Minnesota United may be playing in the conference semifinals Monday night in San Diego, but despite advancing past Seattle in the first round of the MLS playoffs, the Loons are in the midst of what might be their worst stretch of their entire year.

After another Western Conference semifinal loss, the team turns its attention to futures of coach Eric Ramsay and major contributors like keeper Dayne St. Clair and midfielder Robin Lod.

That set the stage for extra time and a penalty kick shootout, which went 10 rounds and was capped off by Loons goaltender Dayne St. Clair's winner. Shockingly, Seattle had three opportunities to eliminate Minnesota, but all three kicks hit the goal post or crossbar.

Our annual collection of post-mortems rolls on with the vanquished Western Conference semifinalists, glitzy and glamorous LAFC and grit ‘n grind Minnesota United FC.

Minnesota United’s defensive-first game plan was panning out almost to perfection through 70 minutes of a Western Conference semifinal in San Diego. The Loons were conceding a ton possession but

A tale of two seasons ended when the Minnesota United Loons were eliminated by San Diego FC in a 1-0 loss in the Western Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs.

Predictably, the Loons will open the 2026 campaign on the road, taking on Austin FC on Saturday, Feb. 21. The club will then host its earliest-ever home opener on Saturday, Feb. 28, when they take on FC Cincinnati. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT.

By the time Monday night's game kicks off in San Diego, it will have been sixteen days since Minnesota United's penalty kick shootout win over Seattle in Game 3 won them their first round series.

Minnesota United is heading to the Western Conference semifinals after one of the wildest games in MLS playoff history. The Loons picked up a 3(7)-3(6) win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, in Game 3 of the best-of-three series.