Plenty of movement took place in the table of either conference this week, as MLS NEXT Pro Matchday 15 brought impressive individual performances from top players such as Remi Cabral and Damian Las.
New York Red Bulls II, New England Revolution II and Sporting Kansas City II made strides this week in the power rankings. Here's a look at this week's top 10.
A 7-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City II this week surely took the wind out of the Whitecaps' sail, but the team's good form from earlier this season still puts them in fifth in the Western Conference.
Levonte Johnson continues to impress for Whitecaps FC 2. He scored his seventh goal of the season on Sunday, and he celebrated signing his first-team contract earlier this week.
Last match: 7-1 loss at SKC II
Next match: vs Colorado Rapids 2 on Saturday, July 8
Seven players scored for Sporting KC II on Sunday as the club scored the most goals in a single game yet this season in a 7-1 win over Whitecaps FC 2.
Sporting KC II are among the hottest teams in the league, on a four-game unbeaten streak that includes two shootout wins. Top scorer Pau Vidal has nine goals after adding another in Sunday's win.
Last match: 7-1 win vs Whitecaps FC 2
Next Match: at Timbers2 on Sunday, July 9
Atlanta United 2 had the week off for Matchday 15, but there is no doubt that the club remains among the top performers in the league. Nick Firmino impressed last weekend in which he scored his first first-team goal and scored a brace to help ATL UTD 2 come back against NYCFC II for a 4-2 win.
Firmino is MLS NEXT Pro's top scorer and received a mid-season honor as the top player at this point in 2023. ATL UTD 2 are on a three-game unbeaten streak and have risen to sixth in the Eastern Conference table.
Last match: 4-2 win vs NYCFC II
Next Match: at Crown Legacy on Sunday, July 9
Tacoma Defiance is enjoying a three-game winning streak, thanks to a first-half goal from Dylan Teves on Sunday to help Defiance beat Houston Dynamo 2 1-0. Defiance have now earned two clean sheets in a row and lie third in the Western Conference.
The three-game run for Defiance includes two impressive wins over top sides Colorado Rapids 2 and Austin FC II. Defiance have also allowed only one goal in the current run.
Last match: 1-0 win vs Houston Dynamo 2
Next match: vs North Texas SC on Sunday, July 9
Crew 2 fell down the rankings this week after falling 2-0 to Chicago Fire FC II. Fire II have beaten the Crew twice this season. On Sunday, Charlie Ostrem emerged as a top performer in Matchday 15, scoring two beautiful goals to halt a four-game unbeaten streak for Crew 2.
Crew 2 remain in a competitive position in the Eastern Conference at third place. Revs II jumped ahead, but Crew 2 remains just one point behind with one game in hand.
Last match: 2-0 loss at Chicago Fire II
Next match: vs TFC II on Friday, July 7
A three-goal performance and shutout of Inter Miami II means Red Bulls II moves up the power rankings this week. The dominant win allowed the club to move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Red Bulls II's offensive leaders Frank Ssebufu and Ibrahim Kasule each scored, with O'Vonte Mullings adding his first goal of the season. Red Bulls II continue to perform well defensively, led by first-team contracted goalkeeper AJ Marcucci, and have allowed only 17 goals so far this season.
Last match: 3-0 win at Inter Miami II
Next match: vs NYCFC II
New England Revolution II moved up two spots in this week's rankings after securing a shootout win in a road trip to face Huntsville City FC. Revs II goalkeeper Jacob Jackson made one shootout save to help his team pick up the extra point.
Revs II moved into second place in the Eastern Conference, bypassing Crew 2. Clint Peay's side now has two shootout wins in a row, and has picked up nine points from the last five games.
Last match: 0-0 tie (SOW) at Huntsville City FC
Next match: at Inter Miami II
Damian Las provided more heroics, making two shootout saves as Austin FC II took two points from a road trip to Real Monarchs, which ended scoreless in regulation. The clean sheet was Las' eighth of the season.
Austin FC II's identity as a strong defensive side continues to guide the club, with the lowest amount of goals allowed in the league with 10.
Last match: 0-0 tie (SOW) at Real Monarchs
Next match: vs Houston Dynamo 2 on Friday, July 7
Jose Tavares' side continues to excel, topping the Eastern Conference and bolstering their campaign with a come-from-behind away win over TFC II. Joao Pedro scored in the third minute of stoppage time to secure three points on Sunday.
Crown Legacy are on a four-game unbeaten streak, including three wins. The club remains among the top away sides in the league, with only two losses in road matches.
Last match: 2-1 win at TFC II
Next match: vs Atlanta United 2 on Sunday, July 9
Rapids 2 maintained its hold on the No. 1 ranking this week after Remi Cabral provided an 82nd-minute winner for a 1-0 win over St Louis CITY2. Cabral combined with Yosuke Hanya, whose cross led Cabral to finish over the head of the goalkeeper.
Rapids 2 saw their 12-game unbeaten streak snapped two weeks ago, but haven't missed a beat. The club remains unstoppable in road games, with seven straight games unbeaten in away games.
Last match: 1-0 win at St Louis CITY2
Next Match: at Whitecaps FC 2
