USL League One Power Rankings: May 2025

Have the questions from our last rankings been answered?

May 13, 2025

Last time around, we said what we thought was going well for the teams, and asked what we’d like to see. This time, we’ll address the latter - have we seen it?

Remember, power rankings how how the teams are playing right now. They are not necessarily a prediction on how the clubs will finish the season. Power rankings are based on stats and play in USL League One regular season and Jägermeister Cup play.

1) Spokane Velocity

Last rank: 3rd
Record: 5-1-2 (table), 1-0-0 (cup)
Last Results: 2-1 WIN vs. Oakland Roots; 3-1 WIN vs. Westchester SC; 1-0 WIN at Tormenta

Spokane is now on a seven match unbeaten streak across league and Jägermeister Cup play, with five consecutive wins. Since last rankings, they’ve defeated a USL Championship side, a league opponent at home and then found a win in South Georgia. The craziest part about this success? This team appears to have not even hit 100% yet.

What we wanted to see: consistency in goal scoring.

Have we seen it? Emphatically, yes. Spokane won its last three matches by a combined score of 6-2, with three goals from Anuar Peláez, and one each from Luis Gil, Pierre Reedy and Ismalia Jome. Reedy also co-leads the league in assists with among others, teammate Lucky Opara. They’re also now second in the league in goals scored with 16.

2) FC Naples

Last rank: 2nd
Record: 4-1-2 (table), 1-0-0 (cup)
Last Result: WIN vs. Charleston Battery, 1-0

Naples stunned the USL with a 1-0 upset over Charleston Battery in Jägermeister Cup play, proving they’re a legitimate threat by holding one of the league’s best scoreless. Their follow-up league match was postponed due to weather-related travel issues, but they’ll look to keep the momentum alive Wednesday at Chattanooga—hopefully on a better pitch than we saw there this past weekend.

What we wanted to see: if the winning is sustainable on an extended road trip.

Have we seen it? we’ll have to wait until this week when they visit Chattanooga.

3) Charlotte Independence

Last rank: 6th
Record: 4-1-2 (table), 1-0-0 (cup)
Last Results: 2-1 WIN at North Carolina FC; 4-3 WIN at Texoma FC; 3-2 WIN at Westchester SC

The Jacks got their revenge in Cary, with early goals from Christian Chaney and Luis Álvarez securing a win over NCFC just a week after their Open Cup loss. Charlotte then rallied from a 2-0 deficit at Texoma, winning 4-3 thanks to Álvarez’s stoppage-time penalty. They capped the week by spoiling Westchester’s league home opener with a Souaibou Marou hat trick.

What we wanted to see: if Jon Bakero and Chaney can step up and sustain primary goal scoring.

Have we seen it? With Chaney, yes. The striker scored a first half goal against NCFC and Texoma. Chaney’s success led to his team’s success in both. As far as Bakero, perhaps Marou’s sudden league breakout removes some pressure.

4) One Knoxville

Last rank: 1st
Record: 3-0-3 (table), 0-0-1 (cup)
Last Results: 2-2 DRAW (4-2 PK win) vs. FC Tulsa; 1-1 DRAW at Portland; 1-1 DRAW vs. Madison

Knoxville opened its 2025 Jägermeister Cup campaign with a thrilling shootout win over USL Championship visitors FC Tulsa, delighting a record sellout crowd at new home Covenant Health Park. A gritty draw in rainy Portland and a defensive stalemate against Madison keep Knoxville unbeaten in league play—though back-to-back ties have slowed their early momentum in the table.

What we wanted to see: more goals per match.

Have we seen it? With four goals in the last three matches, the jury is still out on this one. Portland keeper Hunter Morse kept his team alive with a stunning save on Kempes Tekiela—a shot that finds the net nine times out of ten and could’ve been Tekiela’s fourth in two matches. Against Madison, aside from a brief flurry where both teams scored, the match was a quiet offensive affair. We’ll keep looking out though.

5) Richmond Kickers

Last rank: 5th
Record: 3-3-3 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Last Results: 4-1 LOSS at Louisville; 3-3 DRAW vs. Greenville; 0-0 DRAW at Chattanooga

Facing USL Championship powerhouse Louisville City at Lynn Family Stadium is always a tall order, and Richmond’s porous defense couldn’t hold up. Back home, they battled Greenville to a wild 3-3 draw, extending their winless home streak against the Triumph since 2020. A rain-soaked stalemate in Chattanooga capped off a tough stretch with a 0-0 draw. Richmond still has never won in Chattanooga, but were happy to escape that mess with a point and no serious injuries.

What we wanted to see: the defense needing to be tightened up.

Have we seen it? Not really. Richmond has scored eight and conceded 11 over its last four matches—seven apiece if you exclude the Cup loss to a top Championship side. The Kickers are becoming known for goal-filled games on both ends—unless, like in rain-soaked Chattanooga, the pitch turns into a pond.

6) Chattanooga Red Wolves

Last rank: 9th
Record: 1-1-4 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Last Results: 3-1 LOSS at Birmingham; 0-0 DRAW vs. Richmond Kickers

Birmingham edged Chattanooga in their first Jägermeister Cup clash, but the Red Wolves bounced back—holding Richmond to a scoreless draw at home despite a waterlogged pitch. Six matches in, Chattanooga has just one loss, powered by a surprisingly solid defense. If they start turning draws into wins, they could surpass all expectations.

