Congratulations are in order as the Charleston Battery’s Joey Akpunonu and Emilio Ycaza earned selections to the 2026 USL Championship All-League Teams, the league announced Tuesday.
Akpunonu garnered an All-League First Team nod and Ycaza was named to the All-League Second Team. Both players enjoyed banner years for their respective careers, and the accolades are just honors for the stellar campaigns they led in the 2026 regular season.
“Joey and Emilio have each had career seasons and are beyond deserving of being selected to the All-League Teams,” said Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “Individual awards are exciting for players, their teammates and the fans. Players work so hard for so long, and to receive this kind of recognition can be even more rewarding. These honors highlight not only the players’ individual performances, but also what the team and the club do as a whole.”
Akpunonu built on his productive 2025 season with a career year in 2026 while anchoring the Battery’s back line. The center-back recorded a team-best 24 blocks and 156 clearances, along with two assists, 18 interceptions and 78 duels won. Akpunonu also set a new single-season high for appearances (30) and minutes played (2,537). Savvy with the ball, Akpunonu completed 1,855 passes – the most of any defender in the league – at an 88.7% accuracy rate, and a league-best 231 accurate long balls.
Akpunonu’s All-League First Team selection represents his first All-League award. He was also a Week 23 Team of the Week selection.
Ycaza’s fourth season in Charleston was arguably the best of his career as he set new personal single-season highs. The captain notched a career-high eight goals – second in the league among midfielders – along with four assists, 21 tackles won, 40 clearances, 121 duels won and a team-high 35 interceptions. Among Ycaza’s signature performances were his one-goal, two-assist game against Loudoun United FC and his braces against Birmingham Legion FC and Rhode Island FC.
The All-League Second Team nod is Ycaza’s first career All-League award. Ycaza was also a four-time Team of the Week selection, the Week 3 Player of the Week and the June Player of the Month.
The pair of selections mark the fifth consecutive year the Battery have been represented on the All-League Teams.
The 2026 USL Championship Awards were voted on by club management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.
