Two Rising Players Named to USL Championship Team of the Week For Week 33
The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 33 of the 2026 regular season today, with Rising forward Ihsan Sacko and defender Pape Mar Boye both earning a spot in the starting eleven for their standout performances against Orange County SC. Sacko received back-to-back Team of the Week honors making it his seventh of the season. Alongside him, Boye has received this honor three times prior.
Ihsan Sacko now has 16 goals on the season, tied for the league lead and in the Golden Boot race. Pape Mar Boye also found the back of the net for the first time in 2026, converting off a Diego Gomez corner kick inside the opening 10 minutes to set the tone in Saturday’s 3-1 win. With momentum on their side, Rising will look to carry that form into Saturday’s regular-season finale against Lexington.
“I think it’s an unbelievable achievement. I think [Sacko] could have had more, that’s just me, and he knows that himself,” Kah said. “It’s a great thing and I hope he turns that into next week and the team helps him. He has been amazing.”
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 33
GK – Nico Campuzano, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Spanish shot-stopper logged a five-save performance that included a key penalty save as the Hounds grabbed a late 1-1 draw against Rhode Island FC on Saturday night.
D – Nick Scardina, Rhode Island FC: The 25-year-old recorded a goal and assist across two outings as RIFC clinched its third consecutive trip to the postseason while completing 68 of 87 passes and winning 2 of 2 tackles while making seven recoveries and four interceptions defensively.
D – Kevon Lambert, Louisville City FC: The Jamaican international scored a brilliant long-range strike and completed 62 of 68 passes in his hour-long performance against Indy Eleven while making nine clearances and recording four recoveries defensively as LouCity took victory against its rival.
D – Pape Mar Boye, Phoenix Rising FC: The 22-year-old scored once in his side’s 3-1 victory against Orange County SC while winning 8 of 12 duels and 7 of 7 tackles and recording five clearances and four recoveries at Championship Soccer Stadium.
M – Nick Firmino, Lexington SC: The 25-year-old recorded a pair of goals in his side’s 5-3 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC and completed 23 of 34 passes overall while winning 7 of 9 duels and recording three recoveries and one interception defensively at Cashman Field.
M – Christian Pinzon, Las Vegas Lights FC: The Mexican notched a pair of assists on two chances created in his side’s contest against Lexington SC while completing 46 of 48 passes overall at Cashman Field.
M – Blaine Ferri, Lexington SC: The 26-year-old scored once and completed 41 of 47 passes in Lexington’s 5-3 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC to help seal a top four finish in the Western Conference while also winning 3 of 3 ground duels and making seven recoveries defensively.
M – Wolfgang Prentice, Oakland Roots SC: The 26-year-old recorded two goals as Roots remained alive in the Western Conference playoff race with a 4-2 victory against FC Tulsa on Saturday night, while also completing 20 of 29 passes and winning 4 of 8 ground duels defensively.
F – Ray Serrano, Louisville City FC: Serrano recorded the first hat trick of his USL Championship career to lead LouCity to a 4-1 victory against rival Indy Eleven while completing 73 of 79 passes and recording six shots overall and making six recoveries and three interceptions defensively.
F – Chris Donovan, Louisville City FC: Donovan recorded his first three-assist game in the Championship and completed 24 of 31 passes overall while winning 2 of 3 ground duels and making two recoveries defensively in his side’s 4-1 win against rival Indy Eleven.
F – Ihsan Sacko, Phoenix Rising FC: The French forward scored a pair of goals to lead Rising to a 3-1 victory against Orange County SC as he completed 12 of 13 passes and notched four shots overall while recording four recoveries and completing 1 of 3 dribbles at Championship Soccer Stadium.
Coach – Simon Bird, Louisville City FC: Bird’s squad swept to a 4-1 victory against LIPAFC rival Indy Eleven at Lynn Family Stadium as the hosts limited Indy to only a 0.52 Expected Goals mark on nine shots while connecting sharply in its transition moments, completing 128 of 162 passes in the final third.
Bench – Jake McGuire (JAX), Nelson Blanco (SA), AJ Paterson (BHM), Amos Shapiro-Thompson (RI), Bertin Jacquesson (OAK), CJ Olney Jr. (BKN), Joel Soñora (MIA)
