View source for Western Conference (MLS)

{{Short description|Collection of top-flight soccer teams in North America}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{infobox sports conference
| title           = Western Conference
| logo            = 
| caption         = 
| pixels          = 150px
| league          = {{nowrap|[[Major League Soccer]]}}
| sport           = [[Association football|Soccer]]
| founded         = 1996
| teams           = 15
| champion        = {{nowrap|[[LA Galaxy]] ([[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]])}}<br />(9th title)
| most_champs     = [[LA Galaxy]]<br>(9 titles)
}}
{{Location map+ |United States |width=525 |float=right |caption=<div style="text-align: center;">Current Western Conference teams</div>|places=
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=30.338206 |long=-97.719837  |label='''[[Austin FC|Austin]]''' |position=left |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=39.388206 |long=-104.891944 |label='''[[Colorado Rapids|Colorado]]''' |position=top |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=33.154444 |long=-96.835278  |label='''[[FC Dallas|Dallas]]''' |position=right |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=29.7522   |long=-95.3524    |label='''[[Houston Dynamo|Houston]]''' |position=right |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=34.013    |long=-118.285    |label='''[[Los Angeles FC|LAFC]]''' |position=left |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=33.864    |long=-118.261    |label='''[[LA Galaxy|Galaxy]]''' |position=right |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=44.952778 |long=-93.165     |label='''[[Minnesota United FC|Minnesota]]''' |position=left |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=45.521389 |long=-122.691667 |label='''[[Portland Timbers|Portland]]''' |position=bottom |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=40.582923 |long=-111.893156 |label='''[[Real Salt Lake|Salt Lake]]''' |position=bottom |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=32.784315 |long=-117.121889 |label='''[[San Diego FC|San Diego]]''' |position=bottom |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=37.351389 |long=-121.925    |label='''[[San Jose Earthquakes|San Jose]]''' |position=top |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=47.5952   |long=-122.3316   |label='''[[Seattle Sounders FC|Seattle]]'''|position=right |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=39.1214   |long=-94.821     |label='''[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City]]''' |position=bottom |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=38.631028 |long=-90.210917  |label='''[[St. Louis City SC|St. Louis]]''' |position=right |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=49.276667 |long=-123.111944 |label='''[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC|Vancouver]]'''|position=right |mark=ButtonRed.svg}}
}}

The '''Western Conference''' is one of [[Major League Soccer]]'s two conferences, along with the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]]. The division of the conferences broadly follows the path of the [[Mississippi River]] from the [[Great Lakes]] to the [[Gulf of Mexico]], with clubs on, or west of the river in the Western Conference.

As of 2025, the Western Conference contains 15 teams. The conference has produced 11 [[Supporters' Shield]] champions and 18 [[MLS Cup]] winners in Major League Soccer's first 29 seasons. In 2000 and 2001, the conference was referred to as the ''Western Division'' when Major League Soccer briefly reorganized into three divisions.

== 2025 standings ==
{{unsourced section|date=June 2025}}
{{2025 Major League Soccer Western Conference table}}

==Members==

===Current===
{| class="wikitable"
! Team
! City
! Stadium
|-
|'''[[Austin FC]]'''
|[[Austin, Texas]]
|[[Q2 Stadium]]
|-
|'''[[Colorado Rapids]]'''
|[[Commerce City, Colorado]]
|[[Dick's Sporting Goods Park]]
|-
|'''[[FC Dallas]]'''
|[[Frisco, Texas]]
|[[Toyota Stadium (Texas)|Toyota Stadium]]
|-
|'''[[Houston Dynamo FC]]'''
|[[Houston]], Texas
|[[Shell Energy Stadium]]
|-
|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''
|[[Carson, California]]
|[[Dignity Health Sports Park]]
|-
|'''[[Los Angeles FC]]'''
|[[Los Angeles]], California
|[[BMO Stadium]]
|-
| '''[[Minnesota United FC]]'''
| [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
| [[Allianz Field]]
|-
|'''[[Portland Timbers]]'''
|[[Portland, Oregon]]
|[[Providence Park]]
|-
|'''[[Real Salt Lake]]'''
|[[Sandy, Utah]]
|[[America First Field]]
|-
|'''[[San Diego FC]]'''
|[[San Diego]], California
|[[Snapdragon Stadium]]
|-
|'''[[San Jose Earthquakes]]'''
|[[San Jose, California]]
|[[PayPal Park]]
|-
|'''[[Seattle Sounders FC]]'''
|[[Seattle]], Washington
|[[Lumen Field]]
|-
|'''[[Sporting Kansas City]]'''
|[[Kansas City, Kansas]]
|[[Children's Mercy Park]]
|-
| '''[[St. Louis City SC]]'''
| [[St. Louis]], Missouri
| [[Energizer Park]]
|-
|'''[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]'''
|[[Vancouver]], British Columbia
|[[BC Place]]
|}

