The Forge took a week off from the Power Rankings and will do so again for every Jägermeister Cup round, as the algorithm does not allow for the inclusion of League One teams. We’re back for Week 9 and here are the results. They are still a bit wacky—and not good for the Three Sparks—but another couple of weeks should see the numbers smooth out. Perhaps the most surprising ranking is the Oakland Roots at #7, but they had two wins against teams in playoff position in the past three weeks so get a boost from that.
For once, all 24 teams were in action this week.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Forge Factor | Note | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville City | 2 | +1 | 5-0-2 | 19.27 | Lou City beat Lexington 2-0 but were slightly less than normally convincing in doing so. Still the better team on the day. | v. Pittsburgh |
| 2 | Charleston Battery | 4 | +2 | 5-2-0 | 18.45 | Charleston beating Hartford was not a shock. The 4-2 scoreline perhaps was. But that Olimpico by Juan Torres… | @ Tampa Bay |
| 3 | The Miami FC | 6 | +3 | 2-4-1 | 17.28 | Miami had to come from behind very late to get the 1-1 draw in Monterey and were the marginally weaker team on the day. Still, it was a great game. | Bye |
| 4 | Detroit City | 5 | +1 | 4-1-3 | 15.17 | Detroit were up a goal after 83 seconds and up 2 in less than 15 minutes. Then they really blew it, drawing 2-2 with 10-man Indy. | @ Hartford |
| 5 | New Mexico United | 1 | -4 | 5-2-0 | 13.79 | In the 3rd meeting of 2025 with El Paso, New Mexico got completely owned, losing 0-3. The 5-game win streak is broken. | v. Phoenix |
| 6 | Loudoun United | 3 | -3 | 6-2-0 | 13.50 | Loudoun had the run of play almost all game but couldn’t capitalize on the road, losing 0-1 in Las Vegas. Still top of the league though. | v. Lexington |
| 7 | Oakland Roots | 8 | +1 | 2-5-1 | 13.18 | The Roots failed to capitalize on some very good chances and gave up a silly PK to lose 0-1 to Sacramento. A much tougher game next week. | @ San Antonio |
| 8 | Rhode Island FC | 12 | +4 | 1-3-2 | 12.08 | Rhode Island fired 16 shots at Richard Sanchez’ goal but he saved all 5 on target in the 0-0 draw with San Antonio in their new home’s opener. | v. Monterey Bay |
| 9 | El Paso Locomotive | 18 | +9 | 3-2-3 | 11.49 | Wilmer Cabrera’s hat-trick led the Locomotive to a breezy 3-0 win over New Mexico. Their best result of the season easily. | @ Tulsa |
| 10 | FC Tulsa | 7 | -3 | 4-3-0 | 11.26 | Tulsa continues to alternate wins and losses, this week going down 1-2 in Orange County. Very unpredictable. | v. El Paso |
| 11 | Las Vegas Lights | 16 | +5 | 3-2-2 | 11.07 | The Lights beat Loudoun 1-0 on a great header by Johnny Rodriguez and a phenomenal performance by GK Raiko Arozarena. Big win. | v. Colorado Springs |
| 12 | North Carolina FC | 14 | +2 | 3-3-2 | 10.12 | North Carolina scored twice off long throw-ins by Michael Maldonado. A solid and much-needed win in Pittsburgh. | v. Orange County |
| 13 | Sacramento Republic | 20 | +7 | 2-2-3 | 9.71 | Sacramento can consider themselves lucky to get the 1-0 win in Oakland. They were outplayed most of the game. | v. Oakland |
| 14 | Phoenix Rising | 10 | -4 | 1-3-4 | 9.42 | Phoenix scored early and had several good chances to put the game away but couldn’t pull it off. 1-1 in Colorado Springs. | @ New Mexico |
| 15 | Orange County | 24 | +9 | 3-3-1 | 8.87 | Orange County pounded Tulsa with 22 shots and 8 on goal for the comprehensive 2-1 win. They shake off the Oakland loss. | @ North Carolina |
| 16 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 13 | -3 | 1-5-1 | 8.27 | The Rowdies can thank an iffy PK and GK Nicolas Campisi standing on his head for the 2-2 draw with the Legion 2-2. | v. Charleston |
| 17 | Monterey Bay FC | 9 | -8 | 4-2-3 | 7.58 | Monterey Bay and Miami both had some huge scoring chances; Monterey had more so the 1-1 draw will feel like a loss. | @ Rhode Island |
| 18 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 15 | -3 | 1-3-4 | 7.40 | The Switchbacks were the poorer team in the 1-1 draw with Phoenix. No wins in 4 games and they play Las Vegas without red-carded GK Abraham Romero. | @ Las Vegas |
| 19 | Indy Eleven | 22 | +3 | 1-2-3 | 7.18 | Indy gave up 2 very early goals and a red card in the 60th minute but an Elvis Amoh brace saved them against Detroit. | @ Sacramento |
| 20 | Lexington SC | 19 | -1 | 1-3-4 | 7.14 | Lexington held Louisville to no score for 50 minutes then gave up a red card and an own goal in the eventual 0-2 loss. | @ Loudoun |
| 21 | San Antonio | 17 | -4 | 5-2-1 | 6.96 | San Antonio’s 0-0 draw with Rhode Island was barely enough to keep them top of the West. The early pace has slowed. | v. Oakland |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 11 | -11 | 2-4-1 | 6.38 | Pittsburgh had the upper hand on the stat sheet but never looked threatening in the 0-2 loss to North Carolina. 3 straight losses now. | @ Louisville |
| 23 | Birmingham Legion | 21 | -2 | 1-3-3 | 5.96 | The Legion dominated the Rowdies in the 2-2 draw and should have had the win. A new style is already making itself seen though. | Bye |
| 24 | Hartford Athletic | 23 | -1 | 1-5-0 | 4.95 | Hartford scored as many goals as they had previously all season. They still got whipped 2-4 by the Battery. | v. Detroit |
