The Grammys took place a few weeks back in February, and the Oscars are set for early March, but don’t let those ceremonies distract you from what really matters: the USL’s 2025 awards races. With the season less than two weeks away, it’s the perfect time to start handicapping favorites in each of the five big categories.
I may have been shut out playing this game last season – you love to see your MVP pick get benched for a few months! – but I named the eventual Defender of the Year (Graham Smith) as a candidate and identified a Young Player of the Year contender (Matthew Corcoran) who earned an MLS transfer this offseason. With that in mind, let’s run down the picks – all of whom are names to know in the USL Championship.
Most Valuable Player
Under the “it’s going to be the Golden Boot winner” theory, a player like Taylor Davila might be overlooked. Barring a shock breakout in the manner of Nick Markanich, however, Davila has a compelling case. Even if LouCity isn’t quite as dominant as they were in 2024, they’ll certainly be in the hunt for the Players’ Shield. Davila, who put up eight goals, seven assists, and more than 200 recoveries last year is quite literally central to everything they do.
