Western Conference (MLS)
The Western Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences, along with the Eastern Conference. As of 2021, the Western Conference contains thirteen teams. The conference has produced ten Supporters' Shield champions and sixteen MLS Cup winners in Major League Soccer's first 25 seasons. In 2000 and 2001, the conference was referred to as the "Western Division" when Major League Soccer briefly reorganized into three divisions. Conference lineups by year. 1996 (5 teams). "Changes from 1995": Creation of the Major League Soccer. 1997 (5 teams). "Changes from 1996": Kansas City changed their name from  Wiz to Wizards". 1998–99 (6 teams). "Changes from 1997": The Chicago Fire was added in the 1998 expansion. 2000–01 (as "Western Division") (4 teams). "Changes from 1999": The Western Conference renamed itself the Western Division upon the creation of the Central Division; Chicago Fire and Dallas Burn moved into the new division; The San Jose Clash renamed to the "Earthquakes". 2002–04 (5 teams). "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). "Changes from 2004": Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake were added in the 2005 expansion; Kansas City Wizards moved to the Eastern Conference; The Dallas Burn renamed to "FC Dallas". 2006–07 (6 teams). "Changes from 2005": The San Jose Earthquakes was put on hiatus; The Houston Dynamo joined the league as an expansion franchise. 2008 (7 teams). "Changes from 2007": The San Jose Earthquakes return to MLS after its hiatus. 2009–10 (8 teams). "Changes from 2008": Seattle Sounders FC were added in the 2009 expansion. 2011–14 (9 teams). "Changes from 2010": The Portland Timbers and  Vancouver Whitecaps FC were added in the 2011 expansion; Houston Dynamo moved to the Eastern Conference. 2015–16 (10 teams). "Changes from 2014": Chivas USA ceases operations; Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo move in from the Eastern Conference. 2017 (11 teams). "Changes from 2016": Minnesota United FC was added in the 2017 expansion. 2018–19 (12 teams). "Changes from 2017": Los Angeles FC was added in the 2018 expansion. 2020 (12 teams). "Changes from 2019": 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 season. 2021 (13 teams). "Changes from 2020": Nashville SC moved to the Eastern Conference; Austin FC was added in the 2021 expansion; Houston Dynamo added "FC" to their name. 2022 (14 teams). "Change from 2021": Nashville SC moved back from the Eastern Conference. 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 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 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-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. Western Conference Champion counts by team. As of the 2020 season, a total of 13 different teams have competed in the Western Conference Finals, and 11 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), and it does include appearances by Eastern Conference teams. Chivas USA (defunct), Nashville SC and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC have never made it to the Western Conference Finals. Western Conference regular season champions by year. ^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season. † – The LA Galaxy were declared winners of the Western Division in 2001 after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks forced the cancellation of the rest of the regular season. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 20.