2025 MLS Western Conference previews, Part 1: Will both L.A. teams be a disappointment?
Once again, the West is going to be hard to predict, especially in the city that's produced two of the last three MLS Cup winners.
So, was it a smart choice by Ilie to leave LAFC for Austin?
Ilie Sánchez, LAFC's captain and one of the heroes of the 2022 MLS Cup, is now in Verde following a busy offseason in which a number of Black & Gold players ceased to be Black & Gold. But for all the transition LAFC experienced, their rivals (the reigning MLS Cup champs, with arguably the best new kit of the 2025 releases) is experiencing a whole lot of loss, including a player they brought in just two months before and somehow had to jettison before the season even started.
Here's Part 1 of the West (and yes, we gave Austin the same treatment as the other teams, but expect something else to hit tomorrow).
Austin FC
How did their 2024 go?
Well, you all know, blow by painful blow ... but, to sum up, they got off to a rocky start with a thin roster, got into playoff position midseason, oscillated along the playoff line after getting in summer reinforcements, and the moment they were officially eliminated from the playoffs, parted ways with head coach Josh Wolff.
Players In
Ilie Sánchez (M), Dec. 31, free agent
Brandon Vazquez (F), Jan. 6, transfer from CF Monterrey
Nicolás Dubersarsky (M), Jan. 16, transfer from Instituto ACC
Besard Sabovic (M), Jan. 21, free
Myrto Uzuni (F), Jan. 24, transfer from Granada CF
Players Out
Matt Bersano (GK), Nov. 5, option declined
Ethan Finlay (F), Nov. 5, option declined
Matt Hedges (D), Nov. 5, option declined
Hector Jimenez (D), Nov. 5, out of contract
Alex Ring (M), Nov. 5, option declined
Jhojan Valencia (M), Nov. 5, option declined
Gyasi Zardes (F), Dec. 9, contract buyout
Sebastián Driussi (M), Jan. 17, transfer to River Plate
Damian Las (GK), Jan. 31, loan to Louisville City FC
Key players
New signings Brandon Vázquez and Myrto Uzuni follow a common formula for MLS teams looking to make a quick turnaround: Load up on offensive talent to change dynamics. How they mesh with 2024’s DP signing, Osman Bukari, will do a lot to define new head coach Nico Estévez’s debut season leading Verde.
Fashion report
The Heartbeat Kit goes two-tone green as a departure from the green and black stripes that defined their two previous home kit — replacing the one derisively nicknamed the Barcode Kit for having perhaps too many stripes. This is not quite as bold as Miami’s new two-tone pink kit, but it’s in that neighborhood, and one of the better offerings from Adidas this year.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
46.5. Two of the three panelists picked the over; I think they’ll blow past this modest mark on the way to the playoffs.
Colorado Rapids
How did their 2024 go?
They did better in Chris Armas’ first full season than a lot of people expected. They finished 7th in the league before losing a two-leg series to the Galaxy by a 9-0 aggregate — indicated that, well, they were good enough to make the playoffs but have a next step to take.
They also started Leagues Cup by losing 4-0 to the Timbers, but then beat Léon in PKs to eliminate them, going on a run that ended with them losing 4-0 to LAFC – they experienced some blowouts, did they not? – and winning the third-place game (yes, Leagues Cup staged a third-place game) over the Union.
Players In
Chidozie Awaziem (D), Dec. 9, trade from FC Cincinnati
Ian Murphy (D), Dec 9, trade from FC Cincinnati
Alex Harris (F), Dec. 20, SuperDraft
Sam Bassett (M), Jan. 7, homegrown
Michael Edwards (D), Jan. 13, re-signed
Ali Fadal (M), Feb. 8, transfer from Valencia B
Ted Ku-DiPietro (M), Feb. 10, trade from D.C. United
Players Out
Lalas Abubakar (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Sebastian Anderson (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Ethan Bandré (GK), Nov. 27, option declined
Rémi Cabral (M), Nov. 27, option declined
Jonathan Lewis (F), Nov. 27, out of contract
Jasper Löffelsend (M), Dec. 11, Expansion Draft
Miguel Navarro (D), Dec. 18, transfer to Talleres
Nate Jones (D), Jan. 21, loan to Las Vegas Lights FC
Daniel Chacón (D), Feb. 3, mutual contract termination
Key player
Đorđe Mihailović had 21 goal contributions (11 goals, 10 assists), and scored a brace on Tuesday in the Rapids’ 2-1 win over LAFC (in extreme cold) to start off their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign. Also, I'm not sure where Ted Ku-DiPietro fits into this midfield, but he's fun.