What we wanted to see: more chances.

Have we seen it? Not really. In league play, Chattanooga still has only 15 shots on target with 29 chances created. Not to mention, three of the seven goals scored have come from penalties. To make matters worse, playmaker Jonny Filipe has been missing since April 5th.

7) Forward Madison

Last rank: 11th
Record: 1-1-4 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Last Results: 4-0 LOSS vs. Indy Eleven; 0-0 DRAW vs. Union Omaha; 1-1 DRAW at One Knoxville

Indy Eleven brushed aside Madison in the Jägermeister Cup, but back in league play, the Mingos reverted to form—tight defense, limited offense, and two low-scoring draws. Seven matches in, no striker has scored, and with Garrett McLaughlin sidelined for over a month, that problem may only get worse.

What we wanted to see: more goal contributions from any offensive player not named Derek Gebhard.

Have we seen it? Nope. Defender Jake Crull provided the only goal in the last three matches.

8) South Georgia Tormenta

Last rank: 6th
Record: 2-4-1 (table), 1-0-0 (cup)
Last Results: 2-1 WIN vs. Greenville Triumph; 1-0 LOSS vs. Spokane Velocity

Tormenta has a reputation for chaos, and this season is proving no different. After taking down Greenville in cup action, they couldn’t break the stout defenses of Spokane Velocity. And while Tormenta’s defense was no slouch, conceding an early first half penalty did them in.

What we wanted to see: better discipline.

Have we seen it? Surprisingly, yes. In the last two matches, the field conceded just two yellow cards, and none against Spokane.

9) AV Alta FC

Last rank: 8th
Record: 2-3-1 (table), 0-2-0 (cup)
Last Results: 1-0 LOSS at Sacramento; 2-1 LOSS at Las Vegas; 0-0 DRAW vs. Texoma

AV Alta’s Jägermeister Cup run has been brutal, with narrow road losses to Sacramento and Vegas—and tougher tests ahead against Oakland and Monterey Bay. In league play, they squandered a home chance against Texoma with a 0-0 draw and just two shots on target. To make matters worse, striker Emmanuel Alaribe is suspended after a straight red and will miss the upcoming trip to Greenville.

What we wanted to see: if the squad can take things to the next level.

Have we seen it? If they can’t beat Texoma at home, certainly not.

10) Union Omaha

Last rank: 10th
Record: 1-2-2 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Last Result: 2-0 LOSS at New Mexico United; 0-0 DRAW at Madison; 2-2 DRAW vs. Portland

The defending champs are still grounded, winless in their last four with just two goals and sitting 11th in the table. But with matches in hand, there’s still time to take off.

What we wanted to see: who will end up as the primary goal-scoring threat.

Have we seen it? it’s still anyone’s game. Sam Owusu and Joe Gallardo added one each against Portland, bringing Omaha’s total league goals to five, each from a different player.

11) Greenville Triumph

Last rank: 12th
Record: 2-3-2 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Last Result: 2-1 LOSS at Tormenta; 3-3 DRAW at Richmond

Greenville opened its cup run with a 2-1 loss to Tormenta—a worrying start with Charleston looming at the end of the month. They followed with a wild 3-3 draw in Richmond, preserved by Ivan Agyaakwah’s late equalizer just minutes after conceding.

What we wanted to see: consistency.

Have we seen it? still trying to find it.

12) Portland Hearts of Pine

Last rank: 13th
Record: 0-1-4
Last Results: 2-0 LOSS at Hartford; 1-1 DRAW vs. Knoxville; 2-2 DRAW at Omaha

Still winless in league play, Portland earned promising draws against highly-ranked Knoxville and defending champs Union Omaha. With three goals in two matches, after just one in the first three, could they finally be finding their rhythm?

What we wanted to see: goals.

Have we seen it? while we haven’t seen a breakout performance just yet, this squad has shown remarkable improvement over the last two matches.

13) Westchester SC

Last rank: 4th
Record: 1-3-2 (table), 0-1-0 (cup)
Last Results: 4-1 LOSS vs. Rhode Island; 3-1 LOSS at Spokane; 3-2 LOSS vs. Charlotte Independence

We’re officially declaring that the much-hyped expansion side has fallen back down to earth after a start that has only seen one win, and now three straight losses. The talent is there, but the chemistry is spotty at best.

What we wanted to see: better defense.

Have we seen it? Not at all, with ten goals conceded in three matches.

14) Texoma FC

Last rank: 14th
Record: 0-5-2 (table), 0-0-1 (cup)
Last Result: 0-0 DRAW (5-6 loss in PKs) vs. El Paso; 4-3 LOSS vs. Charlotte Independence; 0-0 DRAW at AV Alta

Texoma may be turning a corner; after a rough outing vs. Charlotte, keeper Javier Garcia helped his side bounce back with four saves and a second clean sheet in as many appearances. The hole is still deep—but the climb out might be starting.

What we wanted to see: a slow but steady, long-term buildup, with dividends being paid in the next two seasons.

Have we seen it? Obviously this is a long-term vision, but the club is showing small signs of improvement.