The 2025 MLS season continues to chug along, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s climbing the table, and who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 33 to come up with this week’s order of all 30 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.

Previous ranking: 1

The Union had a match to forget, falling 7-0 to Vancouver on the road, yet keeping the top spot in these rankings with most of the competition also falling flat this weekend. Philly fans will hope that the biggest defeat in club history was the result of the team simply being more focused on this week’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

Previous ranking: 2

The advanced metrics liked what San Diego did against Minnesota (2.16 xG compared to 0.5), and SDFC passed the eye test, too. They didn’t get much past Dayne St. Clairhowever, with the MNUFC goalkeeper making a dozen saves as San Diego fell 3-1 to the Loons.

Previous ranking: 5

Welcome back, Brenner. The Brazilian scored his first goal since returning to Cincinnati, getting an assist from countryman Evander for the opener in a 2-1 victory over Nashville. The latter scored too, notching a stoppage-time winner, but he’s been so dominant this season that it almost felt like a given.

Previous ranking: 3

The Sounders scored a pair of first-half goals and looked to be on cruise control but ended up with just a point from a 2-2 draw with the Galaxy. Seattle conceded in the last five minutes of both halves, letting that early lead slip away.

Previous ranking: 6

Charlotte goalkeeper Christian Kahlin stopped a Jordi Alba shot early, then kept his nerve and denied a Lionel Messi panenka attempt. From there, it was all Charlotte, with If Toklomati registering a hat trick in a 3-0 victory for the hosts. It’s nine victories in a row and ten matches undefeated for Charlotte.

Previous ranking: 7

Seven goals, three of them from new arrival Thomas Müllerin a 7-0 demolition of Philadelphia made for a perfect night at BC Place. Whether it was set pieces, open play or Müller at the penalty spot, the Caps were unstoppable. Maybe there’s still a shot at the Supporters’ Shield?

Previous ranking: 4

It’s not often that Lionel Messi fails to convert a penalty, but that’s what happened as the Argentine maestro saw his first-half attempt saved. It was still 0-0 then but ended 3-0 with Miami conceding a hat trick to Charlotte’s If Toklomati. Miami will be happy to be back at home Tuesday for its next match but less pleased to see the game comes against Seattle after their Leagues Cup loss and post-game fracas.

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Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami CF – Game Highlights

Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami CF – Game Highlights

Previous ranking: 8

Visiting a Supporters’ Shield contender, goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair came up big, and his attack responded in a 3-1 Loons win over San Diego. While the first goal came from a set piece, Minnesota’s stock-in-trade, the second was in transition and the third was a blast from midfield over the head of SDFC shot-stopper CJ DOS SANTOS.

Previous ranking: 9

The crowd of more than 50,000 at Levi’s Stadium wanted to see Son Heung-Minand he delivered a goal in the very first minute. But they also got a show from Denis Bouangawho returned from Gabon duty and netted a hat trick in a 4-2 victory over San Jose. The rest of the Western Conference can’t be happy to see those attacking weapons working well together.

Previous ranking: 12

The Crew scored five consecutive goals against Atlanta, then held on to all three points with a 5-4 victory in a topsy-turvy contest. Diego Rossi‘s hat trick stole the headlines, but getting summer signing ​​Wessam Abou Ali may be the real boost for Crew manager Wilfried Nancy.

Previous ranking: 10

Orlando hoped to put a near-miss in Leagues Cup — finishing fourth place and out of the Concacaf Champions Cup place — behind it, but managed only a 1-1 draw with D.C. in its first match since the tournament. Alex Freeman scored an equalizer in the 53rd minute, and took a high boot that sent a D.C. defender off while doing it, but Orlando couldn’t finish off a winner.

Previous ranking: 11

The skid continues for the Boys in Gold, losing 2-1 to Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Sam Surridge scored his 21st goal of the year to extend his lead as top scorer, but it will be small consolation for a Nashville team that fell in the fifth of its past six matches.

Previous ranking: 14

The summer additions continue to pay dividends for Phil Neville’s squad. Matías Rojas scored the opener on a pass from Kristoffer Velde in a 2-1 Timbers victory over the Red Bulls. It was the Timbers’ first win since July 25, but the playoffs are well in sight if this form continues.