Fashion report
Here’s the marketingese on the Headwaters Kit: “The kit's inspiration comes from the rivers originating high in the Rocky Mountains, providing water to millions across the American West. The flowing waterways that shape Colorado's topography are represented in the design – a symbol of the deep connection between the state's natural resources and its people.”
The 2021 Class 5 jersey drew from topographical maps and though it was maybe too subtle a design, the concept was inspired. This is less so. It’s unique, but it doesn’t quite communicate flowing waterways – unless you think of it as an Impressonist painting of flowing waterways.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
47.5, with two of three picking over. That’s reasonable; they should manage at least 48 points.
FC Dallas
How did their 2024 go?
Well, they parted ways with their head coach in June after a less-than-ideal start (which ended up working out for Austin), got an appreciable new coach bounce from Peter Luccin (which coincided with Petar Musa better adjusting to MLS/U.S. life later in the season), but they still missed the playoffs, lost to SKC in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, and crashed out of Leagues Cup in the group stages.
I am suddenly failing to remember anything about Copa Tejas and who won it last season. Apologies.
Players In
Pedro Martins (M), Dec. 16, MLS Next Pro
Ramiro Benetti (M), Dec. 18, free
Lalas Abubakar (D), Dec. 19, free agent
Anderson Julio (F), Dec. 23, trade from Real Salt Lake
Shaq Moore (D), Dec. 27, trade from Nashville SC
Léo Chú (M), Jan. 8, trade from Seattle Sounders FC
Michael Collodi (GK), Jan. 9, homegrown
Malachi Molina (D), Jan. 9, homegrown
Diego García (M), Jan. 9, homegrown
Anthony Ramírez (M), Jan. 9, homegrown
Daniel Baran (F), Jan. 9, homegrown
Diego Pepi (F), Jan. 9, homegrown
Patrickson Delgado (M), Jan. 10, purchase option from Independiente del Valle
Enzo Newman (D), Jan. 24, SuperDraft
Osaze Urhoghide (D), Feb. 11, transfer from Amiens SC
Luciano Acosta (M), Feb. 12, trade from FC Cincinnati
Álvaro Augusto (D), Feb. 13, transfer from Portimonense SC
Players Out
Eugene Ansah (F), Nov. 12, option declined
Liam Fraser (M), Nov. 12, option declined
Omar Gonzalez (D), Nov. 12, option declined
Asier Illarramendi (M), Nov. 12, out of contract
Amet Korça (D), Nov. 12, option declined
Jimmy Maurer (GK), Nov. 12, out of contract
Isaiah Parker (F), Nov. 12, option declined
Ruan (D), Nov. 12, out of contract
Malik Henry-Scott (F), Nov. 12, option declined
Dante Sealy (F), Nov. 12, option declined
Ema Twumasi (D), Nov. 12, option declined
Sam Junqua (D), Dec. 23, trade to Real Salt Lake
Jesús Ferreira (M), Jan. 8, trade to Seattle Sounders FC
Paul Arriola (M), Jan. 13, trade to Seattle Sounders FC
Tomas Pondeca (M), Jan. 13, loan to New Mexico United
Nkosi Tafari (D), Jan. 23, trade to LAFC
Alan Velasco (M), Jan. 23, transfer to Boca Juniors
Enes Sali (M), Jan. 31, loan to Al-Riyadh SC
Key player
It was a bleak prognosis for the team from Frisco after they dealt Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola to Seattle, but then they landed Luciano Acosta and now have a more traditional 10 to support acclimating striker Petar Musa. As Acosta goes, so goes Frisco in '25
Fashion report
The Inferno Kit owes to the Burn (the original Dallas MLS iteration) and the Tornado (which predated MLS), and history’s nice, but this is essentially a white kit with red accents that I can’t imagine being pumped to buy if I were a Dallas fan (except that a white kit is nice for summer games in a stadium that was once nicknamed “The Oven”).