===Timeline===
<timeline>
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1996 till:2026
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:100 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph,  use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#
Colors = id:barcolor
 id:line value:pink
 id:bg   value:white
          id:Eastern value:rgb(0.5,0.6,0.82) # Use this color to denote a that a team was in the Eastern Conference.
          id:Western value:rgb(0.95,0.68,0.3) # Use this color to denote a that a team was in the Western Conference.
          id:Central value:rgb(0.82,0.6,0.62) # Use this color to denote a that a team was in the Central Division.

PlotData=
 width:15 textcolor:black fontsize:L shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

 bar:1  color:Western from:1996 till:end text:Colorado Rapids (1996–present)

 bar:2  color:Western from:1996 till:2000 text:Dallas Burn (1996–1999)
 bar:2  color:Central from:2000 till:2002 width:8 text:
 bar:2  color:Western from:2002 till:end text:FC Dallas (2002–present)

 bar:3  color:Western from:1996 till:2005 text:Kansas City Wizards (1996–2004)
 bar:3  color:Eastern from:2005 till:2015 width:8 text:
 bar:3  color:Western from:2015 till:end text:Sporting Kansas City (2015–present)

 bar:4  color:Western from:1996 till:end text:Los Angeles Galaxy (1996–present)

 bar:5  color:Western from:1996 till:2006 text:San Jose Earthquakes (1996–2005)
 bar:5  color:Western from:2008 till:end text:San Jose Earthquakes (2008–present)

 bar:6  color:Western from:1998 till:2000 text:Chicago Fire (1998–1999)
 bar:6  color:Central from:2000 till:2002 width:8 text:
 bar:6  color:Eastern from:2002 till:end width:8 text:

 bar:7  color:Western from:2005 till:2015 text:Chivas USA (2005–2014)

 bar:8  color:Western from:2005 till:end text:Real Salt Lake (2005–present)

 bar:9  color:Western from:2008 till:2011 text:Houston Dynamo (2008–2010)
 bar:9  color:Eastern from:2011 till:2015 width:8 text:
 bar:9  color:Western from:2015 till:end text:Houston Dynamo FC (2015–present)

 bar:10  color:Western from:2009 till:end text:Seattle Sounders FC (2009–present)

 bar:11  color:Western from:2011 till:end text:Portland Timbers (2011–present)

 bar:12  color:Western from:2011 till:end text:Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2011–present)

 bar:13  color:Western from:2017 till:end text:Minnesota United FC (2017–present)

 bar:14  color:Western from:2018 till:end text:Los Angeles FC (2018–present)

 bar:15  color:Eastern from:2020 till:2022 width:8 text:
 bar:15  color:Western from:2022 till:2023 text:Nashville SC (2022)
 bar:15  color:Eastern from:2023 till:end width:8 text:

 bar:16  color:Western from:2021 till:end text:Austin FC (2021–present)

 bar:17  color:Western from:2023 till:end text:St. Louis City SC (2023–present)

 bar:18  color:Western from:2025 till:end text:San Diego FC (2025–present)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:1996
TextData =
    fontsize:L
    textcolor:black
    pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
    text:
</timeline>

{{Font color||{{RGB|242|174|77}}|Western Conference member}} {{Font color||{{RGB|128|153|208}}|Eastern Conference member}} {{Font color||{{RGB|210|154|157}}|Central Division member}}

==Conference lineups by year==

===1996 (5 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*[[Colorado Rapids]]
*[[Dallas Burn]]
*[[Kansas City Wiz]]
*[[Los Angeles Galaxy]]
*[[San Jose Clash]]
}}
''Changes from 1995'': Creation of the Major League Soccer.

===1997 (5 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*Dallas Burn
*[[Kansas City Wizards]]
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*San Jose Clash
}}
''Changes from 1996'': Kansas City changed their name from ''Wiz to ''Wizards''.

===1998–99 (6 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*[[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]]
*Colorado Rapids
*Dallas Burn
*Kansas City Wizards
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*San Jose Clash
}}
''Changes from 1997'': [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]]    was added in the 1998 expansion.

