There’s no word yet if the newest Sixers arrival will become a fan of the local team in his new home city. But Cavan Sullivan, the Union’s Bridesburg-bred teen phenom, is not shy about hoping it happens. So when he scored a goal in the Union’s 2-0 win over CF Montréal on Saturday at Subaru Park, he uncorked a celebration he’d been planning ever since James signed in Philadelphia.
Team photographer Kim Ahrens was keeping a bottle of chalk powder on the nearby sideline. Sullivan ran over to her, got the bottle, poured a handful of powder into his hands, and blew it up into the air — a tribute to James’ famed routine that he does before tipoff of all of his games.
Unfortunately for Sullivan, the breeze blowing in off the Delaware River meant there wasn’t as much of a cloud as James often creates in arenas. But the message was sent, and Sullivan talked about it after the game.
“I was waiting to do that for a while,” he said. “I just kept missing out on it, or I was away. Tonight, great crowd, I figured it was the perfect time.”
Indeed, while this was Sullivan’s third straight game with a goal — and seventh goal in all competitions this year — the last two were in road games, at Austin and Red Bull New York. This one was his first at Subaru Park since James picked Philadelphia as his final professional home.
“Got to get him to strike the drum, maybe follow me back on Instagram,” Sullivan quipped, his priorities clearly in order. But then again, James knew where to find Folarin Balogun on social media right away when he scored for the U.S. in the World Cup against Bosnia & Herzegovina, then did James’ “Silencer” celebration.
“We saw him shout out Balogun in the World Cup, so that sort of made me think of it,” Sullivan said.
LFG!!!!!! THE 🤫 HAS 🛬 at the World Cup! Helluva goal there Young 🤴🏾! 🫡. GO 🇺🇸 https://t.co/8wb2t2F6oq
Thankfully, Sullivan did not follow the rest of Balogun’s footsteps on Saturday by committing a red card-worthy foul against Montréal. But perhaps they’ll be able to swap LeBron stories if they’re both called up to the U.S. squad at the end of this month.
And perhaps, once James arrives in town later in the fall, he’ll decide to accept the invitation.
“This place is dope — environment like you’ve never seen before. No arena is like Subaru Park,” Sullivan said, laughing. “So yeah, pull up if you want to watch good soccer with Philly kids. It’s a nice culture around here.”
Goals from Danley Jean Jacques and Cavan Sullivan propelled the Union to a 2-0 win over CF Montréal on Saturday at Subaru Park. But while the result provisionally put the Union (7-6-10, 27 points) above the playoff line at the final whistle, it was a pretty ugly contest for most of the night.
The tone was set just two minutes in, when sloppy defending let Montreal put the ball in the net too easily. Fortunately for the hosts, they were let off the hook because former Union winger Fabian Herbers was offside in the buildup.
There was sloppy attacking, too, including Bruno Damiani missing three should-have-scored chances: two in the first quarter-hour and a wide-open look in first-half stoppage time.
45+1' | Huge missed opportunity from Bruno Damiani
The Union's best attacking moments in the first half have come from the right with Frankie Westfield. Beautiful ball played across the 18-yard-box for Damiani and again he misses wide.
In between, the game looked like one between the 12th- and 14th-place teams in the Eastern Conference, instead of one with the home team on a seven-game unbeaten run in league play.
The scoreless first half wasn’t caused by Montréal jamming the Union up, as it has a long history of doing to teams across MLS. This time, the Union did it to themselves: six shots, just one on target, and a 78% pass completion rate.
Jean Jacques finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a goal that was no prettier than the rest of the game, but got the job done. Kai Wagner swung a free kick over the 18-yard box from the right flank, it was headed around a few times, and eventually the ball fell to Jean Jacques to push home in traffic.
Danley Jean Jacques gets Philadelphia's go-ahead goal! 👊
But the Union nearly threw away the lead eight minutes later. Neil Pierre put his hands into Hennadii Synchuk’s back, Synchuk went down in the box, and referee Chris Penso promptly called a penalty kick. Synchuk stayed down for a while, so the officials had plenty of time to review the call, and they judged it fair.
