SKC must adapt to Joveljic exit, says Wicky

Sporting Kansas City boss Raphael Wicky has encouraged his strikers to make the most of their opportunity after the exit of Dejan Joveljic.

Joveljic was traded to the Seattle Sounders earlier in the week, bringing an end to an 18-month spell with Sporting KC.

Following his move from the Los Angeles Galaxy in February 2025, Joveljic scored 26 goals and provided three assists in 52 MLS games for SKC.

Among SKC players, Joveljic was the only player to score 10+ goals in MLS since his debut, with Daniel Salloi's seven the next best.

Joveljic has also scored eight of Sporting KC's 20 goals in MLS this season, though Wicky has urged his side to adapt to the striker's departure ahead of their clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

"Dejan scored half of our goals. It's an opportunity for the other players," said Wicky.

"It's an opportunity for Taylor [Calheria], who is now back. It's an opportunity for Shapi [Suleymanov], for Stephen Afrifra, Capita and Calvin anyway play a lot, so it's an opportunity for those guys.

"That's how I see it. Is it easier when you have your top goalscorer there? Of course. I try then to work with the players I have.

"I see it and I tell them it's an opportunity for you guys. That's how I have to approach it. Everything else, I don't think it helps me."

While SKC are bottom of the Western Conference, Vancouver moved back to the top of the table with a 5-0 win over FC Dallas last time out.

Emmanuel Sabbi, Brian White, Edier Ocampo and Bruno Caicedo were all on target in the rout, while Thomas Muller contributed with an assist.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas City – Stephen Afrifa

Though Suleymanov started in Joveljic's place last time out against Atlanta United, Afrifa scored the only goal in the 2-1 defeat.

It was Afrifa's second MLS goal of the season; he failed to score in the 2025 campaign.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

Brian White has scored 12 goals in five of his six seasons with Vancouver, including the last four in a row.

White is the fourth player in MLS history to record five seasons of 12+ goals for a single club, after Chris Wondolowski (eight for San Jose), Landon Donovan (five for LA Galaxy) and Bradley Wright-Phillips (five for NYRB).

MATCH PREDICTION – VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

The Whitecaps have won five straight meetings with Sporting KC, including outscoring them 8–0 in the three matches since 2025. This is Vancouver’s longest-ever winning streak against a single opponent in the club’s MLS era.

Vancouver's victory over Dallas was just their second win in their last six regular-season matches (D2 L2). The Whitecaps have not won consecutive regular-season matches since winning eight of their first nine matches this season.

SKC suffered their league-worst 14th defeat of the season on Sunday at Atlanta, three more than any other team in MLS this season. Since the start of last season, Sporting KC’s 34 regular-season losses are six more than any other MLS team.

They have also gone a club-record 21 straight regular-season matches without a clean sheet, surpassing the previous longest mark of 19 set in May-October 2025, right before this run began.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas City – 18.1%

Draw – 20%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 61.9%