USL League One Power Rankings: June 2025
Heading into mid-season we explore the sustainability of the top eight and how much hope the bottom six have.
We’re nearing the halfway point of the season, so it’s a good time to use these rankings to predict a final table based on recent performance and how the teams look moving forward.
The top eight here are our current predictions to make the playoffs. We assign each of them a sustainability rating, a predictor on how confident we are that they can maintain a path forward. For the teams outside the bubble, we assign a playoff run rating - the confidence level we have that they’ll challenge the top eight for a spot.
1) Spokane Velocity
Last rank: 1st
Record (W-L-D): 8-1-4 (table), 1-1-0 (cup)
Spokane remains atop the table, riding an eleven-match streak with no losses, eight of which have been wins. Nothing seems to be slowing down this squad in league play. Given the depth of the squad, we’re starting to feel like they’ll cruise to the Player’s Shield. In regular season play, Spokane is scoring the third most goals per match and allowing the fewest. The latter is a credit to a stingy defense backed by Golden Glove contender Carlos Merancio, who has already exceeded his previous season best numbers less than halfway through the season.
Out of 13 matches played, Spokane has found this success against eight teams currently sitting in the top eight in the table. A lot can happen over the next 16 weeks, but as of the midway point, Spokane is the easy favorite to win the table.
Sustainability rating: 100%
2) Charlotte Independence
Last rank: 3rd
Record: 7-3-3 (table), 1-0-1 (cup)
Despite dropping a thriller at Texoma this weekend, the Jacks have earned a respectable ten points in their last six matches. They maintain the second spot in the table by an increasingly wide martin over third place FC Naples, and are second in the league when it comes to goals scored per match. Christian Chaney and Souaibou Marou are both in the running for Golden Boot. Defense continues to be an afterthought sometimes, but we’re used to Mike Jeffries’ attack-driven setups at this point. Even with the adjustments after the departures of leading playmakers Luis Álvarez and Alfredo Midence, we don’t see much that would knock Charlotte out of the top four.
Sustainability rating: 95%
3) FC Naples
Last rank: 2nd
Record: 5-3-4 (table), 1-1-0 (cup)
The upstart expansion side bounced back after three consecutive losses compounded by multiple red card suspensions. They’ve settled back in the top four in the table with a decisive win over Union Omaha, followed by draws to Greenville and Chattanooga. In addition, rookie striker Justin Weiss eased into the roster after starting the season on the injured reserve, and already has a brace. We’ll see if this dual scoring threat of Weiss and Golden Boot contender Karsen Henderlong will sustain. If it does, FC Naples should cruise to a playoff spot in its first year of existence.
Sustainability rating: 80%
4) Texoma FC
Last rank: 14th
Record: 4-5-3 (table), 0-0-1 (cup)
Since our last rankings on May 13th, no club has earned more table points than Texoma FC. At that point, they had yet to even win a match. Now they’ve won four of their last five, and have not added a loss since. Statistically, they’re still in a bit of a hole due to poor performance up to mid-May, but none of that matters right now. Texoma is now sitting at 7th in the table, and after taking down Charlotte this weekend, it seems anything is possible. Ajmeer Spengler is putting up MVP level goal-contribution numbers, while Solomon Asanté is reminding everyone of the threats he brings to the table. And can we talk about the exciting ascent of rookies Luke McCormick and Teddy Baker?
We’re not quite ready to call Texoma contenders, but they’re a good ways through a convincing argument.
Sustainability rating: 50%
5) AV Alta FC
Last rank: 9th
Record: 4-3-4 (table), 0-2-1 (cup)
After three matches in the Jägermeister Cup opening round, AV Alta finds itself the first club to be eliminated from advancing to the knockout round. No worries though, it means they’re now all in on table play, where they’ve been steadily climbing over the last month. They’re a squad that has become difficult to defend, with four players scoring three goals each in regular season play, with another five adding at least one tally. They also haven’t lost in six regular season matches.
AV Alta will be tested over the next month, hosting and visiting FC Naples, along with road matches at Portland and Knoxville and a visit from Union Omaha. But they’ve shown over the last month that they can hang with the best of them, especially holding Spokane and Texoma to draws and taking down Charlotte.
Sustainability rating: 70%
6) Chattanooga Red Wolves
Last rank: 6th
Record: 4-2-5 (table), 0-1-1 (cup)
Chattanooga’s shocking surge was finally halted with a 3-1 loss at Greenville this weekend. However, since the last rankings, they’ve racked up 10 points, with solid wins over FC Naples, South Georgia Tormenta and Portland Hearts of Pine, plus a draw at Naples. Sure, they’re right in the middle of the pack when it comes to most measurable statistics, and about half their regular season schedule so far has been against teams outside of the playoff bubble. But they’ve been a lot of fun to watch, and found ways to steal points where it just doesn’t seem possible.
With the schedule getting a bit more tough over the next month, is it sustainable? Some big tests coming up include visits from Knoxville, Texoma and Spokane, with a trip to Richmond. If Chattanooga makes it through that with net positive points, we’re ready to say they’re for real.
Sustainability rating: 40%
7) One Knoxville
Last rank: 4th
Record: 4-1-4 (table), 0-1-1 (cup)
About halfway through the season, Knoxville seems little changed from last year, where they were known for stingy defense, but underperforming on offense. The three-goal performance against South Georgia Tormenta this weekend was the first time this season they exceeded two in a regular season match.