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
44.5. All three picked the over. With Lucho, they’re definitely at least a 45-point team.
Houston Dynamo
How did their 2024 go?
It went great until it didn’t. In cup competitions, they didn’t fare as well as they did in 2023 — not only did they fail to defend their U.S. Open Cup title, but they managed to lose to USL side Detroit City (disclaimer: I’m one of many Wefunder-enabled minority owners), and then only got to the Round of 32 in Leagues Cup. They did get a team-record 54 points, though, and they made the playoffs, though that ended as soon as it started, with two PK losses to the Sounders. Oh, and Hector Herrera got tossed for spitting toward a referee in his last-ever on-field MLS action.
Players In
Jimmy Maurer (GK), Dec. 17, free agent
Daniel Steres (D), Jan. 9, re-signed
Erik Dueñas (M), Jan. 14, waivers
Obafemi Awodesu (D), Jan. 17, MLS NEXT Pro
Jack McGlynn (M), Feb. 3, trade from Philadelphia Union
Júnior Urso (M), Feb. 11, free agent
Blake Gillingham (GK), Feb. 14, free
Players Out
McKinze Gaines (F), Nov. 6, out of contract
Ján Greguš (M), Nov. 6, option declined
Héctor Herrera (M), Nov. 6, option declined
Júnior Moreno (M), Nov. 6, option declined
Brad Smith (D), Nov. 6, option declined
Ousmane Sylla (F), Nov. 6, option declined
Xavier Valdez (GK), Nov. 6, option declined
Latif Blessing (M), Nov. 27, option declined
Steve Clark (GK), Nov. 27, option declined
Tate Schmitt (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Coco Carrasquilla (M), Jan. 16, transfer to Pumas UNAM
Kieran Sargeant (D), Jan. 23, loan to Lexington SC
Jefferson Valverde (M), Jan. 24, loan to Orense SC
Key player
Replacing Coco Carrasquilla with Jack McGlynn is not exactly like-for-like, but the former Union midfielder now gets the chance to make his breakout year leap in orange. Perhaps new assistant head coach Josh Wolff will give him the insights he needs to make said leap.
Fashion report
It’s likely, as a reader of a publication called Verde All Day, that you have a visceral negative reaction to any orange jersey you say. That said, it’s a nice effort, with “space blue” accents that pop well against the orange, even though it’s unimaginatively named. (The Season 20 Kit, because this is their 20th season as the Dynamo.) (They were the Earthquakes before that.)
Also: It’s an orange kit. My eyes, they burn.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
46.5, with two picking the under. I think they’ll be a shade over.
Los Angeles FC
How did their 2024 go?
If you’re not winning a trophy and at least making the finals of multiple competitions, is it even a good LAFC season? In 2024, they did win a trophy, but it was for U.S. Open Cup, beating SKC in the final. They lost the Leagues Cup final to the Crew (in a repeat of 2023 MLS Cup) and made an early-for-them exit in the conference semis to the Sounders, depriving us all of the El Tráfico West final many of us wanted.
Somehow, this all got SKC into Concacaf Champions Cup playing Inter Miami.
