Joseph Lowery

Phoenix

Editor at Backheeled

Writer at Freelance

💡 @Backheeled | ✍️ 🗣️ ESPN, The Guardian, The Athletic, TSS | 🎙️ @PHXRisingFC TV analyst

Articles

MLS In-Depth Power Rankings: Columbus Crew's new star, Colorado Rapids' deadly press & more

1 week ago | backheeled.com | Ben Wright |Joseph Lowery

Power Rankings never cease to spark outrage. But here at Backheeled? We’re not here to cause anger. No, we’re here to dissect the latest performances, trends, tactics, and news for each of MLS’s 30 clubs. Every week during the MLS season, Ben Wright will guide you through the Eastern Conference teams and Joe Lowery will do the same for the West. Okay, fine. We’re also here to spark some outrage, because we’re ranking all 30 teams, too.
Ranking all 30 MLS academies - and picking each team's top prospect

1 week ago | backheeled.com | Travis Clark |Joseph Lowery

Youth development in Major League Soccer remains very much a work in progress. While significant strides have been made, the overall talent pool of U.S.-eligible players is worth acknowledging right off the bat. Across the age groups, COVID's impact left its mark on the overall quality of the 2006 and 2007 age groups. Things pick up in terms of quality across the board for players born in 2008.
What We Learned: Gazdag debuts for Columbus, Cincinnati's defense grows stronger

1 week ago | mlssoccer.com | Joseph Lowery

After eight weeks of MLS action, the best of the best are starting to emerge – and the teams staring at the bottom of the table are looking for answers. Today, we’re looking back at the latest slate of MLS matches to examine some of the most interesting things we’ve learned so far this year. We’ve got a new star suiting up in Columbus, Brian White enjoying the year of his life, and so much more. Oh, and if you want to read up on the rest of Matchday 8 in detail, check out Matt Doyle’s column.
MLS Power Rankings: New No. 1 Vancouver proves itâ€™s for real

1 week ago | 700espn.com | Joseph Lowery

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MLS Power Rankings: New No. 1 Vancouver proves it's for real

1 week ago | espn.com | Joseph Lowery

The 2025 MLS season is now firmly underway, which means it's time for ESPN's Power Rankings. Who's climbing the table? Who's in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 8 to come up with this week's order of all 30 teams in the league. Let's dive in. 1. Vancouver WhitecapsPrevious ranking: 3The Whitecaps are riding high. Through to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals? Check. A dominant 5-1 victory over Austin despite missing Ryan Gauld? Check. Increasing their lead atop the West?
MLS talking points: a record in Chicago and a reprieve for the Sounders

1 week ago | sports.yahoo.com | Jon Arnold |Joseph Lowery |Graham Ruthven |James Nalton

This was supposed to be the Seattle Sounders’ year. The team had a nice path in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and a number of seemingly savvy acquisitions in the winter had fans hoping they’d be enjoying a 2025 season that went down as the best in the club’s storied history. AdvertisementLike many resolution-makers who, in January, believe it’s their year, the panorama had totally changed by April.
MLS talking points: a record in Chicago and a reprieve for the Sounders

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Jon Arnold |Joseph Lowery |Graham Ruthven |James Nalton

The Sounders aren’t done quite yetThis was supposed to be the Seattle Sounders’ year. The team had a nice path in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and a number of seemingly savvy acquisitions in the winter had fans hoping they’d be enjoying a 2025 season that went down as the best in the club’s storied history. Like many resolution-makers who, in January, believe it’s their year, the panorama had totally changed by April.
a record in Chicago and a reprieve for the Sounders

1 week ago | msn.com | Jon Arnold |Joseph Lowery |Graham Ruthven |James Nalton

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MLS Winners and Losers: Sorensen’s Vancouver Whitecaps soar, Atlanta United search for answers & more

1 week ago | backheeled.com | Joseph Lowery

The 'Caps just might be the best team in MLS, a wild trade changed the East, and Ronny Deila is searching for answers. It’s in the title, folks. Every week during the MLS season, Backheeled will dive into the biggest Winners and Losers from around the league. This week, Brad Stuver caught a mouse, Jesper Sorensen furthered his Coach of the Year case, a star returned, and more.
What We Learned: Columbus remain elite, Jack McGlynn ignites Houston

2 weeks ago | mlssoccer.com | Joseph Lowery

We’re still in the discovery phase of the MLS season. Just shy of the two-month mark, teams are discovering themselves – which means we’re uncovering new things about them in real time, too. Today, we’re examining the latest slate of MLS matches to explore some of the most interesting things we’ve learned so far this year. We’ve got the Columbus Crew staying undefeated, Jack McGlynn’s impressive start to life in Houston, and so much more.