Knoxville is still scoring at a 1.44 per match pace, which has them closer to the middle of the pack rather than the bottom. Meanwhile, they have the second-best goals conceded per match, at just 0.89.
With only nine matches played, they’ll have some opportunities to catch up with their matches in hand. This includes a four-match home stand after returning from a two-week away stretch.
Sustainability rating: 70%
8) Greenville Triumph
Last rank: 11th
Record: 3-6-4 (table), 1-1-0 (cup)
Since last ranking, Greenville gets a huge amount of credit for pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the Jägermeister Cup group stage, taking down Charleston Battery. Regular season play though? It’s a mixed bag, with a win over Chattanooga and draws with AV Alta and FC Naples, but losses to Texoma, Omaha and Charlotte. Focusing on the positive, the win over Chattanooga was a 3-1 affair, the best positive goal differential in a match for Greenville since March 12th. Leo Castro continues to defy age, and is currently leading the Golden Boot race; while Toby Sims and Ezekiel Soto found the net for the first time in regular season play this season.
More bright spots moving forward: Greenville is only a point out of the playoff bubble; and has a schedule that is easing up a bit over the next four matches after having probably the most difficult slate of matches up to this point in the season. Of all the teams outside of the bubble, they’re probably best set up to make a run in the second half of the season.
Sustainability rating: 50%
9) Portland Hearts of Pine
Last rank: 12th
Record: 2-2-6 (table), 1-1-0 (cup)
As we approach the bottom eight in our rankings, some glaring issues become more apparent. With Portland, it’s been a struggle to convert otherwise solid performances to wins. Both wins on the season have come since the last rankings, a 2-1 home win over FC Naples and a 3-1 home win over Union Omaha. Mixed in were road draws against Madison and AV Alta, and a loss at Chattanooga.
We do see this squad on a bit of an upswing, and they’ll see three of five at home over the next month. Those road trips will be tough though - at Texoma and Charlotte.
On the bright side for Portland: they’re conceding only 1.1 goal per match, fourth best in the league. If goal scoring starts to open up, this team could be a surprise entry to the playoffs.
Playoff run rating: 50%
10) Westchester SC
Last rank: 13th
Record: 2-4-5 (table), 0-2-0 (cup)
After a rather embarrassing 5-2 home loss to AV Alta, Westchester managed to regroup for a 2-1 win at Madison only three days later. And the loss was the only one since the last rankings - during that time, the expansion side has three draws to add three points to its win at Madison.
They’re not out of the weeds yet, and the next month is going to be rough with matches at FC Naples and Knoxville and home matches against Greenville and Spokane. The squad needs to get that league-worst goals conceded rate under control, currently at a whopping 2.18 per match. If they do, and can maintain their league best goals scored per match at 1.73, they’ll have a chance at a playoff spot.
Playoff run rating: 50%
11) Richmond Kickers
Last rank: 5th
Record: 3-6-4 (table), 0-2-0 (cup)
It’s been a dismal month for the Kickers, who have picked up just a single point since the last rankings. In fact, Richmond hasn’t seen a victory since April 9th. It’s a team that looks lost and increasingly frustrated, with some baffling second-half decisions that see reliable veterans pulled for so-far unproductive academy players and younger professionals despite being down by only one goal. While Richmond has been open about its ambitions to develop local talent and serve as a model of sustainability, it has to be balanced with competitiveness. Otherwise, you’re going to see some unhappy fans and players.
Playoff run rating: 20%
12) Union Omaha
Last rank: 10th
Record: 3-5-2 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Just when it appeared the defending champions were back, following back to back losses with back to back wins, they went to Portland and lost bad. It’s the same struggles - a lack of consistent goal scoring from the attack, and a defense that looks lost. None of the team’s strikers have scored yet this season, a fact pointed out when the team mutually terminated Mehdi Ouamri last week. They’re also giving up a league-fourth worst 1.5 goals per match.
And while the team has had to endure nine road matches so far, they’ve had arguably the easiest schedule this season based on current rankings of opponents. While they’ll have far more home matches over the second-half of the season to make up for it, the hole is getting pretty deep and the opponents are getting stronger.
Playoff run rating: 40%
13) Forward Madison
Last rank: 7th
Record: 1-4-6 (table), 0-1-1 (cup)
Very little is going right with Madison this season. 11 matches in, they’ve managed just one win, and left a whole bunch of draws on the table (six to be exact). They’re not scoring goals, holding a dismal goal per match rate of 0.82, and like Omaha, they’re seeing very little production from their strikers.
The lone bright spot here is the defense is still pretty solid, so an offensive pick-me-up might be able to do the trick. But everyone is getting impatient on that actually happening.
Playoff run rating: 30%
14) South Georgia Tormenta
Last rank: 8th
Record: 2-7-2 (table), 1-1-0 (cup)
In recent years we’ve gotten used to one thing from Tormenta: they either win or lose; rarely do they draw. This season is much the same, but those losses are piling up. The last win was on April 12th, and since that time, they’ve lost five of six. They have a league second-worst goals allowed per match, and the worst goal differential at -9. It turns out there is a limit to how much Austin Pack can do to save a leaky defense, and Tormenta found it.
Is there any upside or hope here? The strength of schedule was fairly strong, with eight of 11 regular season matches against teams currently in the top 8. The second half of the season may get a little easier. And there is that win in the Jägermeister Cup against Greenville, with no other teams in group six running away with it yet. Maybe they should put all their eggs in that basket.
Playoff run rating: 10%