Players In
Jude Terry (M), Dec. 10, homegrown
Aaron Long (D), Dec. 12, re-signed
Jeremy Ebobisse (F), Dec. 23, free agent
Marlon (D), Dec. 24, re-signed
Odin Thiago Holm (M), Jan. 13, loan from Celtic FC
Igor Jesus (M), Jan. 21, transfer from Estrela da Amadora
Mark Delgado (M), Jan. 22, trade from LA Galaxy
Nkosi Tafari (D), Jan. 23, trade from FC Dallas
Yaw Yeboah (D/M), Jan. 24, free agent
Artem Smolyakov (D), Feb. 14, transfer from Polissya Zhytomyr
Players Out
Eduard Atuesta (M), Nov. 27, loan expired
Bajung Darboe (F), Nov. 27, transfer to Bayern Munich
Erik Dueñas (M), Nov. 27, option declined
Kei Kamara (F), Nov. 27, option declined
Luis Müller (F), Nov. 27, option declined
Jesús Murillo (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Tommy Musto (M), Nov. 27, option declined
Lewis O’Brien (M), Nov. 27, loan expired
Diego Rosales (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Ilie Sánchez (M), Nov. 27, out of contract
Carlos Vela (F), Nov. 27, option declined
Tomás Ángel (F), Dec. 9, trade to San Diego FC
Omar Campos (D), Jan. 5, transfer to Cruz Azul
Mateusz Bogusz (M), Jan. 25, transfer to Cruz Azul
Cristian Olivera (M), Feb. 14, transfer to Grêmio
Key player
Though a lot of players moved in and out of the lineup, including Carlos Vela getting an end-of-season “no, thank you” for the second season in a row, and more vitally, Mateusz Bogusz moving to Cruz Azul after a 15-goal, seven-assist season. But one constant remains: Denis Bouanga. Until Antoine Griezmann gets signed this summer — no, seriously, that’s a totally-annoying-to-29-other-MLS-teams likely to happen — the high-powered offense will run through him.
Fashion report
It’s actually called the Secondary Kit, and boy, is it secondary!
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
56.5. Two picked the under. It’s hard to bet against LAFC given what they’re able to do in the summer window, and they have made some good moves in the offseason (Jeremy Ebobisse, Igor Jesus), but they’ve also lost a lot of good players. I'm going just under, which is still likely good for 2nd in the West.
LA Galaxy
How did their 2024 go?
They remade their offense in the offseason, getting $20 million of designated player winger in Gabriel Pec and Joseph Painstil, which kicked Riqui Puig into a higher gear, which led to them winning MLS Cup. It came at a terrible cost, though — Riqui Puig tore his ACL in the West final but played on it and even notched the game-winning assist on it, and he’ll miss a significant chunk of the ‘25 season.
They also lost to the Sounders in the Leagues Cup Round of 32. Still: MLS Cup winners. Sixth star.
Players In
Sean Davis (M), Dec. 19, trade from Nashville SC
Mathias Jørgensen (D), Jan. 15, transfer from RSC Anderlecht
JT Marcinkowski (GK), Jan. 16, free agent
Maya Yoshida (D), Jan. 18, re-signed
Brady Scott (GK), Jan. 19, re-signed
Eriq Zavaleta (D), Jan. 23, re-signed
Ascel Essengue (D), Jan. 23, MLS Next Pro
Elijah Wynder (M), Jan. 26, transfer from Louisville City FC
Lucas Sanabria (M), Feb. 8, transfer from Club Nacional
Christian Ramírez (F), Feb. 12, trade from Columbus Crew
Players Out
Martín Cáceres (D), Dec. 10, option declined
Gastón Brugman (M), Dec. 19, trade to Nashville SC
Jalen Neal (D), Jan. 6, trade to CF Montréal
Mark Delgado (M), Jan. 22, trade to LAFC
Dejan Joveljić (F), Feb. 1, trade to Sporting Kansas City
Sean Davis (M), Feb. 19, buyout
Key player
With Riqui Puig, Gastón Brugman, and Mark Delgado all out — and with some cruel MLS math also forcing them to jettison Sean Davis after getting him in a trade just two months prior — Marco Reus is by far their most capable midfielder.
Fashion report
While the RIZON Kit is a terrible name (a mashup of horizon and rise, even though “rise” is already inside of horizon), this is a gorgeous kit.
I would wear this (even though, in the Year of Our Lord 2025, Herbalife is still their kit sponsor; please someone step up, imagine a Disney logo on this).
