TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced the nominees for the 2025 USL Championship Comeback Player of the Year award presented by Tiger Balm, recognizing four nominees who made a substantial impact for their respective sides after overcoming injury or adversity.

The four nominees were selected by the USL Technical Panel after nominations by clubs conducted after the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs.

The 2025 USL Championship Comeback Player of the Year award presented by Tiger Balm will be decided by a fan vote, with the poll set to run through Monday, December 15 at 12 p.m. ET.

2025 USL Championship Comeback Player of the Year Nominees

Charlie Dennis, Phoenix Rising FC – After suffering an injury in the opening game of the 2025 season that sidelined him for three months, Dennis returned to become a key performer as Rising reached the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs. The English playmaker recorded 11 goals and three assists across all competitions, including four game-tying/game-winning goal contributions that included the winner in the club’s Western Conference Quarterfinal victory against El Paso Locomotive FC.

Rodrigo Lopez, Sacramento Republic FC – The Republic FC legend returned from a 10-month absence due to a torn ACL in May, 2024 this past March and produced a vintage campaign to end his career in style. Lopez recorded a team-high six assists in the regular season to become only the fifth player to reach 50 regular-season assists in league history, while also contributing four goals as Sacramento finished second in the Western Conference.

Amos Shapiro-Thompson, Rhode Island FC – A Massachusetts native, Shapiro-Thompson suffered a serious injury prior to the start of RIFC’s inaugural 2024 campaign, only making his debut in the final game of the regular season. This year, he became an integral part of the club’s lineup, recording 25 starts and 1,984 minutes while posting a passing accuracy rate of 84.6% and winning 33 tackles at a 70.2% success rate to earn the club’s Midfielder of the Year award.

Dayonn Harris, New Mexico United – The Antigua and Barbuda international returned after almost a year on the sidelines following a torn ACL suffered in early August, 2024 and played a key role in United’s drive to a top-three finish in the Western Conference. Harris recorded two goals and four assists in 18 appearances across the regular season, completing 28 dribbles at a 54.9% success rate, while scoring the game-winner in the club’s Western Conference Semifinal victory against Orange County SC.