10/10 - Matchday 28

DC United defender Lucas Bartlett

In his third season with the team, Lucas Bartlett has emerged as one of DC's most crucial players. Bartlett, who played collegiately for Drake University and St. Johns Red Storm, was drafted 6th overall by FC Dallas in 2021. He never made a first team appearance for Los Toros, playing for their reserve side North Texas SC. He was acquired the next year by St. Louis, where he made his MLS breakthrough. After one season, he was traded to DC along with Jared Stroud. Bartlett became a mainstay in United's backline, starting nearly every match since he joined the club. He was named captain entering the 2026 season, and he has lived up to this role.

Bartlett is integral to everything DC does on both sides of the ball. The Black and Red have the lowest average possession rate in the league. They look to sit low, be solid defensively, and punish opponents in transition and on set pieces. Bartlett is excellent at exactly that. With his positioning and physicality, he is elite at defending in a low block system. Bartlett is dominant in the air, ranking among MLS' best in aerial duels and clearances. He's also top 3 in blocked shots - Bartlett owns his own 18 yard box. On the other side of the ball, Bartlett has hit more long balls than any outfield player in the league. His direct passing suits DC's style of play and is a catalyst for their attacks. But he really makes his offensive impact on set pieces. Bartlett is dominant in the box. He has 4 goals this season and is a constant source of danger on dead balls. Only Baribo and Munteanu have scored more for DC this season. It's just another reason Bartlett is so important to his team. He sets the tone for his club with his competitive edge and is the true leader of United's backline. Sitting just 3 points behind the play in game, Bartlett is looking to lead his team to their first playoff appearance since 2019.

Nashville SC defender Reed Baker-Whiting

Reed Baker-Whiting has leveled up this season at Nashville SC. He started his career in Seattle, where he came up the ranks at Tacoma Defiance. After breaking into the first team at just 16 years old, he was projected to be one of the best young prospects in the league. However, he struggled to find consistent minutes with the Sounders, stunting his development. Last season, Baker-Whiting made a name for himself in Leagues Cup, where he excelled defensively en route to winning the whole competition. Nashville clearly liked what they saw from the youngster last season and acquired him in the offseason.

In his first season with Nashville SC, he has been outstanding at both left back and right back. His capability to play both sides is a very useful tool for BJ Callahan to have, as he is a solid starter at left back while also being able to fill in for Andy Najar on the right side when needed. His strength is his defensive play. He's a reliable in 1v1 situations and does well to defend the back post. However, this season he has chipped in to the attack for the Coyotes. His 2 goals and 2 assists is the best attacking output of his career. But it's not just his production: he provides more of a threat down the left side of Nashville's attack than they've had in recent seasons. This makes Nashville less one-dimensional. They utilize their right side heavily in possession with Espinoza and Najar, so having Baker-Whiting as an outlet on the left helps to balance their attack and keep opposing defenses guessing. His emergence this season has been an important part of the success that Nashville has had as they look to claim their first ever Supporter's Shield.