TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced the Team of the Week for Week 29 of the 2025 regular season, with Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Paul Marie named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording two goals and one assist across two contests for the side.

The French veteran played a key role in Tampa Bay’s opening game of the week, scoring a pair of goals and recording five shots overall as the side rallied for a 4-1 victory on the road against Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday afternoon.

The 30-year-old followed up that performance by providing his second assist for the club since arriving on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer in late August, teeing up a finish for Manuel Arteaga in the side’s 2-2 draw against North Carolina FC at Al Lang Stadium.

For the week, Marie completed 48 of 53 passes and notched seven shots and two chances created, helping keep the Rowdies in the playoff conversation in the Eastern Conference.

“We knew Paul had a lot of quality coming in,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato following the side’s victory in Birmingham. “He’s a great guy that works hard for the team who has great quality and experience. He’s come in and definitely given us a lift and a boost.”

The USL Championship Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship. Marie finished first with 56% of the ballot, with San Antonio FC’s Jorge Hernandez second on 22% after recording a goal and assist in his side’s 3-1 victory against Orange County SC on Saturday night.

GK – Danny Vitiello, Sacramento Republic FC: Vitiello recorded a three-save shutout as Republic FC took a 2-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, moving to a league-leading 11 clean sheets for the season and only one off equaling the league’s all-time regular season record.

D – Brian Schaefer, Indy Eleven: The 23-year-old notched his first assist for the Boys in Blue, setting up Ben Ofeiumu’s game-winner against Birmingham Legion FC, and was stellar defensively, winning 10 of 10 duels and 3 of 4 tackles while making 10 clearances, seven recoveries and two interceptions.

D – Josh Jones, Louisville City FC: The first-year center back scored his first goal in the professional ranks to seal LouCity’s 3-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC and completed 58 of 62 passes while winning 5 of 5 ground duels and making five clearances and two interceptions defensively.

D – Nico Benalcázar, Orange County SC: Benalcázar impressed despite Orange County’s defeat at San Antonio FC, scoring an outstanding long-range finish while winning 3 of 3 tackles and 7 of 8 ground duels and completing 48 of 52 passes at Toyota Field.

M – Jorge Hernández, San Antonio FC: Hernández recorded a goal and assist to lead SAFC to a 3-1 victory against Orange County SC, scoring on a sublime free kick in the second half on his lone shot of the game while recording five chances created and completing 31 of 34 passes overall.

M – Paul Marie, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Marie recorded two goals and one assist across week, leading the Rowdies’ comeback victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday while completing 24 of 26 passes and recording five shots overall in the 4-1 win at Protective Stadium.

M – Ben Mines, Loudoun United FC: Mines notched a goal and assist in Loudoun’s 2-2 draw against Phoenix Rising FC, extending his goal contributions streak to five games, while also winning 6 of 8 duels and recording one chance created and two shots overall at Phoenix Rising Stadium.

M – Raheem Somersall, North Carolina FC: The St. Kitts and Nevis international recorded the game-tying assist in NCFC’s 2-2 draw at the Tampa Bay Rowdies and completed 22 of 23 passes overall while winning 8 of 10 duels and making four recoveries defensively.

F – Taylor Calheira, FC Tulsa: Calheira recorded a stellar individual second-half equalizer that sent the Scissortails to the postseason for the first time since 2021 and had a strong all-around game, recording four chances created and four shots while winning 8 of 15 duels and his lone contested tackle.

F – Manuel Arteaga, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Venezuelan scored two goals in two games for the Rowdies and recorded seven shots overall while completing 38 of 51 passes and winning 19 of 36 duels, a league-high for the week as the side claimed four points.

F – Jansen Wilson, Louisville City FC: Wilson recorded one assist, won a penalty kick, and notched six chances created and two shots while completing 23 of 26 passes in LouCity’s 3-1 win against Las Vegas Lights FC while also winning 3 of 5 ground duels defensively.

Coach – Danny Cruz, Louisville City FC: Cruz earned his 100th victory as a Head Coach in the USL Championship across the regular season and playoffs, becoming the youngest to do so aged 35 years, 8 months, 17 days, as his side racked up a 3.66 Expected Goals mark in its 3-1 win against Las Vegas Lights FC.

Bench – Raiko Arozarena (LV), Ben Ofeimu (IND), Lee Desmond (SAC), Aodhan Quinn (IND), Xavi Gnaulati (MB), Nicky Hernandez (SA), Cal Jennings (CHS)