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
54.5, with two panelists picking the under. I think they’re missing too much to get to 55 points. The Riqui Puig absence alone, despite all the other talent on this team, knocks them into the 52-point zone at best.
Minnesota United FC
How did their 2024 go?
They made the playoffs as the 6 seed, upset RSL in the first round, and then played a “stop, they’re already dead” 6-2 match against the Galaxy in the conference semis to bow out. They also exited in the group stage at Leagues Cup. They did have a new coach (Eric Ramsay, who turned out to be good) and did have another saga with their mercurial heliocentric No. 10, Bebolo Reynosa, who ended up moving to Tijuana in May.
Players In
Kipp Keller (D), Dec. 13, Re-Entry Draft
Wil Trapp (M), Jan. 9, re-signed
Nicolás Romero (D), Jan. 30, transfer from Atlético Tucumán
Hoyeon Jung (M), Feb. 1, transfer from Gwangju FC
Owen Gene (M), Feb. 11, transfer from Amiens SC
Players Out
Mikael Marques (D), Nov. 5, transfer to Västerås SK
Hugo Bacharach (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Derek Dodson (D), Nov. 27, option declined
Franco Fragapane (M), Nov. 27, out of contract
Clint Irwin (GK), Nov. 27, option declined
Moses Nyeman (M), Nov. 27, option declined
Zarek Valentine (D), Nov. 27, out of contract
Patrick Weah (F), Nov. 27, option declined
Miguel Tapias (D), Dec. 17, transfer to Chivas
Alejandro Bran (M), Jan. 5, loan to Alajuelense
Teemu Pukki (F), Jan. 24, transfer to HJK Helsinki
Matúš Kmeť (D), Feb. 6, loan to Górnik Zabrze (also, cut and pasted this and don't know what exactly is going on with those diacritics, but swear word that is impressive)
Key players
Robin Lod was immense for the Loons last year. He’s going to need to be immense against this year, and he’s 31. Also, a fun thing to know for MLS fantasy players: Bongokuhle Hlongwane, with 11 goals and four assists last year, is listed in the official game as a defender, which is (along with fellow “defender” Luca Orellano of FC Cincinnati) a cheat code.
Fashion report
The Convergence Kit is “inspired by the meeting of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers” and “reflects the movement and colors of the two rivers as they meet, uniting in the center.” It ended up looking like not outstanding tie-dye.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
53.5, and everyone on the panel picked the over. Sure, sure, they seem good for that, though I can also see them being an injury away from a 43-point, 10th-place season.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
So, was it a smart choice by Ilie to leave LAFC for Austin?
Ilie Sánchez, LAFC's captain and one of the heroes of the 2022 MLS Cup, is now in Verde following a busy offseason in which a number of Black & Gold players ceased to be Black & Gold. But for all the transition LAFC experienced, their rivals (the reigning MLS Cup champs, with arguably the best new kit of the 2025 releases) is experiencing a whole lot of loss, including a player they brought in just two months before and somehow had to jettison before the season even started.
Here's Part 1 of the West (and yes, we gave Austin the same treatment as the other teams, but expect something else to hit tomorrow).
Austin FC
How did their 2024 go?
Well, you all know, blow by painful blow ... but, to sum up, they got off to a rocky start with a thin roster, got into playoff position midseason, oscillated along the playoff line after getting in summer reinforcements, and the moment they were officially eliminated from the playoffs, parted ways with head coach Josh Wolff.
Players In
Players Out
Key players
New signings Brandon Vázquez and Myrto Uzuni follow a common formula for MLS teams looking to make a quick turnaround: Load up on offensive talent to change dynamics. How they mesh with 2024’s DP signing, Osman Bukari, will do a lot to define new head coach Nico Estévez’s debut season leading Verde.