Ezekiel Alladoh (left, center) and Danley Jean Jacques celebrate Jean Jacques’ goal in the second half of the Union’s game against vs. CF Montréal on Saturday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
If you believe in the “ball don’t lie” theory of sports, you’ll appreciate what happened next. But even if you don’t, you’d find Prince Owusu’s penalty attempt shocking. He tried to chip it, and failed so badly that Andre Blake barely had to move to catch the ball.
Damiani sent Iloski on a breakaway after a nifty passing sequence through midfield, only for Iloski to try and fail to dribble around Montréal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza. Fortunately for the Union, Breza spilled the ball, and Sullivan was right there to pounce and hit a first-time shot.
Sullivan celebrated by receiving a bottle of chalk powder, taking a handful, and throwing it in the air LeBron James-style.
In the 82nd, Richter moved to close the game by sending in Alejandro Bedoya and Ezekiel Alladoh for Cavan Sullivan and Iloski. Malik Jakupović was the last sub, replacing Damiani in the 90th.
They did the job, and the Union could move on to a quick turnaround for their next game: Wednesday at home against FC Cincinnati. That will be the first really good team the Union have faced since Inter Miami.
With all the craziness in the soccer world, it can feel like there isn’t much good news out there. But this week, American fans are finally getting some.
MLS announced Wednesday morning that all 27 of its U.S.-based teams will compete in the U.S. Open Cup next year, returning the league to full standing in the national championship after three years of acrimony.
The league was in a protracted argument with U.S. Soccer, which runs the Open Cup, over a variety of factors from a lack of marketing to travel costs, revenue splits, and stadium standards.
The dispute led the nation’s top circuit to withdraw many of its clubs from the tournament from 2024-26. There were attempts to send reserve teams, and to exempt teams in the Leagues Cup and/or Concacaf Champions Cup in the name of schedule congestion. The Union were one of those teams this year.
Cavan Sullivan (left) in action in the U.S. Open Cup last year.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
None of it held water with fans who value the Open Cup’s special place as the only American soccer competition in which teams from every level can play against each other, similar to England’s FA Cup and other national cup tournaments around the world.
Fans also value the Open Cup’s over 110 years of history, much of which was created in Pennsylvania. The state ranks No. 3 all-time for most Open Cup winners. Its famous teams down the decades include the Bethlehem Steel dynasty of the 1910s, and Philadelphia’s Ukrainian Nationals, German-Americans, and United German-Hungarians.
A program from the 1977 U.S. Open Cup final soccer game between Philadelphia’s United German-Hungarians and Los Angeles Maccabee, with Larry Sullivan in the German-Hungarians’ lineup, displayed at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas.Jonathan Tannenwald
Larry’s son Brendan also played in the Open Cup in the 1990s, making three generations of the family to take part in the tournament.
In recent times, the Union have made three Open Cup finals: 2014, 2015, and 2018. But they haven’t yet joined their predecessors in lifting the trophy. Fans will hope the Sullivans and the club’s other academy products finally break through next year.
A pair of tournament rules changes could help the Union’s odds. Game-day rosters will expand from 18 to 20 players, and MLS teams can pick their squads from a wider range of first-team and reserve-squad prospects.
Next year’s Open Cup will be played in the midst of MLS changing its schedule to a winter-centric one. The Open Cup will change some too, though it will remain based on the calendar year for now.
Nashville SC won last year’s U.S. Open Cup.Eric Gay
MLS teams will enter the tournament in the round of 64, which will be played in July — during MLS teams’ preseasons for the 2027-28 campaign. Notably, all MLS teams will be at home for that round, which will help with advance ticket sales.
David Applegate, U.S. Soccer’s director of competitions told the Sports Business Journal that the governing body agreed to change its take of revenue to a flat fee instead of a percentage.
The pre-set home games will annoy fans of lower-division clubs hoping for upsets. But a reward will come after that: any lower-division team that makes the round of 32 will have priority to host. And there should be some lower teams still alive at that point, since having 27 MLS teams in a round of 64 means there won’t be a MLS team in every game.
