It's Monday, another week of MLS action is in the books, which means it's time for ESPN's Power Rankings.
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Our Power Rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal difference, expected goal difference (xG)), recent performance, Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.
So who gets up on the table? Who is in free fall? We have ranked all 29 clubs in the league after matchday 3. Let's dig deeper.
Previous ranking: 1
Still undefeated in 2024, the Columbus Crew perfectly balanced the Concacaf Champions Cup with regular season action last week, posting wins in both competitions. It's very, very difficult to stop Wilfried Nancy's team, as the Fire discovered on Saturday.
Previous ranking: 2
Losing with a heavily rotated team to CF Montreal while managing CCC minutes is not enough of a mistake for Inter Miami to lose their spot. They will have to pick up points without Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez this year, but let's let new signings like Federico Redondo adapt before judging.
Previous ranking: 4
Speaking of new signings… Pat Noonan is trying to integrate five new starters into his team while balancing multiple competitions. Cincy beat DC United by a mile, which is a good sign, but they couldn't earn more than one point at home. The points will come.
Previous ranking: 18
This Atlanta United team has juice. After a bye week, Atlanta scored four goals to outlast the Revs, who didn't seem to know what hit them. Don't worry, New England. Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis have that effect on almost everyone.
Previous ranking: 3
They were precise in transition, calm in possession and overall the better team at home against FC Dallas in a 2-1 win on Saturday. This RBNY team is legit, folks. More importantly (at least for neutrals) is that they are fun.
Previous ranking: 6
LAFC had the best chances in their 0-0 draw against SKC, but like Cincinnati, couldn't get any over the line. 18-year-old Venezuelan attacker David Martínez was brilliant off the bench, which is a promising sign.
Previous ranking: 5
Thanks to Mother Nature, the Union couldn't last more than a few minutes of their home game against Seattle. Anyway, it's a good thing Jim Curtin cares more about the CCC right now. Pachuca waits.
Previous ranking: 17
The Galaxy passed their first road test against a tough opponent (sorry, San Jose fans, you didn't ask to catch a stray, but here we are) with a 2-2 draw on Sunday. Good luck keeping Riqui Puig and company. silence for any 90-minute stretch this season.
Previous ranking: 7
After losing Pablo Ruiz for the season due to a knee injury in training, RSL dropped three points at home to the Rapids. It wasn't a great week, but this team still has four elite forwards.
Previous ranking: 19
*shakes fist at the clouds*
Brian Schmetzer's boys played just a few minutes before the game against Philadelphia was called off due to weather. Maybe that's not the worst thing for a team missing four starters due to injuries. New DP winger Pedro de la Vega could miss up to two months with a hamstring problem.
Previous ranking: 9
Three games, three draws for SKC so far in 2024. LAFC didn't play them off the field on Saturday, but this team needs to find higher quality shots. Only the Red Bulls shoot from further away, on average, according to FBref.
Previous ranking: 8
Laurent Courtois is doing wonders in Montreal right now. Or rather, he's working them out of Montreal because this team hasn't played at home yet. They got another three points against a rotated Miami team this weekend.
2:22
CF Montreal beats Inter Miami without Messi in a 5-goal match
CF Montreal found the back of the net three times to take a 3-2 victory over Inter Miami.
Previous ranking: sixteen
Stuck in a bye week, the Dynamo need reinforcements to help in their battle against injuries.
Previous ranking: twenty
DC United earned four points from their opening games thanks to five goals in total and an even higher xG (8.22, highest in the league). Having shown so far that they can score goals and create chances, a more reliable defense could bolster their chances in what will be a difficult Eastern Conference.
Previous ranking: 10
Allowing a goal 14 seconds into the game to Duncan McGuire, impressively, didn't sink the Loons on Saturday. Their attack looks legitimate and it was great to see Bongokuhle Hlongwane return to the field scoring goals at key moments.
1:08
Orlando City scores the fifth fastest goal in MLS history in 14 seconds
Duncan McGuire finds the back of the net just 14 seconds into the game to give Orlando City an early lead over Minnesota United.
Previous ranking: 13
It's hard to read about Nashville, even now that we're a few games into the new season. A 2-2 draw at home against the Galaxy isn't a great result, but we haven't seen any of their offensive defenders start in MLS yet.
Previous ranking: eleven
Lorenzo Insigne got hot and Charlotte couldn't create enough on her own. Sometimes that's all it takes to lose a game in this league.
Previous ranking: 12
It's early days for Nico Estevez's new frontline, but that frontline didn't gel in a 2-1 loss to the Red Bulls. However, it is fair to expect what an attack by Petar Musa, Jesús Ferreira and Bernard Kamungo can do.
Previous ranking: fifteen
With a CCC game against Tigres on Tuesday, Orlando City had more important things to worry about than playing Minnesota at home. But a point would have been nice.
Previous ranking: twenty-one
I'm putting more blame on NYCFC for their collapse than I am on Portland for their 2-1 comeback. Still, it's scary to imagine what this team could do with at least one more cinematographer alongside Evander.
0:45
Evander scores stunning game-winning goal for the Timbers in the 97th minute
Check out this fantastic goal from Portland Timbers' Evander in the final seconds of his team's match against NYCFC.
Previous ranking: 22
Here's the best moment from the MLS weekend:
WORLD CLASS.
THAT'S WORLD CLASS ITSELF. pic.twitter.com/SrajkJBvVV
—Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) March 9, 2024
The goal is beautiful, but the celebration is the real star of the show. Seeing Insigne run into the arms of John Herdman should warm the hearts of every Toronto fan after locker room problems destroyed their 2023 campaign.
Previous ranking: 14
St. Louis City has come back to earn a point in two of its three MLS games this year. Chasing the game is not ideal, but the ability to do it well is a good card up your sleeve.
Previous ranking: 23
Vancouver didn't look much smoother in a 2-0 win in San Jose than it did in its season opener against Charlotte, but points are points.
Previous ranking: 24
The big fears about New England could come true this season. Carles Gil needs help on offense and the defense looks vulnerable after conceding four goals against Atlanta this weekend.
Previous ranking: 28
A win against rival Real Salt Lake has to feel great, but there's still a long way to go in Colorado. More urgent, please.
Previous ranking: 25
Xherdan Shaqiri has been absent. Hugo Cuypers does not receive service. And Chicago can't finish games. That's a season-destroying set of circumstances for the Fire.
Previous ranking: 26
NYCFC created legitimate chances in the first half against Portland, but gave up possession and field position in the second half. The collapse continued.
Previous ranking: 29
A low-scoring home draw does little to ease worries in Austin. Diego Rubio had some good flashes playing under Gyasi Zardes. So at least that exists?
Previous ranking: 27
The ball runs too slow in San José. The same goes for management's search for a third DP.