===2000–01 (as ''Western Division'') (4 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*Kansas City Wizards
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
}}
''Changes from 1999'': The Western Conference renamed itself the Western Division upon the creation of the [[Central Division (MLS)|Central Division]]; [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] and [[Dallas Burn]] moved into the new division; The [[San Jose Clash]] renamed to the ''Earthquakes''.

===2002–04 (5 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*Dallas Burn
*Kansas City Wizards
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*San Jose Earthquakes
}}
''Changes from 2001'': The Western Division renamed back to Western Conference following the contraction of the [[Miami Fusion]] and the [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]], resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division; Dallas Burn moved in from the Central Division.

===2005 (6 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*[[Chivas USA]]
*Colorado Rapids
*[[FC Dallas]]
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*[[Real Salt Lake]]
*San Jose Earthquakes
}}
''Changes from 2004'': [[Chivas USA]] and [[Real Salt Lake]] were added in the 2005 expansion; Kansas City Wizards moved to the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]]; The [[Dallas Burn]] renamed to ''FC Dallas''.

===2006–07 (6 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Chivas USA
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*[[Houston Dynamo]]
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*Real Salt Lake
}}
''Changes from 2005'': The [[San Jose Earthquakes]] was put on hiatus; The [[Houston Dynamo]] joined the league as an expansion franchise.

===2008 (7 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Chivas USA
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
}}
''Changes from 2007'': The San Jose Earthquakes return to MLS after its hiatus.

===2009–10 (8 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Chivas USA
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
}}
''Changes from 2008'': [[Seattle Sounders FC]] was added in the 2009 expansion.

===2011–14 (9 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Chivas USA
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*[[Portland Timbers]]
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]
}}
''Changes from 2010'': The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC were added in the 2011 expansion; Houston Dynamo moved to the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]].

===2015–16 (10 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}
''Changes from 2014'': [[Chivas USA]] ceases operations; [[Sporting Kansas City]] and the [[Houston Dynamo]] move in from the Eastern Conference.<ref name="Chivas USA gone, realignment">{{cite web|title=MLS announces new strategy for Los Angeles market, 2015 conference alignment|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/27/mls-announces-new-strategy-los-angeles-market|website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref>

===2017 (11 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*Los Angeles Galaxy
*[[Minnesota United FC]]
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}
''Changes from 2016'': [[Minnesota United FC]] was added in the 2017 expansion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Atlanta to join Eastern Conference in 2017, Minnesota to compete in West|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/atlanta-join-eastern-conference-2017-minnesota-compete-west|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=August 20, 2016|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

===2018–19 (12 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*LA Galaxy
*[[Los Angeles FC]]
*Minnesota United FC
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}
''Changes from 2017'': [[Los Angeles FC]] was added in the 2018 expansion.

===2020 (12 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*LA Galaxy
*Los Angeles FC
*Minnesota United FC
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}
''Changes from 2019'': [[Nashville SC (MLS)|Nashville SC]] was added in the 2020 expansion, but moved to the Eastern Conference since the [[MLS is Back Tournament]] up to the end of the [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020 season]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 10, 2020 |title=Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/06/10/nashville-sc-moves-eastern-conference-remainder-2020-season |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>

===2021 (13 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*[[Austin FC]]
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo FC
*LA Galaxy
*Los Angeles FC
*Minnesota United FC
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}

''Changes from 2020'': Nashville SC moved to the Eastern Conference;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/mls-commissioner-nashville-sc-in-eastern-conference-next-season-but-spot-unknown-beyond-2021/ar-BB1bKfZy | title=MLS Commissioner: Nashville SC in Eastern Conference next season but spot unknown beyond 2021 | date=December 8, 2020 | access-date=December 9, 2020 | first=Drake | last=Hills |work=Tennessean}}</ref> [[Austin FC]] was added in the 2021 expansion; Houston Dynamo added "FC" to their name.