Previous ranking: 15

After conceding first on the road, NYCFC consolidated and pushed forward, earning a 3-1 victory in Chicago. It’s getting into, “Can we play you every week?” territory, with the win extending NYCFC’s unbeaten streak against the Fire to nine matches. Seymour Reid‘s late goal made the 17-year-old the club’s youngest-ever goal scorer.

Previous ranking: 13

San Jose drew more than 50,000 fans to Levi’s Stadium to see a showdown with LAFC, but would’ve liked to feature the opposing stars less. It was 3-0 after 12 minutes, with goals from Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga. The Quakes couldn’t recover, falling 4-2.

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San Jose Earthquakes vs. LAFC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from San Jose Earthquakes vs. LAFC, 09/13/2025

Previous ranking: 16

Philip Zinckernagel found the opener, but the Fire couldn’t hold the lead and fell 3-1 to NYCFC on Saturday at Soldier Field. They’re still above the postseason line, fending off competition for the final spot.

Previous ranking: 17

Despite an Emil Forsberg equalizer, the Red Bulls didn’t have enough in the tank to win after a long trip to Portland, falling 2-1 to the Timbers. Perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Their only win away from home came in May against D.C.

Previous ranking: 18

Austin got punched early against Dallas and struggled to continue answering the bell, falling 2-0 to their Copa Tejas rivals.

Previous ranking: 19

Dallas started hot against Austin, producing a champagne football moment in the second minute that ended with a Fighter Musa goal. Bernard Kamungo scored a second, and FCD were able to secure a 2-0 victory over a Texas rival.

Previous ranking: 20

A 2-1 home win, with Závier Gozo setting up Diego Luna and Alexandros Katranis for goals, had to feel like a nice neck crack for an RSL team that had fallen in their previous three contests. It’s a quick turnaround to face LAFC midweek as RSL plays some of the games they have in hand over fellow postseason hopefuls.

Previous ranking: 21

Soccer is made for moments like the 96th-minute winner the Rapids found to beat Houston, 2-1 — a goal that looked to be scored by summer signing Paxten Aaronson making his home debut but that went down as an own goal. Still, Rapids fans will be looking to cheer many more electric moments from the Pennsylvania native.

Previous ranking: 22

In a week during which playmaker Riqui Puig was left off the final roster as he continues to recover from an ACL tear suffered in last year’s playoffs, the Galaxy got two goals from defenders in a 2-2 draw with Seattle. Maya Yoshida and Miki Yamane provided the scoring plays as Greg Vanney’s team rallied for a point.

Previous ranking: 23

Just when it looked like the Dynamo had a second straight draw and a third match undefeated, the Rapids scored from a corner kick in the 96th minute. The end of the mini-run may be the end of Houston’s playoff hopes.

Previous ranking: 24

The Revs didn’t have a lot of opportunities against Toronto, but Luca at the gate‘s deflected shot crossed the line in the 90th minute to earn a 1-1 draw for the hosts.

Previous ranking: 25

Toronto is almost finding new ways to settle for stalemates, conceding a late deflected goal in a 1-1 draw with New England. It’s the fifth draw in a row for TFC, whose 11 draws on the year is tied for the league lead.

Previous ranking: 29

St. Louis earned a second road win of the season as goals from Conrad Wallem and Marcel Hartel propelled them past Montréal, 2-0. It also makes two games in a row without suffering a loss, the first time since April that St. Louis has strung together a pair of results.

Previous ranking: 26

All good things must come to an end, and whether it was players sluggish after international duty or simply a strong effort from the visitors, Montréal’s 2-0 loss to St. Louis on Saturday snapped a five-match unbeaten run.

Previous ranking: 30

D.C. did well to battle to a 1-1 draw with Orlando, refusing to capitulate even after allowing an equalizer and going down to 10 men for Lukas MacNaughton‘s foul on the goal. The stalemate makes it four matches unbeaten for United — definitely progress from what they showed earlier this year.

Previous ranking: 27

Sporting KC fans have seen this one before, with their side falling behind 2-0 and losing to Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday. Not enough creation, conceding too easily. The Whitecaps are next after they hung seven goals on Philadelphia.

Previous ranking: 28

We’ll give Atlanta some credit for battling back in a 5-4 home loss to Columbus. Then again, tough to give too much credit when the Five Stripes conceded five goals in the first 39 minutes of the match in the first place.