to find a way to generate more offensive opportunities.
24. Portland Timbers
Previous ranking: 26
Felipe Mora’s early goal gave Portland a 1-0 lead, but they allowed the Galaxy to equalize in the final minutes, resulting in a 1-1 draw. With only three goals this season, the Timbers need to improve their offensive output.
25. Houston Dynamo
Previous ranking: 24
Houston Dynamo is still searching for their first win of the season after a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake. Conceding an early goal made it difficult to recover, and the team will need to regroup for their next match.
26. LA Galaxy
Previous ranking: 25
The LA Galaxy earned their first point of 2025 with a 1-1 draw against Portland. Christian Ramírez’s late equalizer marked his second goal in as many games, providing a glimmer of hope for the struggling team.
27. Sporting Kansas City
Previous ranking: 29
Sporting Kansas City staged a dramatic comeback to earn a 3-3 draw against Minnesota. Despite trailing 3-0, they clawed their way back in challenging weather conditions, showcasing their resilience and entertainment value.
28. CF Montréal
Previous ranking: 27
CF Montréal secured their first point of 2025 with a 0-0 draw against D.C. United. While not the most exciting result, Jonathan Sirois’s six saves were crucial in earning the point for the team.
29. New England Revolution
Previous ranking: 28
New England Revolution is still searching for their first win of 2025 after a 2-1 loss to NYCFC. With their only goal coming from an own goal, the team needs to find a way to generate more scoring opportunities.
30. Toronto FC
Previous ranking: 30
Toronto FC continues to struggle, but Deandre Kerr’s first goal of the year provided a brief moment of hope in their 2-1 loss to Chicago. The team needs to find a way to create more high-quality chances moving forward.
Originally Written by: Megan Swanick
