Sports
5 MLS franchises top $1B in Sportico's latest valuations
Nov 23, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; LAFC defender Aaron Long (33) celebrates after a goal by defender Ryan Hollingshead (24) in the second half against Seattle Sounders FC in a 2024 MLS Cup western conference semifinal match at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Five MLS franchises top $1 billion, with the average team worth $721 million, in Sportico’s valuations announced on Thursday.
Los Angeles FC again leads the 29-team league with a 2025 valuation of $1.28 billion, an 11 percent increase from a year ago.
The other four reaching the $1 billion plateau are superstar Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami ($1.19 billion; 17 percent increase), LA Galaxy ($1.11 billion; 11 percent increase); Atlanta United ($1.08 billion, 3 percent increase) and New York City FC ($1 billion, 19 percent increase).
Inter Miami and the Galaxy each moved up one spot from the 2024 rankings, with Atlanta United slipping two spots.
CF Montreal again ranked last at $450 million, which was a 2 percent increase.
The 29 franchises collectively are worth $20.9 billion, with the league adding San Diego FC this coming season. The average is a 6 percent increase from 2024.
Sportico defines the 2025 valuation as the sum of the current market value of an MLS franchise combined with the value of team-related businesses and real estate holdings.
Also factored in are other assets in the total value and club ownership stakes in MLS Next Pro teams (launched in 2022) and the National Women’s Soccer League teams in Houston, Orlando, Seattle and Utah.
Sportico’s research included publicly available information and financial records as well as interviews with sources knowledgeable of team finances.
The 2025 MLS franchise valuations ranking:
1. Los Angeles FC, $1.28 billion (+11 percent one-year value change)
2. Inter Miami FC, $1.19 billion (+17)
3. La Galaxy, $1.11 billion (+11)
4. Atlanta United, $1.08 billion (+3)
5. New York City FC, $1 billion (+19)
6. Austin FC, $865 million (+8)
7. Seattle Sounders FC, $825 million (+4)
8. Columbus Crew, $730 million (+12)
9. FC Cincinnati, $725 million (+12)
10. Toronto FC, $725 million (0)
11. Portland Timbers, $720 million (+1)
12. D.C. United, $720 million (0)
13. Charlotte FC, $705 million (+8)
14. Philadelphia Union, $700 million (+2)
15. St. Louis City SC, $655 million (+5)
16. Minnesota United FC, $655 million (+2)
17. Sporting Kansas City, $650 million (+3)
18. New York Red Bulls, $645 million (+5)
19. Nashville SC, $640 million (+1)
20. San Jose Earthquakes, $600 million (+7)
21. Houston Dynamo FC, $580 million (+5)
22. Chicago Fire FC, $575 million (+6)
23. FC Dallas, $540 million (+4)
24. Orlando City SC, $535 million (+6)
25. New England Revolution, $530 million (+6)
26. Real Salt Lake, $525 million (+3)
27. Colorado Rapids, $475 million (+3)
28. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, $470 million (0)
29. CF Montreal, $450 million (+2)
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins OF Kyle Stowers activated, to make season debut
Aug 8, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers (28) walks and tosses his bat against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Miami Marlins All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers was activated from the 10-day injured list to make his season debut against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
The Marlins optioned infielder Deyvison De Los Santos to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.
Stowers, who had been sidelined with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, finished a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville.
“Everything from the rehab checked out,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He continued to check the necessary boxes. Certainly, there was a physical component with how he felt, how the hamstring was. He got back-to-back nine-inning games. I think he came out of that feeling like he’s in a really good spot physically, and also, I think mentally, now he feels like, ‘OK, I’m over this.'”
Stowers, 28, made a massive leap in production in 2025. He entered the season with a .208 average, six home runs and 35 RBIs in 117 games spread across three major league campaigns, including 67 games with the Baltimore Orioles.
In his first full season with the Marlins, after a 2024 trade, Stowers batted .288 with 25 homers and 73 RBIs in 117 games while earning a spot on the National League All-Star team.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers put 1B Freddie Freeman on paternity list, call up OF Ryan Ward
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers placed first baseman Freddie Freeman on the paternity list Sunday and called up outfielder Ryan Ward to the major leagues for the first time after seven minor league seasons.
Freeman, 36, is batting .296 with three home runs and 14 RBIs over 20 games this season. He had two hits in each of the last three games and four times in the past five games to raise his early batting average nearly 40 points.
Ward, 28, was drafted in the eighth round by the Dodgers in 2019 and is in his fourth season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He won the Pacific Coast League MVP last season when he hit 36 home runs with 122 RBIs in 143 games.
Ward finally gets his first call to the major leagues after 154 home runs, 530 RBIs and a .266 batting average over 696 games in the Dodgers’ system, including 420 games at Triple-A.
“You talk about performance and he’s performed as well as, if not better than, anyone,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Ward in spring training, according to the Orange County Register. “So for him to not get a shot, I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so. But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him sometime this year.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Transfer portal roundup: Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Furman Paladins guard Alex Wilkins (10) dribbles the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Former Furman guard Alex Wilkins has transferred to Kentucky.
His move was one of the biggest on a busy transfer portal weekend.
Wilkins excelled in his freshman season with the Paladins, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 35 games (all starts).
Listed at 6-foot-5, Wilkins showed his skills to a national audience in Furman’s lone game of the NCAA Tournament. He made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 loss to eventual national championship runner-up UConn in the first round.
–Ex-Belmont forward Drew Scharnowski announced his transfer to Duke.
In his recently completed sophomore season at Belmont, the 6-9 Scharnowski averaged 10.7 points. 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 21.9 minutes per game. He shot 68.1% in 30 games (24 starts).
He takes the roster spot of forward Nikolas Khamenia, who transferred to UConn on Saturday.
–Florida State gained the commitment of 6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who heads to Tallahassee after two seasons at Colorado.
A native of Slovakia, he attended high school in Southern California, where he was ranked as a four-star prospect in the 2024 class.
In 29 games (26 starts) with the Buffaloes as a sophomore, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
–Field Level Media