Fashion report
The Heartbeat Kit goes two-tone green as a departure from the green and black stripes that defined their two previous home kit — replacing the one derisively nicknamed the Barcode Kit for having perhaps too many stripes. This is not quite as bold as Miami’s new two-tone pink kit, but it’s in that neighborhood, and one of the better offerings from Adidas this year.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
46.5. Two of the three panelists picked the over; I think they’ll blow past this modest mark on the way to the playoffs.
Colorado Rapids
How did their 2024 go?
They did better in Chris Armas’ first full season than a lot of people expected. They finished 7th in the league before losing a two-leg series to the Galaxy by a 9-0 aggregate — indicated that, well, they were good enough to make the playoffs but have a next step to take.
They also started Leagues Cup by losing 4-0 to the Timbers, but then beat Léon in PKs to eliminate them, going on a run that ended with them losing 4-0 to LAFC – they experienced some blowouts, did they not? – and winning the third-place game (yes, Leagues Cup staged a third-place game) over the Union.
Players In
Players Out
Key player
Đorđe Mihailović had 21 goal contributions (11 goals, 10 assists), and scored a brace on Tuesday in the Rapids’ 2-1 win over LAFC (in extreme cold) to start off their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign. Also, I'm not sure where Ted Ku-DiPietro fits into this midfield, but he's fun.
Fashion report
Here’s the marketingese on the Headwaters Kit: “The kit's inspiration comes from the rivers originating high in the Rocky Mountains, providing water to millions across the American West. The flowing waterways that shape Colorado's topography are represented in the design – a symbol of the deep connection between the state's natural resources and its people.”
The 2021 Class 5 jersey drew from topographical maps and though it was maybe too subtle a design, the concept was inspired. This is less so. It’s unique, but it doesn’t quite communicate flowing waterways – unless you think of it as an Impressonist painting of flowing waterways.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
47.5, with two of three picking over. That’s reasonable; they should manage at least 48 points.
FC Dallas
How did their 2024 go?
Well, they parted ways with their head coach in June after a less-than-ideal start (which ended up working out for Austin), got an appreciable new coach bounce from Peter Luccin (which coincided with Petar Musa better adjusting to MLS/U.S. life later in the season), but they still missed the playoffs, lost to SKC in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, and crashed out of Leagues Cup in the group stages.
I am suddenly failing to remember anything about Copa Tejas and who won it last season. Apologies.
Players In
Players Out
Key player
It was a bleak prognosis for the team from Frisco after they dealt Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola to Seattle, but then they landed Luciano Acosta and now have a more traditional 10 to support acclimating striker Petar Musa. As Acosta goes, so goes Frisco in '25
Fashion report
The Inferno Kit owes to the Burn (the original Dallas MLS iteration) and the Tornado (which predated MLS), and history’s nice, but this is essentially a white kit with red accents that I can’t imagine being pumped to buy if I were a Dallas fan (except that a white kit is nice for summer games in a stadium that was once nicknamed “The Oven”).
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
44.5. All three picked the over. With Lucho, they’re definitely at least a 45-point team.
Houston Dynamo
How did their 2024 go?
It went great until it didn’t. In cup competitions, they didn’t fare as well as they did in 2023 — not only did they fail to defend their U.S. Open Cup title, but they managed to lose to USL side Detroit City (disclaimer: I’m one of many Wefunder-enabled minority owners), and then only got to the Round of 32 in Leagues Cup. They did get a team-record 54 points, though, and they made the playoffs, though that ended as soon as it started, with two PK losses to the Sounders. Oh, and Hector Herrera got tossed for spitting toward a referee in his last-ever on-field MLS action.
Players In
Players Out
Key player
Replacing Coco Carrasquilla with Jack McGlynn is not exactly like-for-like, but the former Union midfielder now gets the chance to make his breakout year leap in orange. Perhaps new assistant head coach Josh Wolff will give him the insights he needs to make said leap.
Fashion report
It’s likely, as a reader of a publication called Verde All Day, that you have a visceral negative reaction to any orange jersey you say. That said, it’s a nice effort, with “space blue” accents that pop well against the orange, even though it’s unimaginatively named. (The Season 20 Kit, because this is their 20th season as the Dynamo.) (They were the Earthquakes before that.)
