We're officially past the halfway mark of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season, and with June in the rear-view mirror, it's time to look back at the top performers across the league.
Austin FC II led the way this time around, earning Team, Coach, and Goalkeeper of the Month honors after continuing one of the league's best runs of form.
MNUFC2's Marcus Caldeira claimed the Player of the Month award thanks to seven goal contributions during June, helping keep Minnesota firmly in the playoff hunt.
Meanwhile, Carson Rassak earned Rising Star of the Month honors after a solid stretch for Whitecaps FC 2.
Let's take a look at all the winners:
Team of the Month: Austin FC II
Austin FC II earns Team of the Month honors for the second consecutive month after maintaining a perfect record throughout June.
ATX FC II played four matches and came away with four victories and two clean sheets during their four outings.
“Earning Team of the Month speaks to the effort they’ve all put in," said head coach Jason Shackell. "I’m proud of this group and grateful to the entire coaching staff for their hard work. We’re looking forward to carrying this momentum forward.”
Austin FC II finished June six points clear at the top of the Western Conference standings with 37 points.
They also closed out the month by setting a new MLS NEXT Pro record for consecutive regular-season wins, earning their ninth straight victory with a 2-0 result over St Louis CITY2 in Matchweek 17.
Absolute dominance.
Player of the Month: Marcus Caldeira, MNUFC2
MNUFC2 forward Marcus Caldeira has earned the Player of the Month after putting together a standout month in June, scoring five goals and adding two assists across five appearances.
The 21-year-old from Mississauga, Canada, delivered a signature performance on June 20th against St Louis CITY2, recording a hat trick and an assist to power Minnesota to three points.
"I'm extremely grateful to receive this award," said Caldeira. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone at Minnesota United.
"They push me every day to become the best version of myself, and seeing all of our hard work pay off means a lot. I'm thankful for everyone who has supported me along the way."
Caldeira's scoring in June has helped him climb into a tie for second in the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race with 10 goals on the season.
After being selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and signing with MNUFC2, Caldeira has continued to develop into a key piece of the Minnesota attack.
MNUFC2 head coach Fanendo Adi praised his forward for earning the honor and highlighted the work Caldeira has put in throughout the season to reach this point.
"We're all really happy for Marcus. He's been a leader within our group and has worked incredibly hard. We've spent a lot of time with him in individual finishing sessions because we know the quality he has in front of goal."
He added, "Beyond that, we've focused on helping him better understand his movement in and around the box, and he's made tremendous progress in those areas. He's come a long way, and it's great to see all of his hard work being recognized.
"We know he probably won't be with us much longer because he's earning opportunities with the first team, and that's exactly what we want. It's rewarding to see one of our own continue to develop and take that next step. We're all excited for him and look forward to watching his journey continue."
Coach of the Month: Jason Shackell, Austin FC II
Jason Shackell's first season at the helm of Austin FC II could hardly be going any better.
The 42-year-old Englishman earns Coach of the Month honors for June after guiding his side to another unbeaten month and helping Austin FC II grab first place in the Western Conference.
Since an opening-day defeat, Shackell has led the Verde and Black on a 14-match unbeaten run, including a league-record nine consecutive regular-season victories.
Before entering coaching, Shackell enjoyed a lengthy professional playing career in England and helped three different clubs earn promotion to the Premier League.
Following his retirement, he joined the Austin FC Academy as a U-15 assistant coach in 2021 before taking over as U-16 head coach in 2024 and being named Austin FC II head coach in late 2025.
Goalkeeper of the Month: Erik Lauta, Austin FC II
It's another back-to-back honor for Austin FC II goalkeeper Erik Lauta, who claims Goalkeeper of the Month honors once again in June.
The 21-year-old recorded two clean sheets in four starts and allowed just two goals during the month, continuing to play a key role in Austin FC II's rise to the top of the Western Conference standings.
Lauta has anchored an Austin FC II backline that has conceded just 11 goals in 15 matches this season, the fewest in MLS NEXT Pro.
Originally from Aptos, California, Lauta played collegiate soccer at both Tufts University and the University of New Hampshire before beginning his pro career with Huntsville City FC last season.
Lauta joined Austin FC II on a two-year deal with Austin FC II through 2027 and has quickly established himself as one of the league's top shot-stoppers.
MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Month: Carson Rassack, Whitecaps FC 2
June's Rising Star of the Month award goes to Whitecaps FC 2 midfielder Carson Rassack.
The 17-year-old earned four starts during the month and continued to showcase why he is an academy midfielder to watch this season.
Rassack's best performance of the month took place on June 17th against Earthquakes II, when he scored a goal and added an assist in Whitecaps FC 2's tight 3-2 victory.
The young Canadian has a total of five assists this season, putting him among some of the best distributors in MLS NEXT Pro, and will be looked upon if Whitecaps FC 2 are to make a push for a playoff spot this season.
