Intro text
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Last 5 | Forge Factor | Note | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington SC | 1 | 0 | 13-10-5 |   |
22.735 | Lexington were the better side in the 0-0 draw with Tulsa, but that’s not saying much. A tedious game ends the 4-game win streak. | @ Las Vegas |
| 2 | Detroit City | 5 | 3 | 14-6-8 | |
19.544 | Detroit played down a man after 23 minutes but you couldn’t tell. They still controlled the game, winning 1-0 over Rhode Island. 4 points clear of Charleston for the #2 spot in the East. | @ Tampa Bay |
| 3 | Louisville City | 13 | 10 | 11-9-7 |  |
17.783 | Louisville got a big 2-0 win in Charleston, benefiting in part from some weak defending. They clinch the playoffs and are closing on the home spots. | v. Indy |
| 4 | The Miami FC | 2 | 2 | 9-11-9 | |
17.533 | The 0-2 home loss to Loudoun was the result Miami absolutely could not afford. One game left and just 2 points above the playoff line. They’re going to need help. | v. Charleston |
| 5 | Loudoun United | 15 | 10 | 5-10-12 | |
17.032 | Loudoun got 2 late goals to beat Miami 2-0, playing in a spoiler role. They can continue that tonight in Rhode Island to make the playoff situation even messier. | @ Rhode Island, @ Birmingham |
| 6 | Oakland Roots | 4 | 2 | 8-9-11 | |
15.500 | Peter Wilson had 2 big scoring chances, including a PK, but didn’t find the net. The Roots draw 0-0 with San Antonio in a game they had to win. | @ Tulsa |
| 7 | Sacramento Republic | 3 | 4 | 11-5-12 | |
14.955 | Sacramento’s only shot on target was a 74th-minute PK but that was enough to ice a playoff spot in the 1-1 draw with Colorado Springs. | @ El Paso |
| 8 | FC Tulsa | 9 | 1 | 11-7-10 | |
14.725 | Tulsa needed a road win over Lexington to pass them into the home playoff spots. Just 5 shots and 1 on target didn’t get the job done in a 0-0 result. | v. Oakland |
| 9 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 12 | 3 | 16-5-7 | |
13.950 | The Rowdies went down a goal early and were saved from a 3-goal deficit by GK Jahmali Waite before exploding for 3 goals themselves. The 3-1 win over Indy keeps them on track for the Players’ Shield. | v. Detroit |
| 10 | El Paso Locomotive | 6 | 4 | 15-8-5 | |
13.059 | El Paso controlled the first half, Orange County the second. That was enough for the 2-1 win. They stay top of the West by a whisker. | v. Sacramento |
| 11 | Rhode Island FC | 8 | 3 | 11-11-5 | |
12.467 | When your opponent’s GK gets red-carded early you are supposed to win. Rhody did nothing with the advantage and ended up losing 0-1 in Detroit. In poor form but in good playoff position. | v. Loudoun, v. Pittsburgh |
| 12 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 10 | 2 | 11-9-8 | |
12.086 | The Switchbacks gave up a soft PK in the 1-1 draw with SacRep. They now need 2 points from the last 2 games to clinch a playoff spot. | @ Monterey Bay |
| 13 | New Mexico United | 17 | 4 | 14-7-7 | |
11.911 | New Mexico predictably beat Monterey Bay 3-1. That keeps the pressure on El Paso at the top of the West. It’s going to be quite the battle to end the regular season. | @ San Antonio |
| 14 | Charleston Battery | 7 | 7 | 14-9-4 | |
11.436 | The Battery had the better scoring chances but couldn’t convert. They lose 0-2 to Louisville and fall 4 points behind Detroit. | @ Hartford, @ Miami |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights | 11 | 4 | 9-13-6 | |
9.078 | Las Vegas and Phoenix were in a major 6-pointer to close in on the playoffs. The Lights lost 2-3 but were totally dominated. The West is now even tighter than before. | v. Lexington |
| 16 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 20 | 4 | 12-11-5 | |
9.013 | Pittsburgh got a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hartford. That was enough to clinch a playoff spot and move into the home spots. Even so, they are playing erratically. | @ Rhode Island |
| 17 | Monterey Bay FC | 14 | 3 | 5-17-6 | |
8.177 | Monterey Bay didn’t make it easy on New Mexico but they didn’t exactly make it hard either. They lose 1-3 as they play out the string. | v. Colorado Springs |
| 18 | Birmingham Legion | 19 | 1 | 4-11-11 | |
7.680 | Birmingham Legion were on a bye this week. Well, sort of. They go again tonight. | @ JAX, v. Loudoun |
| 19 | San Antonio FC | 18 | 1 | 9-7-12 | |
7.637 | Both teams had a PK saved in the 0-0 draw with Oakland. The Roots were probably denied a retake and were better on the ball. San Antonio got a bit lucky but are very close to missing the playoffs. | v. New Mexico |
| 20 | Hartford Athletic | 16 | 4 | 8-6-13 | |
7.059 | Hartford really needed a win after losing the USL Cup but ended up 1-2 losers to Pittsburgh. They still have not clinched the playoffs and have dropped from #4 to #6. | v. Charleston, v. Brooklyn |
| 21 | Phoenix Rising | 22 | 1 | 9-10-9 | |
4.470 | Phoenix beat Las Vegas Lights 3-2, although it wasn’t that close. Both teams remain alive in the playoff chase but the Rising are in a better position with a massive game this week. | @ Orange County |
| 22 | Indy Eleven | 21 | 1 | 9-12-7 | |
2.666 | Edward Kizza scored in the 5th minute and Bruno Rendon was denied twice. You have to convert your chances against Tampa Bay; they lose 1-3 and could miss the playoffs. | @ Louisville |
| 23 | Orange County | 23 | 0 | 10-9-9 | |
2.256 | Orange County gave up 2 first-half goals and couldn’t quite recover, losing 1-2 to El Paso. They have 2 key games remaining and cannot afford to drop points. | v. Phoenix |
| 24 | Sporting JAX | 24 | 0 | 3-18-6 | |
-1.830 | Sporting JAX were on a bye this week. As if this season hasn’t been long enough, they have to play an extra 49 minutes. | v. Birmingham |
| 25 | Brooklyn FC | 25 | 0 | 5-16-6 | |
-4.346 | Brooklyn FC were on a bye this week. | @ Hartford |
