The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 15
Goals galore in the USL Championship again this week, as well as a ton of penalty kicks (of which 3 were saved). And some surprise results ensued. All of which caused some major movement in the rankings.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Forge Factor | Note |
| 1 | Memphis 901 | 1 | 0 | 6-2-4 | 21.607 | Memphis’ long win streak ended in the 0-0 tie with Detroit, but their track record is still strong enough to stay top the rankings. |
| 2 | Monterey Bay Union | 9 | 7 | 6-4-5 | 21.081 | Monterey Bay got the biggest surprise of the week in the 1-0 win in Sacramento. A close exciting game, but the Union were definitely the better team on the day. Up to 4th in the West. |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 2 | -1 | 7-2-6 | 19.574 | The Riverhounds got 5 yellow cards and no goals in a poor display of soccer in Oakland. They drew 0-0, but the win streak is over. |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 3 | -1 | 7-4-4 | 17.830 | The Rowdies were the better team in the 1-1 draw with El Paso but couldn’t hold on for the win. A trip to Loudoun next. |
| 5 | Detroit City | 10 | 5 | 4-7-4 | 17.446 | Detroit City got a comprehensive 3-1 win over Hartford Athletic and followed it up with a dreary 0-0 draw in Memphis. Still good for a big jump in the rankings. |
| 6 | Oakland Roots | 6 | 0 | 6-4-4 | 16.281 | The 0-0 scoreline is pretty indicative of the quality of attacking play in the Roots’ game with Pittsburgh. Still, 4 games unbeaten now.. |
| 7 | El Paso Locomotive | 4 | -3 | 9-3-3 | 15.512 | El Paso are probably lucky that Las Vegas were denied an equalizer in the 2-1 win and then were unimpressive in a 1-1 draw with Tampa. Still, that puts them top of the West. |
| 8 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 13 | 5 | 7-7-1 | 13.674 | The Switchbacks were under pressure in the early going but survived and finished 2-0 winners over Las Vegas. 2 straight wins gives them a bounce in the rankings. |
| 9 | Sacramento Republic | 5 | -4 | 8-2-5 | 13.150 | SacRep got the shock home loss 0-1 to Monterey Bay but the visitors were more or less in control all game. A rare slipup and they are 2nd in the West. |
| 10 | Indy Eleven | 7 | -3 | 4-6-4 | 12.991 | Indy were lucky to get a goal against the Legion as they completely outplayed. Still, they are buoyed by that 4-0 win over Charleston 2 weeks ago. |
| 11 | San Diego Loyal | 11 | 0 | 6-4-5 | 12.317 | San Diego probably had the upper hand – but only just – in a tight contest with San Antonio that ended 2-2. And both teams are on 3-game draw streaks. |
| 12 | San Antonio | 8 | -4 | 6-2-7 | 11.738 | San Antonio’s 2-2 draw with the Loyal was likely the best game of the week. But they’ve dropped 6 of their last 9 points and a huge game with Sacramento is up next. |
| 13 | Orange County | 19 | 6 | 4-8-4 | 10.901 | Orange County finally found their scoring boots and comprehensively beat Tulsa 3-0, and it really should have been more. |
| 14 | Loudoun United | 20 | 6 | 5-9-1 | 9.267 | Loudoun United got 2 first half goals then rode Dane Jacomen’s goalkeeping to get the 2-1 win in Miami. |
| 15 | Louisville City | 12 | -3 | 6-4-4 | 7.381 | Lou City tied 2-2 with the Rising in probably the most entertaining game of the week. 3 PKs in the game, 1 saved. Louisville has just 2 points from its last 3 games now. |
| 16 | Phoenix Rising | 17 | 1 | 4-4-6 | 7.311 | Phoenix has Oliver Semmle’s PK stop to thank for not getting a win over Louisville. The 2-2 result was fair, and Phoenix remains above the playoff line. |
| 17 | Charleston Battery | 21 | 4 | 8-4-4 | 6.954 | Charleston Battery beat Hartford Athletic 4-3 this week. |
| 18 | Birmingham Legion | 22 | 4 | 6-7-1 | 6.283 | The Legion are back in winning form with the thorough 2-1 win over Indy. Can they make it a streak against Loudoun? |
| 19 | New Mexico United | 15 | -4 | 4-6-3 | 5.914 | New Mexico had 65% possession but only managed 6 shots. That’s not great, but was still good enough for a 2-2 draw with RGV. |
| 20 | Las Vegas Lights | 18 | -2 | 1-7-6 | 3.874 | The Lights scored early against El Paso but gave up 2 PKs and eventually lost 1-2. Then they threatened early in Colorado Springs but failed to convert and lost again 0-2. |
| 21 | Hartford Athletic | 16 | -5 | 2-9-4 | 2.891 | A rough week for the Athletic. First they lose to Detroit1-3. Then they score 3 themselves on Charleston but still lose by giving up 4. |
| 22 | FC Tulsa | 14 | -8 | 2-6-7 | 2.508 | Tulsa gave up 3 goals to Orange County and scored none, but it was still a good game by keeper Michael Nelson. Everyone else? Not so much. |
| 23 | Rio Grande Valley Toros | 24 | 1 | 2-5-7 | 1.275 | The Toros had limited time on the ball, but outshot New Mexico heavily and brutally took advantage of poor defending in the 2-2 draw. |
| 24 | The Miami FC | 23 | -1 | 2-6-7 | -0.602 | Miami FC lost to Loudoun United 1-2 to fall to the bottom of the rankings in what was to be Anthony Pulis’ last game as head coach. |
