Can you believe it’s already September?
This season has flown by in the blink of an eye, and now we’ve reached the final full month of regular season action.
But before we head into the final stretch of the regular season, let’s hit a quick pause and give some recognition to the top performers in August in this month’s edition of the MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards.
The MLS NEXT Pro editorial team, alongside league personnel, announcers, and club representatives, cast their votes to honor the best performers from across the league.
Awards were handed out for Team, Player, Coach, Goalkeeper, and Rising Star of the Month.
Here are the winners:
Team of the Month - The Town FC
Playing six games in one month? That’s definitely a grind.
Going unbeaten in five of them? That’s next level and exactly what The Town FC pulled off in August to be named MLS NEXT Pro’s Team of the Month.
Thanks to their run of victories in August, TTFC needs just one more win to punch their ticket to the playoffs and set their sights on bringing a home playoff match to Moraga, California.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group for earning Team of the Month. What stands out most is their ability to find a way during challenging moments — showing resilience, unity, and belief in each other. This recognition is a reflection of their relentless spirit and the work they put in every day,” said The Town FC Head Coach Dan DeGeer of his team winning the award.
DeGeer’s squad came out flying with four straight wins to kick off the month, climbing all the way to third place in a rugged Western Conference.
Nonso Adimabua continues to lead the charge offensively with nine goals and six assists this season, tying a The Town FC/Quakes 2 record for goal contributions in a season.
Missael Rodriguez and Cruz Medina are not far behind on the scoring charts, while young guns Chance Cowell and Kaedren Spivey continue to earn valuable pro minutes.
And let’s not forget about the team's home form.
The Town FC are the only team in the league still unbeaten at home. If they lock down one of the top two seeds in the West, good luck to anyone trying to knock them out in October.
Player of the Month - Billo Diop, Colorado Rapids 2
The best way to sum up Billo Diop’s August is with that classic basketball arcade game catchphrase:
“He’s on fire.”
The 18-year-old striker lit up defenses all month long, doubling his season goal total in the five games he appeared in and earning MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month honors for August.
“This is an important recognition of the work that has been done in Rapids 2,” expressed Rapids 2 General Manager Brian Crookham. “Billo’s individual progress within the framework of a team that competes at a high level every week shows the results of the environment our club really values.”
Diop’s shining moment took place when he scored a hat trick and dished an assist against Austin FC II, capping off a four-game scoring streak that also included back-to-back braces dating back to late July.
After scoring six times in August, Diop now has 12 goals on the season, which is tied for fourth most in the league. He has also already secured his place in Rapids 2 history as the club’s fourth-highest scorer, all in under 1,500 minutes of play.
His clinical finishing has been one of the driving forces behind Colorado’s eight-match unbeaten run and push to one of the top spots in the Western Conference standings, and at just 18, his stock is only rising.
Coach of the Month - Erik Bushey, Colorado Rapids 2
Erik Bushey is no stranger to this award, having first won it back in April 2023 on his way to being named MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Year that season.
His Rapids 2 squad reached impressive heights in 2023, and the question now is whether the 2025 edition can be even better.
That remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this group is hitting its stride at the perfect time.
Since June 28, Rapids 2 have gone unbeaten in regulation and climbed into second place in the Western Conference.
Their attack has been well-balanced, with Billo Diop, Sydney Wathuta, and Malik Pinto leading the charge, while goalkeeper and USYNT U-19 call-up Zachary Campagnolo, Steve Flores, and Anderson Rosa have all helped to anchor the Rapids 2 back line.
With the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Year guiding them and four games remaining, the big question now is whether they can capture the same magic that carried them to the Western Conference Final back in 2023, and by the looks of it, they might be able to do it.
Goalkeeper of the Month - Francesco Montali, The Town FC
The goalkeeper position is one of the most thankless in all of sports.
Pressure is a constant, but when you come through in the clutch, it makes it all worth it.
For The Town FC’s Francesco Montali, that has been the story of his season.
The 24-year-old shot-stopper has been a rock between the posts, helping his side stay in the fight for one of the top spots in the Western Conference with only a few games left in the season.
Montali’s defining moment in August happened on August 27, when he delivered a heroic performance in a shootout against Real Monarchs. He denied three of their attempts, securing the extra point and lifting his team to a shootout victory.
“I’m incredibly proud of Francesco for earning Goalkeeper of the Month. His three saves in the penalty shootout were a big moment for us, but just as impressive has been his development throughout the year — growing in confidence, consistency, and leadership with every game,” praised The Town FC Head Coach Dan DeGeer.
With six clean sheets already this season, Montali has proven himself to be a key piece of The Town FC’s climb up the standings and one of the top goalkeepers in the Western Conference.
Rising Star of the Month: Gabriel Wesseh, Atlanta United 2
Ever since announcing himself to the league back in April with a one goal and one assist performance against Carolina Core FC, Gabriel Wesseh has continued to make steady strides and has become one of the focal points in the Atlanta United 2 attack.
In August, the 17-year-old started all five matches for his side and rewarded the confidence placed in him by providing three assists. His play has helped keep Atlanta United 2 in the hunt for one of the final spots in the Eastern Conference playoff race with five games left in their season.
“We are thrilled for Gabriel to be honored as MLS NEXT Pro Rising Star of the Month,” said Atlanta United Director of Methodology Javier Peréz.
“Gabriel only joined the Academy last year, but he has taken tremendous steps in his development throughout his time with Atlanta United. We can’t wait to continue watching him grow through our player development pathway, and our second team is an excellent vessel for him to do that."
With the full confidence of the Atlanta United organization behind him, the sky is the limit for the MLS NEXT Pro Rising Star of August.
