A full slate of games this week saw the Legion edge closer to the playoffs as everyone else around them lost. Sme interesting scores elsewhere resulted in a lot of movement in this week’s Power Rankings.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Last 5 | Forge Factor | Note | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville City | 1 | 0 | 16-1-6 | WWTWW | 21.565 | Louisville were missing numerous starters to international duty but still beat Rhode Island 1-0 with just 4 shots and 1 on goal. They secure a home payoff spot. | @ Pittsburgh |
| 2 | Sacramento Republic | 3 | +1 | 10-5-6 | WWLWW | 19.786 | SacRep had little trouble disposing of manager Neill Collins’ former team Tampa Bay 2-0. They edge closer to Tulsa at the top of the West. | @ Rhode Island*, v. Phoenix |
| 3 | Detroit City | 10 | +7 | 8-7-8 | WTWTW | 17.786 | Detroit had just 11 shots against Orange County but won 4-1. Unbeaten in the last 5 and a playoff spot is beginning to look secure. | @ New Mexico |
| 4 | Hartford Athletic | 2 | -2 | 9-9-5 | TWWLW | 15.497 | Are Hartford showing the importance of Dieng? 2 weak results without him this week, a 0-2 loss to Indy and a 1-0 win over Miami. | v. Greenville*, @ Monterey Bay |
| 5 | Charleston Battery | 4 | -1 | 16-5-2 | LWWLW | 15.203 | The Battery joined Louisville in icing a playoff spot but remain 4 points back. The 2-1 win over Indy was dominant but needed a PK and a huge defensive error. | v. Oakland |
| 6 | Loudoun United | 12 | +6 | 11-8-4 | TWLWW | 14.305 | Loudoun scored twice in the first 12 minutes and then held on for a 2-1 victory in El Paso. They solidify the #3 spot in the East. | v. San Antonio |
| 7 | Lexington SC | 6 | -1 | 8-8-7 | WWWLW | 13.912 | Lexington SC beat North Carolina FC 2-1. | v. Orange County |
| 8 | Indy Eleven | 20 | +12 | 7-11-5 | LWLWL | 13.902 | Indy jumped out to an early lead in Hartford and held it for a 2-0 win. Then they returned to form, losing 1-2 in Charleston. | @ Rhode Island |
| 9 | New Mexico United | 23 | +14 | 9-9-3 | LTTLW | 12.144 | New Mexico played a man up after 31 minutes but only managed a 1-0 win over San Antonio. That ended a 250-minute scoreless streak and 7-game winless streak. | v. Detroit, v. Tulsa |
| 10 | Phoenix Rising | 9 | -1 | 7-7-9 | LTWTT | 11.674 | The Rising and the Lights offered up a less than entertaining 0-0 draw. Phoenix leads a 4-way tie for 5th but has played more games than the 4 teams below them. | @ Sacramento |
| 11 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 13 | +2 | 8-8-6 | WLLWW | 10.942 | The Switchbacks had to come from behind to beat Monterey Bay 2-1. 2 good wins on the trot and they cling to the final playoff spot in the West. | @ Tampa Bay |
| 12 | El Paso Locomotive | 5 | -7 | 8-6-8 | TTWTL | 10.933 | The Locomotive spotted Loudoun an early 2-goal lead and then dominated the rest of the game but couldn’t catch up, even missing a PK. They lose 1-2. | @ North Carolina |
| 13 | Las Vegas Lights | 17 | +4 | 6-11-6 | TTLWT | 10.193 | The 0-0 home draw with Phoenix continued a decent but underwhelming string of results. A playoff spot will need an uptick in form. | v. Miami |
| 14 | Rhode Island FC | 14 | 0 | 6-11-6 | WTLWL | 10.120 | Rhode Island beat the East’s #2 team last week but couldn’t back that up against #1, losing 0-1. They miss a chance to get back into the playoff spots. | v. Sacramento*, v. Indy |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 18 | +3 | 8-8-7 | TLTLW | 10.069 | An Augie Williams brace gets the easy 2-0 win in Oakland. That ended a 4-game winless streak and the 7th spot in the East looks a little safer. | v. Louisville |
| 16 | FC Tulsa | 8 | -8 | 12-4-7 | WTWLT | 8.864 | Tulsa was unable to break down a tough Birmingham defensive stand and was lucky to come away with a 1-1 draw. They avoid losing twice at home to the same team. | @ New Mexico |
| 17 | Birmingham Legion | 22 | +5 | 4-9-10 | TLTTT | 8.790 | The Legion were hampered by injuries and international absences but nearly stole all 3 points in Tulsa. They get a 1-1 draw and remain winless in the last 7 games overall. | Bye |
| 18 | North Carolina FC | 11 | -7 | 10-9-3 | WTWLL | 8.342 | North Carolina FC lost to Lexington SC 1-2. | v. El Paso |
| 19 | Oakland Roots | 15 | -4 | 7-12-2 | WLLWL | 6.192 | The 0-2 loss to Pittsburgh was lacking any real quality. They are now 6 points out of the playoffs and postseason hopes are fading. | @ Charleston |
| 20 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 16 | -4 | 6-13-3 | LTLWL | 5.939 | The Rowdies’ win last week is looking like an outlier. They lose 0-2 to Sacramento. 3 tough games coming up over 8 days won’t help. | v. Colorado Springs |
| 21 | San Antonio | 21 | 0 | 8-8-6 | TLTTL | 5.594 | San Antonio played a man down for over an hour. They nearly came away with a draw but lost 0-1 to New Mexico. Still very erratic but this was a solid performance. | @ Loudoun |
| 22 | Orange County | 7 | -15 | 8-9-4 | TWLTL | 4.163 | Orange County has given up 4 goals in back-to-back games, this time losing 1-4 in Detroit. They drop below the playoff line but have a game in hand. | @ Lexington |
| 23 | Monterey Bay FC | 19 | -4 | 6-12-6 | LTTLL | 3.384 | The 1-2 loss to Colorado Springs extended the winless streak to 7 games. Only 6 games left and they are mired at the bottom of the West. | v. Hartford |
| 24 | The Miami FC | 24 | 0 | 5-13-5 | TLLLL | 0.670 | Miami’s losing streak extended to 4 with the 0-1 loss to Hartford despite a few good looks. They are also winless in the last 11 league games. | @ Las Vegas |
* Jägermeister Cup
