USL League One announced the finalists for its 2026 awards on Nov. 6, with the race now overlapping directly with the postseason. Seven of the finalists are also active in the 2026 USL League One Playoffs Semifinals, which gives the honors added weight as the league moves toward its final matches.
The winners will be announced between Monday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Nov. 13, after the regular season concluded and team management cast its votes. That timing means the awards will be decided with the playoff picture still live, and in several cases with finalist performances still fresh in the minds of voters.
JT Harms earns finalist recognition
One of the notable finalists is JT Harms of Forward Madison FC, who was named after starting 31 of Madison's 32 regular-season matches and posting 10 clean sheets. His season also included a -2.03 Goals Prevented mark, which shows the broader profile behind the clean-sheet total.
Harms' inclusion fits the larger theme of the 2026 awards cycle: several finalists are being recognized after strong regular seasons, but they are still in the middle of deciding the championship race. For Forward Madison FC, that means the spotlight on Harms continues into the postseason rather than ending with the award announcement.
Boise, Charlotte and other finalists remain in the hunt
The finalists also include players and coaches connected to Athletic Club Boise, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and the Charlotte Independence, among others. The Charlotte Independence set a new League One record with 20 regular season victories and won the 2026 Players' Shield, which makes their presence in the award race especially notable.
The semifinals are scheduled with Athletic Club Boise hosting Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET, followed by Charlotte Independence against Forward Madison FC on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. With the finalists still on the field, the awards picture and playoff picture are now working hand in hand.
That overlap gives the announcement extra context. The league's top individual honors are not being separated from the sport's biggest stage; they are being decided while the postseason is still unfolding.
For fans following USL League One closely, the next few days will bring both the semifinal results and the award winners, making this one of the most important stretches of the season.