===2022 (14 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Austin FC
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo FC
*LA Galaxy
*Los Angeles FC
*Minnesota United FC
*[[Nashville SC]]
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}

''Change from 2021'': Nashville SC moved in from the Eastern Conference.<ref>{{cite news|title=MLS Announces 2022 Schedule Format & Conference Alignment|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-announces-2022-schedule-format-conference-alignment|publisher=MLS Digital|website=MLSSoccer.com|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hills |first=Drake |title=MLS reassigns Nashville SC to Western Conference for 2022 season. Here's what it means. |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nashvillesc/2021/11/05/mls-reassigns-nashville-sc-western-conference-starting-2022/6214104001/ |access-date=December 14, 2021 |work=Tennessean |date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>

===2023–24 (14 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Austin FC
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo FC
*LA Galaxy
*Los Angeles FC
*Minnesota United FC
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*[[St. Louis City SC]]
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}

''Changes from 2022'': Nashville SC moved back to the Eastern Conference as expansion side St. Louis City SC was added to the Western Conference.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/nsc/mls-moving-nashville-sc-back-to-eastern-conference/article_965cdcc8-40d8-11ed-aaf0-13b31b0f5ac1.html | title=MLS moving Nashville SC back to Eastern Conference | date=September 30, 2022 | accessdate=December 2, 2022}}</ref>

===2025 (15 teams)===
{{columns-list|
*Austin FC
*Colorado Rapids
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo FC
*LA Galaxy
*Los Angeles FC
*Minnesota United FC
*Portland Timbers
*Real Salt Lake
*[[San Diego FC]]
*San Jose Earthquakes
*Seattle Sounders FC
*Sporting Kansas City
*St. Louis City SC
*Vancouver Whitecaps FC
}}
''Changes from 2024'': [[San Diego FC]] was added in the 2025 expansion.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sandiego.com/blog/post/san-diego-fc-to-begin-play-in-mls-in-2025/ | title=San Diego FC to Begin Play in MLS in 2025 | first=Kelly | last=Clark | date=November 26, 2024 | access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

==Western Conference playoff champions by year==
Note: The conference finals were a best-of-three series through 2001 (including the MLS semifinals in 2000 and 2001, when a conference playoff format was not used). Matches tied after regulation were decided by a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|shoot-out]]. In 2002, a similar format was used except that draws were allowed and the team earning the most points advanced. From 2003 through 2011, the Finals were a single match. Matches tied after regulation went to [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] ([[Golden goal]] extra time was implemented for 2003 only), then a shoot-out if necessary. Beginning in 2012, the finals were a [[Two-legged tie|two-match aggregate series]]. The [[away goals]] rule for series that finished even on aggregate was first implemented in 2014. Extra time and shoot-outs were used if necessary, although away goals did not apply in extra time. In 2019, the playoffs returned to a single match, single elimination format (including the conference finals), which were hosted by the higher placed team in the regular season.

From 2015 to 2021, the Western Conference was represented in the MLS Cup by either [[Seattle Sounders FC]] or the [[Portland Timbers]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 4, 2021 |title=Portland Timbers win continues Pacific Northwest dominance of Western Conference titles |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/portland-timbers-win-continues-pacific-northwest-dominance-of-western-conference |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=October 30, 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''Bold'''
|[[MLS Cup]] champions
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Season
! Champions
! Score
! Runners-up
|-
|[[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]]
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|2 matches to 0
|[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]
|-
|[[1997 Major League Soccer season|1997]]
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|2 matches to 0
|[[FC Dallas|Dallas Burn]]
|-
|[[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]]'''
|2 matches to 0
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|-
|[[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]]
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|2 matches to 1
|[[Dallas Burn]]
|-
|[[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]]
|colspan=3 align=center|''No conference playoffs''
|-
|[[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]]
|colspan=3 align=center|''No conference playoffs''
|-
|[[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''
|6 points to 0
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|-
|[[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[San Jose Earthquakes]]'''
|3–2 {{aet}}
|[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]
|-
|[[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]]
|[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]
|2–0
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|-
|[[2005 Major League Soccer season|2005]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''
|2–0
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|-
|[[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]''' 
|3–1
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|-
|[[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]'''
|2–0
|[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]
|-
|[[2008 Major League Soccer season|2008]]
|[[New York Red Bulls]]<sup>E</sup>
|1–0
|[[Real Salt Lake]]
|-
|[[2009 Major League Soccer season|2009]]
|[[LA Galaxy]] 
|2–0 {{aet}}
|[[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]
|-
|[[2010 Major League Soccer season|2010]]
|[[FC Dallas]]
|3–0
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|-
|[[2011 Major League Soccer season|2011]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''  
|3–1
|[[Real Salt Lake]]
|-
|[[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''
|4–2 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]]
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|-
|[[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]]
|[[Real Salt Lake]] 
|5–2 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]]
|[[Portland Timbers]]
|- 
|[[2014 Major League Soccer season|2014]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''
|2–2 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]] ([[Away goals rule|a]])
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|-
|[[2015 Major League Soccer season|2015]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Portland Timbers]]'''
|5–3 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]]
|[[FC Dallas]]
|-
|[[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Seattle Sounders FC]]'''
|3–1 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]]
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|-
|[[2017 Major League Soccer season|2017]]
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|5–0 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]]
|[[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]
|-
|-
|[[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018]]
|[[Portland Timbers]]
|3–2 [[Two-legged tie|agg.]]
|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
|-
|[[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Seattle Sounders FC]]'''
|3–1
|[[Los Angeles FC]]
|-
|[[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020]]
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|3–2
|[[Minnesota United FC]]
|-
|[[2021 Major League Soccer season|2021]]
|[[Portland Timbers]]
|2–0
|[[Real Salt Lake]]
|-
|[[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[Los Angeles FC]]'''
|3–0
|[[Austin FC]]
|-
|[[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023]]
|[[Los Angeles FC]]
|2–0
|[[Houston Dynamo FC]]
|-
|[[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]]
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''[[LA Galaxy]]'''
|1–0
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|}
<sup>E</sup> – Eastern Conference team.