The round of 32 will be played in September. The round of 16 isn’t set yet, but the remainder of the tournament is: quarterfinals in late November, semifinals on Dec. 1, and the final on Dec. 15. That could make for a cold title game, since it’s on a Wednesday night. But it could also be memorable.
“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is one of the most powerful platforms we have to showcase what makes American soccer special,” U.S. Soccer chief operating officer Dan Helfrich said in a statement. “When you bring various levels of the soccer community together, you create a connected, competitive environment that moves the sport forward and gives fans the drama of knockout soccer.”
It took just one moment for the Union’s 3-1 win to live up to the billing, from the player who stood atop the marquee.
Cavan Sullivan’s sixth goal for the Union’s first team was easily his most sensational: a perfect jumping trap of Danley Jean Jacques’ cross-field pass, a cut left into the 18-yard box, and a lashing shot to the far post.
It sent jaws dropping from North Jersey to Chester and well beyond, perhaps even to his future home at Manchester City. (Or at least it would have when they woke up Sunday morning over there, as it was just before 2 a.m. in England when the play happened.)
“This was the first moment of a really special individual play for one of his goals,” interim Union manager Ryan Richter said. “So that was cool.”
The trap alone was a special play, and Richter rightly insisted that the pass was its own highlight. Jean Jacques hit it inch-perfect into open space on the right flank.
Sullivan then brought the ball down before it could hit the turf, with the kind of first touch that makes soccer scouts worldwide swoon. All the more when it’s done by a 16-year-old — and yes, with an extra layer when that teen is an American. The world has gotten used to this country winning men’s World Cup games, but it’s sometimes still surprised when a Yank shows such skill.
There was no guarantee a goal would follow, though, not least since Sullivan had passed up a chance to fire from atop the box in the first half. This time, he charged past Dos Santos and shot before a sliding Ronald Donkor could get there.
“The first half, I didn’t think that he was at his best: A couple opportunities where he had a chance to make a play that didn’t come off in the way that you know he can, and then a couple defensive lapses, I thought … [where] he got outplayed a little too bit too easily,” Richter said. “But the second half, he fixed what he needed to fix, and he got going in the game.”
Then came a moment where Richter could watch just like the rest of us.
“The goal that he scored, it’s what he’s capable of doing,” he said. “In these one-v-one situations, he’s different, and we want to give him the freedom to express himself. And honestly, he has gained the respect of his teammates, that they also give him the freedom that he can go in these moments, because they know that he can create something out of it.”
The drumbeat has grown louder for Sullivan to earn his first senior U.S. national team call-up for the four-game friendly run in September and October. Indeed, quite a few observers think Mauricio Pochettino should call up Pierre and Westfield, too.
Pierre has turned just as many heads in the know as Sullivan lately, and turned more with his latest goal Saturday — his fourth in nine Union first-team games this year.
“He’s growing every week, and you guys are watching the same thing I am: he looks like a top center back in this league,” Richter said. “He has to keep pushing, and keep his feet on the ground, and focus in the right way, and become the best center back in this league. That should be his target — but that’s a day-to-day thing that he has to keep pushing to get better and better.”
Westfield, meanwhile, has become the leading candidate to be the starting right back on the 2028 Olympic team.
Andrew Rick and Quinn Sullivan could also merit consideration, given their past work for Pochettino and Rick’s potential to make the 2028 squad.
Asked whether Cavan should get the call, Richter answered promptly: “That’s not my job to influence that one way or the other.”
The Union could soon see Mauricio Pochettino (right) call up a new generation of their prospects, following in the footsteps of alumni like Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie.Jonathan Tannenwald
But that doesn’t mean he isn’t allowed to, and he snuck in a little of it.
“If you’re watching the games — which, the national team staff, I’m sure they are watching these games — then he’s making a case for himself,” Richter said.
The squad should be announced in mid-September, which means the Union probably have three more games before then: Saturday at home vs. CF Montréal (now with Chilean legend Alexis Sánchez), Sept. 9 at home vs. FC Cincinnati, then the year’s longest road trip to visit San Diego FC on Sept. 13.
(And yes, this writer hears those of you ready to pounce on Richter saying “watching the games.” Four years into MLS’s streaming deal with Apple, no Union-related subject still draws more emails than the lack of games on traditional TV. So take note that the Cincinnati game will be on FS1.)
