What's at stake for Minnesota United as they return to MLS play this weekend?

Additionally, the Loons will have to contend with new stars joining teams competing the West. By big stars, we mean global superstars looking for a new challenge in joining MLS.

LAFC recently announced the addition of South Korean winger Heung-min Son, who joins after an incredible 10 seasons at Tottenham Hotspur. Son scored 172 goals and added 94 assists across all competitions for the London side over the past decade. Elsewhere, the Vancouver Whitecaps, who sit just a point above Minnesota, shocked the league by adding  German legend Thomas Müller. The 35-year-old leaves perennial German champs Bayern Munich after 18 seasons in which he 230 goals and registered 217 assists across all competitions.

Meanwhile, the Loons have yet to add new players since the league's secondary transfer window opened back on July 24. Minnesota United acquired stars Kelvin Yeboah and Joaquin Pereyra last summer ahead of their late season charge. There still remains time for the club to pull off a summer addition but the clock is ticking, with the window closing on August 21.

Finishing the season in the top four of the conference would earn the Loons home-field advantage in the best-of-three first round, while the top spot earns home field throughout the playoffs. 

After getting past Real Salt Lake in the first round last year, Minnesota saw their season come to crashing end in the conference semifinals in a 6-2 thumping by the Galaxy in Los Angeles. No doubt, this Loons team will be looking to force teams to come to chilly Allianz Field in October and November.

It's a bit of a long shot at this point, but the Supporters Shield is still technically on the radar for Minnesota United as well over the final nine weeks. The Loons sit six points back of Philadelphia for the Shield, awarded to the team that finishes the season with the most points.

The stretch run to close out the season won't be easy for Minnesota. The team has tough road games against San Diego, Colorado, and Salt Lake — the latter two at altitude — left on the schedule. Also, the Loons host Seattle, a team they've only beaten twice in 17 tries over the past eight seasons.

The Loons, and other Western Conference teams vying for the Supporters Shield, can hold some hope that the top teams in the East (Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Nashville, Columbus and Miami) will all beat each other up, leaving room to gain ground.

While claiming the Supporters Shield feels like a bit of a long shot at this point, the Loons' best chance for their first trophy in the MLS era remains the U.S. Open Cup.

On September 17, Minnesota will host Austin FC in the semifinal of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup. Should the Loons get past Austin, they will host the final in early October. One of Nashville, Philadelphia, or New York Red Bulls will advance from the East bracket to the final.

Minnesota should be considered favorites in the semifinal against Austin FC. The Loons have already beaten Austin once this season, a 3-0 victory in Texas on May 3. Austin drew with MNUFC 1-1 at Allianz Field a month later.

However, while the Loons are scrapping for a top spot in the West, Austin are fighting just to make the playoffs, sitting seventh in the West on 33 points, just two points above a Wild Card spot and only four points from being out of the playoff spots entirely. 

Adding to Austin's woes are scoring and injury issues. The Texas side lost leading goal scorer Brandon Vazquez to a season-ending knee injury, all while scoring a league-worst 21 goals in 23 games.

While consternation may be rightfully growing over lack of transfer movement in the August window, and the continued troubles seeing out games, this Loons squad has shown a resilience rarely seen from Minnesota United since joining MLS. 

They'll need that as the marathon of the nine month MLS season now comes down to just the final nine matches, each more important than the last.