===Western Conference Champion counts by team===
As of the 2024 season, a total of fourteen different teams have competed in the Western Conference finals, and twelve of those teams have won at least once. In the table below, teams are ordered first by the number of appearances in a Western Conference finals, then by the number of wins, and finally by year. Note that this table does not include years that a Western Conference team appeared in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs (such as [[2010 MLS Cup Playoffs|2010]]), and it does include appearances by Eastern Conference teams. [[Chivas USA]] (defunct), [[Nashville SC]], [[St. Louis City SC]] and [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] have never made it to the Western Conference finals.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center;"
|-
!Club
!Appearances
!Wins
!Losses
!Most recent Year of Appearance
|-
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[LA Galaxy]]
|12
|9
|3
| align=left |2024
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|7
|4
|3
| align="left" |2024
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[Houston Dynamo FC]]
|5
|2
|3
| align=left |2023
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[Colorado Rapids]]
|5
|1
|4
| align="left" |2016
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
|5
|1
|4
| align=left |2007
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[FC Dallas]]
|4
|1
|3
| align="left" |2015
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[Real Salt Lake]]
|4
|1
|3
| align="left" |2013
|-
|style="text-align: left"|[[Portland Timbers]]
|4
|3
|1
| align=left |2021
|-
| style="text-align: left" |[[New York Red Bulls]] ''(Eastern Conference team)''
|1
|1
|0
| align="left" |2008
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
|1
|1
|0
| align="left" |2003
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[Chicago Fire FC]] ''(now in Eastern Conference)''
|1
|1
|0
| align="left" |1998
|-
| style="text-align:left" |[[Minnesota United FC]]
|1
|0
|1
| align="left" |2020
|-
| style="text-align: left" |[[Los Angeles FC]]
|3
|2
|1
| align="left" |2023
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[Austin FC]]
|1
|0
|1
|align="left" |2022
|}