The two weeks left for the U.S. staff to judge the Union will go by quickly. But they’ve got plenty of evidence now, especially with Cavan Sullivan, Pierre, and Westfield.
So does ever more of the soccer world.
Lionel Messi scored four goals last night, but it isn't the biggest story in MLS this morning – not even on the league's own website.
The Union laid a 3-1 rout down on perennial rival Red Bull New York on Saturday in North Jersey, with a highlight-reel goal from Cavan Sullivan at the center of it.
Milan Iloski and Neil Pierre also scored to extend the Union’s unbeaten run in league games to seven, and edge them up to 12th in the Eastern Conference at the final whistle (6-10-6, 24 points). They’re now just one point back of ninth, the last playoff spot, now held by Toronto FC.
Neil Pierre (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring his goal.Philadelphia Union
As pretty as Sullivan’s goal was, Iloski’s opener had to be described as all goals counting the same, no matter how ugly they are.
Sullivan worked out of a jam to spring Danley Jean Jacques down the right flank, he hit a hopeful cross, and Iloski crashed into Dylan Nealis as both men went for the ball. Neither got it, and the prize bounced away to an unmarked Indiana Vassilev.
From there, Vassilev either woefully scuffed a shooting chance, or made it look like he did while passing back to Iloski. But the end result was Iloski gratefully tapping in from near the goal line.
Milan Iloski finishes off the sequence for @PhilaUnion! 🤩
Andre Blake made a fine save in the 31st, then got lucky when Ronald Donkor shot an easy rebound shockingly wide of the net. Blake made an even better one seven minutes later after Red Bull’s young phenom striker Julian Hall pushed off Nathan Harriel, and was lucky once again when Harriel got up just in time to block Jorge Ruvalcaba’s long-range attempt.
38' | Big save from Andre Blake
Red Bull play a long ball up top for Julian Hall (who gets away with a push on Nathan Harriel), who sees his shot saved by Blake. Jorge Ruvalcaba with the follow up shot, sees his effort headed away by Harriel.
The Union’s turn for a shocking miss came in first-half stoppage time. Iloski settled a bouncing ball and squared it through the 6-yard box for Pierre, but Justin Che beat him to it to clear off the line. The ball went back to Iloski, and his follow-up was blocked by a sliding Nealis.
The second half started with fireworks: Hall shot off the post with Blake stranded a mere 12 seconds after kickoff.
Nine minutes later, the big boom struck. Jean Jacques hit a superb cross-field pass to Sullivan on the right wing, he trapped it expertly, cut in, and lashed a shot to the far corner of New York’s net.
New York (7-10-5, 26 points) looked flattened at that point, and Pierre put them in an even deeper hole off a free kick play in the 65th.
Iloski hit the service from the left flank, Bruno Damiani jumped to flick it in the box, and Pierre crashed the back post — losing his footing along the way, but doing enough to slide the ball in. Red Bull goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, a former U.S. national team regular, could only stand on his line and watch.
Remarkably, that was the fourth goal in nine games for the 18-year-old centerback, who spent the first half of the year at Danish club Lyngby (in which the Union have an ownership stake).
The hosts got their goal in the 74th from one of the only veterans on the field for either team, 37-year-old striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. He entered the game as a substitute at halftime, when New York manager Michael Bradley switched to a two-striker setup to match the Union’s usual setup.
But that was all Bradley’s players could muster. Instead, it was the visitors celebrating not just a win, but one of the most comprehensive performances of Ryan Richter’s tenure so far.
Union fans know well by now how forgiving an MLS season can be. But that doesn’t mean it forgets.
The team’s progress since the World Cup break will hit a milestone at Saturday’s visit to Red Bull New York: it will be the teams’ first meeting since the 3-1 Union win on July 22 that started their six-game unbeaten run in league games.
Extending the streak would bring another round of good headlines, especially if Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre lead the way again. But a win wouldn’t bring the milestone fans really want, getting into a playoff spot. Though it could tie the Union (5-10-6, 21 points) with ninth-place Orlando City, the Lions would keep the lead on the first standings tiebreaker of total wins.
