Gradient Is Bringing Player Grades to Major League Soccer

Gradient is expanding its Player Grades to Major League Soccer, marking a significant step forward in our mission to provide a global, unified language for understanding football performance. Beginning with the 2026 MLS season, Gradient Player Grades will cover every match across the league, including postseason play, delivering the same level of rigor, consistency, and contextual insight that clubs, media partners, and analysts already rely on across top competitions worldwide.

This launch represents more than the addition of a new league. It reflects a strategic commitment to the continued growth and evolution of MLS, and to supporting the clubs, broadcasters, and decision-makers shaping the future of football in North America.

A New Standard for Understanding MLS Performance

MLS has entered a new era. Investment levels are rising, academies are maturing, tactical sophistication is increasing, and global attention on the league continues to grow. As the league evolves, so too does the need for better tools to evaluate performance with clarity and credibility.

Too often, discussions around player performance are driven by surface-level statistics or opaque ranking systems that reduce complex contributions into a single number without explanation. While these models may be easy to consume, they frequently lack context, consistency, and accountability. They tell you who rated well, but not why.

Gradient Player Grades are built to solve that problem.

Every MLS match will be reviewed by trained analysts who manually evaluate every on-ball action. Each action is assessed within its tactical and situational context, and those evaluations are combined into a comprehensive Player Grade that reflects true performance rather than volume, reputation, or highlight bias. The result is a grade that aligns with the eye test while maintaining analytical rigor.

For MLS stakeholders, this creates a shared reference point that brings greater objectivity and precision to player evaluation, match analysis, and storytelling.

Built for Clubs, Trusted by Analysts

For clubs, Player Grades offer a consistent and scalable framework for performance evaluation across an increasingly competitive league. Whether used in recruitment, opposition analysis, internal reviews, or long-term squad planning, Gradient grades provide a clear view of how players are performing relative to their roles and responsibilities.

Because the grading process is consistent across leagues and seasons, MLS clubs can benchmark players internally and externally with confidence. Domestic standouts can be evaluated alongside international peers. Emerging talent can be tracked with greater nuance. Performance trends can be identified earlier and with more certainty.

Importantly, Player Grades are not designed to replace existing data workflows. They enhance them. By layering expert-led qualitative insight on top of quantitative data, clubs gain a more complete picture of performance that supports better decision-making at every level of the organization.

Unlocking Better Coverage for Media and Broadcasters

The expansion of Player Grades into MLS also creates meaningful value for media partners and broadcasters covering the league.

Modern audiences are more informed than ever, yet they are also more skeptical of traditional punditry and simplistic rankings. They want insight that is credible, explainable, and rooted in the reality of the game. Gradient Player Grades enable broadcasters, journalists, and digital publishers to tell richer stories backed by a transparent methodology.

From match recaps and studio analysis to season-long narratives and player comparisons, Player Grades provide a foundation for content that goes beyond opinion. They offer a way to contextualize performance, challenge assumptions, and surface insights that might otherwise be missed.

As MLS continues to grow its global footprint, tools like Player Grades help elevate the conversation around the league and position its coverage alongside the world’s most analytically advanced competitions.

A Tool for Fans Who Want More Than Highlights

While the primary focus of this launch is supporting clubs and media, Player Grades are also designed to resonate with fans who want a deeper understanding of the game.

MLS supporters are increasingly data-literate and globally engaged. Many follow players across leagues and competitions, and they want tools that help them compare performance on a level playing field. Gradient Player Grades offer fans a clearer lens through which to evaluate matches, players, and seasons without oversimplifying the game.

By grounding performance discussion in expert analysis rather than pure statistics or popularity-driven rankings, Player Grades encourage more informed debate and appreciation for the nuances that define football at the highest level.

Strategic Expansion With Long-Term Vision

The addition of MLS Player Grades is a strategic milestone for Gradient. It reflects our belief that elite analysis should not be limited by geography and that leagues investing in their future deserve tools that match their ambition.

MLS represents one of the most dynamic growth opportunities in global football, and this launch positions Gradient to play a central role in how the league is analyzed, covered, and understood in the years ahead. It also strengthens our ability to serve partners who operate across multiple markets and require consistent insight across competitions.

As with every league we cover, our approach to MLS is rooted in quality first. Comprehensive match coverage, expert review, and methodological consistency are non-negotiable. This commitment ensures that MLS Player Grades will carry the same credibility as those trusted by clubs and media organizations worldwide.

What Comes Next

With the 2026 MLS season on the horizon, Gradient Player Grades will be available from opening kickoff through the final match of the postseason. This launch will serve as the foundation for deeper integrations, expanded analysis, and broader storytelling initiatives across the league.

For clubs, media partners, and organizations interested in leveraging MLS Player Grades as part of their analytical or editorial workflows, now is the time to engage.

To learn more about MLS Player Grades and see the platform in action, schedule a demo with the Gradient team.

‍