==Western Conference regular season champions by year==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|bgcolor=#FFFF99|'''Bold'''
|[[Supporters' Shield]] champions
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Team
! Record (W–L–T) (GD)
! Playoffs result
|-
|[[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]]
| [[LA Galaxy]]
| {{nowrap|19–13–0^}} (+10)
| {{sort|2|Lost [[MLS Cup 1996|MLS Cup]]}}
|-
|[[1997 Major League Soccer season|1997]]
|[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]
| 21–11–0^ (+6)
| Lost [[1997 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]]
|'''[[LA Galaxy]]''' 
| 24–8–0^ (+41)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[1998 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|-
|[[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]]
|[[LA Galaxy]]
| 20–12–0^ (+20)
| {{sort|2|Lost [[MLS Cup 1999|MLS Cup]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]]
|'''[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]''' 
| 16–7–9 (+18)
| {{sort|1|'''Won''' [[MLS Cup 2000|MLS Cup]]}}
|-
|[[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]]
|[[LA Galaxy]]†
| 14–7–5 (+16)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2001 MLS Cup Playoffs|Semifinals]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]]
|'''[[LA Galaxy]]''' 
| 16–9–3 (+11)
| {{sort|1|'''Won''' [[MLS Cup 2002|MLS Cup]]}}
|- 
|[[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]]
|[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| 14–7–9 (+10)
| {{sort|1|'''Won''' [[MLS Cup 2003|MLS Cup]]}}
|-
|[[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]]
|[[Sporting Kansas City|Kansas City Wizards]]
| 14–9–7 (+8)
| {{sort|2|Lost [[MLS Cup 2004|MLS Cup]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2005 Major League Soccer season|2005]]
|'''[[San Jose Earthquakes]]''' 
| 18–4–10 (+22)
| Lost [[2005 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|- 
|[[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]]
|[[FC Dallas]]
| 16–12–4 (+4)
| Lost [[2006 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
|[[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]
|[[Chivas USA]]
| 15–7–8 (+18)
| Lost [[2007 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
|[[2008 Major League Soccer season|2008]]
|[[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]
| 13–5–12 (+13)
| Lost [[2008 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
|[[2009 Major League Soccer season|2009]]
|[[LA Galaxy]]
| 12–6–12 (+5)
| {{sort|2|Lost [[MLS Cup 2009|MLS Cup]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2010 Major League Soccer season|2010]]
|'''[[LA Galaxy]]''' 
| 18–7–5 (+18)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2010 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2011 Major League Soccer season|2011]]
|'''[[LA Galaxy]]''' 
| 19–5–10 (+20)
| {{sort|1|'''Won''' [[MLS Cup 2011|MLS Cup]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]]
|'''[[San Jose Earthquakes]]''' 
| 19–6–9 (+29)
| Lost [[2012 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|- 
|[[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]]
|[[Portland Timbers]]
| 14–5–15 (+21)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2013 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2014 Major League Soccer season|2014]]
|'''[[Seattle Sounders FC]]''' 
| 20–10–4 (+15)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2014 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|- 
|[[2015 Major League Soccer season|2015]]
|[[FC Dallas]]
| 18–10–6 (+13)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2015 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016]]
|'''[[FC Dallas]]'''
| 17–8–9 (+10)
| Lost [[2016 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|- 
|[[2017 Major League Soccer season|2017]]
|[[Portland Timbers]]
| 15–11–8 (+10)
| Lost [[2017 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|- 
|[[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018]]
|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
| 18–8–8 (+25)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2018 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]]
|'''[[Los Angeles FC]]'''
| 21–4–9 (+48)
| {{sort|3|Lost [[2019 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference finals]]}}
|-
|[[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020]]
|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
| 12–6–3 (+13)
| Lost [[2020 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
|[[2021 Major League Soccer season|2021]]
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
| 17–7–10 (+16)
| Lost [[2021 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|- bgcolor=#FFFF99
|[[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022]]
|'''[[Los Angeles FC]]'''
| 21–9–4 (+28)
| {{sort|1|'''Won''' [[MLS Cup 2022|MLS Cup]]}}
|-
|[[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023]]
|[[St. Louis City SC]]
| 17–12–5 (+17)
| Lost [[2023 MLS Cup Playoffs|first round]]
|-
|[[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]]
|[[Los Angeles FC]]
| 19–7–8 (+20)
| Lost [[2024 MLS Cup Playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|}

^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season.<br />
† – The LA Galaxy were declared winners of the Western Division in 2001 after the [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks]] forced the cancellation of the rest of the regular season. The MLS Cup playoffs began on September 20.

==MLS West at the MLS All-Star Game==
{{further information|MLS All-Star Game}}
In 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004, the [[MLS All-Star Game|Major League Soccer All-Star Game]] was contested between an all-star team from the Western Conference against an all-star team from the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]]. In total, the '''MLS West''' all-star team has 1 win, 1 draw, and 4 losses against the east.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Yearly results
!Year
!Result
!Score
!Series
|-style="background:#FFBBBB;"
|[[1996 MLS All-Star Game|1996]]
|Lost
|2–3
|East 1–0–0
|-style="background:#FFBBBB;"
|[[1997 MLS All-Star Game|1997]]
|Lost
|4–5
|East 2–0–0
|-style="background:#BBF3BB;"
|[[1999 MLS All-Star Game|1999]]
|Won
|6–4
|East 2–1–0
|-style="background:#FFBBBB;"
|[[2000 MLS All-Star Game|2000]]
|Lost
|4–9
|East 3–1–0
|-style="background:#FFFFBB;"
|[[2001 MLS All-Star Game|2001]]
|Tied
|6–6
|East 3–1–1
|-style="background:#FFBBBB;"
|[[2004 MLS All-Star Game|2004]]
|Lost
|2–3
|East 4–1–1
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Eastern Conference (MLS)]]
*[[Central Division (MLS)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.mlssoccer.com/history Complete MLS History]

{{Major League Soccer}}
{{MLS Conference Champions}}

[[Category:Western Conference (MLS)| ]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in the United States]]