In a way, that frees interim manager Ryan Richter to focus on the day-to-day, as he prefers. He knows as well as anyone how far the team still has to go — even as he knows how far it has come in the last five weeks.
Cavan Sullivan (left) battling Red Bull New York’s Matthew dos Santos when the teams met at Subaru Park last month.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
“On one hand it feels like that was 20 games ago, and then on the other it feels like it was yesterday,” Richter said Thursday in his weekly news conference.
“I’ve learned a lot about the guys — I hope they’ve gotten to know myself and the staff, and how we’re operating through a season when you’re actually playing a lot of games. And I know I’ve learned a lot about the guys, and seen the good side and the bad side of them, and just appreciate the way that they’ve continued to work, and stay focused, and be honest in conversations over this really busy last couple of weeks.”
A look forward finds an equally unclear horizon. Usually when the season hits the end of August, the conversation starts turning to the playoff race. But the World Cup break means there are still 13 of the 34 games left to play in just over two months, with the regular season concluding on Nov. 7.
“You guys know my outlook on this,” Richter said. “The position the team’s in, the position that I’m in myself, I’m not worrying about 10 games from now. I’m excited for the game this weekend and putting all our energy into that, and trying to prepare the guys the best way that we possibly can so that they can be successful.”
The headlines are already touting Red Bull-Union as Julian Hall vs. Cavan Sullivan.
If it was up to me, it would be Adri Mehmeti vs. Cavan Sullivan – yes, I think that highly of Mehmeti.
I asked Ryan Richter his opinion of Mehmeti, and got plenty in the answer:
The Union loaned forward Stas Korzeniowski to Rhode Island FC of the second-tier USL Championship for the rest of the year on Thursday.
A 23-year-old Penn product in his second year as a pro, he has made nine appearances for the Union’s first team this year, and scored two goals in the early-season Concacaf Champions Cup rout of Trinidad’s Defence Force FC. He has spent the rest of the year with the Union’s reserve squad in MLS Next Pro, scoring seven goals in six games.
The state of the first team’s depth chart means Korzeniowski was stuck between sitting on the first team bench and playing for the second team at a level he’s probably better than. Going to the USL Championship for a few months will let him play in between the two.
Stas Korzeniowski celebrates after scoring a goal for the Union against Defence Force FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup back in February.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The Union couldn’t make the most of Cavan Sullivan being allowed to play against Austin on Saturday, but they at least made something out of it.
Sullivan scored in the 18th minute of a 1-1 tie, in a game played amid 98-degree temperatures in Texas’ capital city. It had been 107 during the day, and the kickoff was pushed 30 minutes later to try to mitigate things a little.
It did, but only some. At the originally scheduled 7:30 p.m. local time, the thermometer read 101 degrees.
CAVAN SULLIVAN. 🔥
The 16-year-old finishes off the set piece with authority for @PhilaUnion!
Union interim manager Ryan Richter decided to send out the same starting lineup that started Wednesday against Miami at Subaru Park — and 10 of those same 11 also started in New York last Sunday.
The man who blew the opening whistle was also of interest. Referee Rodrigo Albuquerque was working just his second MLS game. His first was in mid-May. Albuquerque has spent the rest of this year officiating on a wide range of other American circuits, including the NWSL and second-tier men’s USL Championship.
Fortunately, he didn’t need to get too involved in the early stages. The teams took care of themselves, each scoring off a corner kick play. Sullivan opened the scoring with a header in the 18th minute, and Brendan Hines-Ike responded by beating Frankie Westfield on a jump in the 21st.
That would have been for the lead if not for a brilliant Andre Blake save on Myrto Uzuni’s attempt in the 14th minute, followed by Jon Gallagher shooting the rebound across Blake but hitting the far post.
14' | SAVE Andre Blake
Austin do such a good job playing out of the back. Mryto Uzuni strikes a good ball going for the bottom left corner, but Blake does a good job getting a strong left hand save to the shot.
