Sporting Kansas City's 2025 MLS Season: A Mix of Predictions from Experts

Ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 MLS season, the experts at the KC Soccer Journal have put forth a range of predictions for Sporting Kansas City (SKC) and the league at large. From optimistic playoff hopes to unsparing assessments, there's plenty of speculation to chew over. Let's look at how these predictions paint the upcoming soccer year for SKC and key players to watch.

How Will SKC Fare in the West?

The question on many fans' minds is where SKC will finish in the competitive Western Conference. Opinions vary considerably, with Jacob Adams offering a more hopeful 5th-place finish, attributing this success to the significant impact he anticipates from Manu Garcia. On the other hand, Robert Rusert isn't as optimistic, placing SKC at 11th, although he does see a standout season for Dejan Joveljic, predicting he’ll lead the team in scoring. Jough Donakowski and Juan Cisneros align closer to Rusert’s outlook, anticipating a 9th-place finish for SKC, with playoff contention still possible.

Stacy Fulk offered a middle ground, projecting a 7th-place seeding for SKC, with Joveljic again highlighted as the team's potential MVP. Jimmy Mack seems a bit more hopeful, predicting a tie between 6th and 7th place and expecting Garcia to put on a season worth remembering. Both Mack and Rusert share confidence in Joveljic surpassing Alan Pulido's goal record, suggesting it could be quite the year for the forward.

Player Spotlight: Potential MVPs and Surprises

Predicting the MVP for SKC brings a focus on a handful of players. Over half of the journalists lean toward Manu Garcia, expecting him to be a game-changer on the field. Both Jimmy Mack and Chad Smith see Garcia playing a pivotal role. On the other hand, figures like Joveljic and Jake Davis could also find themselves in the MVP conversation, with fans urged to keep a close eye on their performances.

Some bolder predictions from the analysts include Jough Donakowski backing Saint Louis for a deep postseason run and speculations regarding Inter Miami, whom Juan Cisneros and Robert Rusert dub MLS Cup favorites. Meanwhile, Jacob Adams envisions them possibly missing the playoffs entirely, spotlighting how unpredictable this season could be.

The experts also take a stab at other fun predictions: Garcia leading assists, as Cisneros contends, or SKC showing noticeable improvement, as observed by Chad Smith and Thad Bell. These elements add an interesting layer to what could be an engaging season filled with twists, turns, and standout performances.