TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Friday that Louisville City FC’s Elijah Wynder had been voted the USL Championship Young Player of the Year, marking the first time in the award’s history that a graduate of a USL Academy program had earned the honor as Wynder starred in midfield for the Players’ Shield winner.

The 2024 USL Championship Awards were voted on by club management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market following the conclusion of the 2024 USL Championship regular season.

“I’m super proud and extremely grateful to have won this award, but none of it would have been possible without my teammates and coaches,” said Wynder. “When you’re surrounded by great people, it raises your level, and that’s certainly the case here at Louisville City.”

The second Louisville City player to win the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award following Jonathan Gomez in 2021, Wynder was the first player to both sign a USL Academy contract with LouCity and join the professional ranks with the club from its Academy prior to the 2021 USL Championship season. After an injury setback saw him miss that season, Wynder progressively rose, earning the league’s 2022 Championship Comeback Player of the Year award as he recorded two goals in 13 appearances across the regular season and playoffs.

This season, the 21-year-old has fully come into his own. Wynder set career highs in appearances (33), minutes played (2,781), and goals (6) while becoming an indispensable part of LouCity’s midfield. Among Young Player of the Year-eligible players, Wynder tied for first in tackles won (37) and ranked second in duels won (197) and recoveries (154).

The older brother of current United States U-20 international and 2022 USL Championship Young Player of the Year finalist Joshua Wynder, he signed a multi-year contract extension with LouCity midway through the current campaign.

Wynder earned the award with 39 percent of the ballot. Louisville City FC teammate Ray Serrano and Phoenix Rising FC center back Pape Mar Boye finished tied for second on 11 percent after Serrano led all Young Player-eligible players with a career-high 13 goal contributions (8 goals, 5 assists) and 55 chances created and Boye recorded 119 clearances, 31 interceptions and won 138 duels in a stellar first professional campaign.

Overall, 12 players received votes in the Young Player of the Year ballot.