There's never a dull week in MLS NEXT Pro, and Matchweek 23 delivered the excitement once again.
Huntsville City FC pocketed five points in a week's work, climbing the table with a shootout win and a dramatic home victory, earning their second Team of the Matchweek honor in 2025.
Billo Diop ran the show for Colorado Rapids 2, racking up four goal contributions in a 4-1 home victory against Austin FC II to snag Player of the Matchweek honors.
15-year-old Chicago Fire Academy goalkeeper David Molenda stood tall between the posts for Chicago Fire II in their 2-0 win over Philadelphia Union II, taking this week's MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Matchweek.
Read more about Matchweek 23's winners below.
MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 23: Huntsville City FC
Playing twice in a week is never easy, especially for a Huntsville City FC team chasing their first-ever MLS NEXT Pro postseason appearance.
HCFC rose to the challenge during Matchweek 23, collecting five points across two matches and earning MLS NEXT Pro Team of the Matchweek honors.
Their week began in Miami, where Huntsville City FC went down to 10 men against a tough Inter Miami II side but battled back for a 2-2 draw. They then secured the extra point on the road following a 3-1 shootout win.
On Sunday, HCFC faced a resilient NYCFC II side at home that struck early in the match.
HCFC responded before halftime with striker Alioune Ka pulling his side level, and the match stayed tight until stoppage time.
That's when 19-year-old midfielder Isaiah Jones picked the perfect moment to score his first professional goal, sealing a dramatic 2-1 win in front of a raucous Joe Davis Stadium crowd.
MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 23: Billio Diop
Billo Diop was a one-man freight train during Matchweek 23 action.
The Colorado Rapids 2 striker delivered a career night on Friday with a hat trick and an assist in a 4-1 win over Austin FC II, earning MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 23 honors.
Diop completed his hat trick in the 55 minutes of play before setting up James Cameron for Colorado's fourth goal of the night to seal the victory for his team.
The performance extends a blistering run of form for the 18-year-old from Senegal, whose eight goals in his last four appearances put him in a three-way tie for third place in the league’s Golden Boot race with 12.
In the bigger picture, Diop's run of form helps put Rapids 2 on a six-game unbeaten streak and a tied for second place in the Western Conference with The Town FC.
MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchweek 23: David Molenda
As the saying goes, if you're good enough, you're old enough.
In his second start of the season, the 15-year-old Fire Academy goalkeeper took center stage in a 2-0 shutout of Philadelphia Union II.
He recorded seven saves on the night, securing the first clean sheet of his MLS NEXT Pro career and extending Fire II's unbeaten run to five matches.
Molenda's shot-stopping and composure in the box have quickly made him a difference-maker for Fire II's defense, and his latest performance in goal has earned him the MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchweek 23 honors.