Also: It’s an orange kit. My eyes, they burn.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
46.5, with two picking the under. I think they’ll be a shade over.
Los Angeles FC
How did their 2024 go?
If you’re not winning a trophy and at least making the finals of multiple competitions, is it even a good LAFC season? In 2024, they did win a trophy, but it was for U.S. Open Cup, beating SKC in the final. They lost the Leagues Cup final to the Crew (in a repeat of 2023 MLS Cup) and made an early-for-them exit in the conference semis to the Sounders, depriving us all of the El Tráfico West final many of us wanted.
Somehow, this all got SKC into Concacaf Champions Cup playing Inter Miami.
Players In
Players Out
Key player
Though a lot of players moved in and out of the lineup, including Carlos Vela getting an end-of-season “no, thank you” for the second season in a row, and more vitally, Mateusz Bogusz moving to Cruz Azul after a 15-goal, seven-assist season. But one constant remains: Denis Bouanga. Until Antoine Griezmann gets signed this summer — no, seriously, that’s a totally-annoying-to-29-other-MLS-teams likely to happen — the high-powered offense will run through him.
Fashion report
It’s actually called the Secondary Kit, and boy, is it secondary!
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
56.5. Two picked the under. It’s hard to bet against LAFC given what they’re able to do in the summer window, and they have made some good moves in the offseason (Jeremy Ebobisse, Igor Jesus), but they’ve also lost a lot of good players. I'm going just under, which is still likely good for 2nd in the West.
LA Galaxy
How did their 2024 go?
They remade their offense in the offseason, getting $20 million of designated player winger in Gabriel Pec and Joseph Painstil, which kicked Riqui Puig into a higher gear, which led to them winning MLS Cup. It came at a terrible cost, though — Riqui Puig tore his ACL in the West final but played on it and even notched the game-winning assist on it, and he’ll miss a significant chunk of the ‘25 season.
They also lost to the Sounders in the Leagues Cup Round of 32. Still: MLS Cup winners. Sixth star.
Players In
Players Out
Key player
With Riqui Puig, Gastón Brugman, and Mark Delgado all out — and with some cruel MLS math also forcing them to jettison Sean Davis after getting him in a trade just two months prior — Marco Reus is by far their most capable midfielder.
Fashion report
While the RIZON Kit is a terrible name (a mashup of horizon and rise, even though “rise” is already inside of horizon), this is a gorgeous kit.
I would wear this (even though, in the Year of Our Lord 2025, Herbalife is still their kit sponsor; please someone step up, imagine a Disney logo on this).
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
54.5, with two panelists picking the under. I think they’re missing too much to get to 55 points. The Riqui Puig absence alone, despite all the other talent on this team, knocks them into the 52-point zone at best.
Minnesota United FC
How did their 2024 go?
They made the playoffs as the 6 seed, upset RSL in the first round, and then played a “stop, they’re already dead” 6-2 match against the Galaxy in the conference semis to bow out. They also exited in the group stage at Leagues Cup. They did have a new coach (Eric Ramsay, who turned out to be good) and did have another saga with their mercurial heliocentric No. 10, Bebolo Reynosa, who ended up moving to Tijuana in May.
Players In
Players Out
Key players
Robin Lod was immense for the Loons last year. He’s going to need to be immense against this year, and he’s 31. Also, a fun thing to know for MLS fantasy players: Bongokuhle Hlongwane, with 11 goals and four assists last year, is listed in the official game as a defender, which is (along with fellow “defender” Luca Orellano of FC Cincinnati) a cheat code.
Fashion report
The Convergence Kit is “inspired by the meeting of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers” and “reflects the movement and colors of the two rivers as they meet, uniting in the center.” It ended up looking like not outstanding tie-dye.
Over/Under on points total for 2025 regular season (courtesy of Soccerwise)
53.5, and everyone on the panel picked the over. Sure, sure, they seem good for that, though I can also see them being an injury away from a 43-point, 10th-place season.
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