Three Philadelphia Union Academy grads finalists for USL Championship awards

Three Philadelphia Union Academy graduates are among the finalists for the USL Championship individual end-of-year awards.

New Mexico United goalkeeper Kris Shakes (Parkland, Fla.), already a first-team All-League selection, is one of three finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year along with fellow academy grad Jahmali Waite (Philadelphia, Pa.), who helped lead the Tampa Bay Rowdies to the Players’ Shield in his first season in Florida.

Brooklyn FC midfielder CJ Olney (Hillsborough, N.J.), on loan from the Philadelphia Union, is one of three finalists for the Young Player of the Year.

Reading United alum Aaron Molloy is one of the finalists for the Player of the Year award.

2026 USL Championship Awards Finalists

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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