TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced Rhode Island FC forward JJ Williams had been voted the league’s Player of the Month presented by Konami eFootball for October as he recorded four goals and two assists in four appearances to help lead the first-year club into the USL Championship Playoffs with a strong conclusion to the campaign.

One of Rhode Island’s early acquisitions as it built its inaugural squad, acquired via transfer from the Tampa Bay Rowdies last December, the veteran forward has come into his own late in the season after battling injuries early in the campaign. Facing his former club to open the month, Williams notched a goal and assist at Beirne Stadium in a 3-1 victory for the side. He then went on to record the first hat trick in club history against Miami FC on the final day of the regular season, putting up three goals and an assist in the first half.

“It’s something that I told myself I wanted to do right when I signed here,” said Williams of his hat trick following the game. “I was hoping it was going to come a lot earlier in the year, but whenever you have to miss the first 10 [games], this is one of those that keeps you coming back for more.”

Williams has featured prominently in the USL Championship over his career, competing for Birmingham Legion FC both on loan – when he delivered the first game-winning postseason goal in club history in a dramatic victory against North Carolina FC in 2019 – and after signing terms with the club in 2021. It was there he established a relationship with Rhode Island FC Head Coach Khano Smith, who was an assistant for Legion before taking his first head coaching role with RIFC last year.

“I've known JJ for a long time, and that was initially why I brought him here,” said Smith. “I know what he brought, and I think for the majority of the time that he’s been in this league, he hasn’t really been afforded the opportunity to play as an out-and-out No. 9 for a prolonged period. That was always the plan when I brought him here. Obviously, he started the year with the injuries, so that set him back a little bit, but he’s playing well for us at the right time.”

The 6-foot-4 striker bagged another hat trick to lead Rhode Island FC to a 3-2 victory against Indy Eleven in the club’s playoff debut last Sunday afternoon. He is now set to lead the side into an Eastern Conference Semifinals clash against Players’ Shield winner Louisville City FC on Saturday night. Kickoff at Lynn Family Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will air live on ESPN+.

Williams earned 68 percent of a weighted poll that included the USL Championship Technical Committee, a national panel of independent media representing every USL market and an online fan vote held at USLChampionship.com. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC forward Edward Kizza finished second on 27 percent after recording four goals in four appearances as he helped lead the Hounds to the postseason with four wins out of four to close the regular season.

USL Championship Player of the Month – October 2024