Austin counterpart Davy Arnaud went for it in the 63rd, sending veteran strikers Brandon Vázquez and Facundo Torres in to seek a winner. They had been rested to start since Austin (5-10-6, 21 points) plays a Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Mexican power Toluca on Wednesday in northern New Jersey.
Richter made another double-sub in the 74th, Agustín Anello and Ezekiel Alladoh for Cavan Sullivan and Bruno Damiani. That shifted Quinn Sullivan to the right attacking midfield spot, and he promptly took advantage with a 21-yard smash that Austin’s Brad Stuver leapt to palm away.
Once again interim Ryan Richter hit all the right buttons with his substitutes tonight. Anello, Alladoh and Quinn Sullivan all combined for this Sullivan shot in the 75th minute.
Since returning back from injury, the 22-year-old has registered nine shots with four of them on… pic.twitter.com/urMZL1wo6d
The home team was inches from the lead in the 83rd when Blake made a rare fumble of a bouncing ball, but Pierre made one of his many clutch plays on the night with a clearance.
82' | HUGE clearance from Neil Pierre
Andre Blake makes a mess of this cross, with Neil Pierre clearing what would've been the go ahead goal for Austin.
Alejandro Bedoya was the last Union substitute, replacing Milan Iloski in the third of six minutes of second-half stoppage time.
Blake came up huge again in the 94th with a diving save on Uzuni, who had broken past a tiring Nathan Harriel. Then the Union (5-10-6, 21 points) went the other way, got a free kick, and Anello’s shot in the box was blocked.
That was finally the end of a long night, and a long week.
90+4' | HUGE ANDRE BLAKE SAVE!!
Andre Blake with his fifth save of the night, but none bigger than this right here as he denies Myrto Uzuni again and helps the Union take a point back to Philadelphia.
The fine that came with Cavan Sullivan’s red card also was rescinded.
Appeals of suspensions in MLS are heard by a three-person panel, with one each from the U.S. Soccer Federation, Canada Soccer, and the Professional Referee Organization that oversees referees in league games.
The panel is independent from the MLS Disciplinary Committee, which hands out supplemental discipline for incidents on the field.
Tempers flared at the end of Philly-Miami 😳
Cavan Sullivan and Yannick Bright were both sent off with reds at the end of the draw.
Each team gets two unsuccessful appeals per year between the regular season and playoffs. The league confirmed that the Union still have two appeals to lose.
The disciplinary committee handed down two other sanctions to Miami players.
The amounts of both fines were not disclosed, as is usual in MLS.
An official moves to separate Quinn Sullivan (right) and Lionel Messi as tempers flared.Steven M. Falk / For The Inquirer
The committee notably did not punish Quinn Sullivan for his action toward Fray.
There is no word whether Bright will get extra discipline on top of his ejection for the scuffle with Cavan Sullivan, which included his appearing to throw a punch in Sullivan’s direction. Because he’s automatically suspended for Miami’s home game against Toronto on Saturday (the Herons did not appeal that), the disciplinary committee has time to decide whether it will do anything more to him.
These are the Philly area’s best athletes under 25 years old.
By
Inquirer Sports Staff
Published
The Philadelphia area's sports scene is on the rise — and we're not talking about the addition of LeBron James to the city's professional ranks.
The region's professional sports franchises are only part of the picture. There also are athletes enrolled in the area's many colleges and universities, a wealth of talent at the high school and amateur levels, and others who dominate individual sports like boxing or figure skating. We decided it was about time to spotlight some of the best.
Welcome to The Inquirer's first 25 Under 25 list, highlighting the region's best athletes under the age of 25.
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The criteria is simple. To qualify for our list, an athlete must:
Be under 25 as of July 1, 2026, and
Currently reside in or train in the Philadelphia area (the city, collar counties, or South Jersey) and/or play for one of the area's colleges or professional teams (including their minor league affiliates).
That second rule means that high school students from the Class of 2026 are ineligible, since many have already arrived on their respective college campuses across the country. A few of them can be found on our list of the best players fromhere, which includes Philly athletes playing elsewhere. However, there is one exception this year, which we'll explain when we get there.
With those qualifications in mind, we went searching for the best of the best. And after much debate among our sports editors, we came away with 25 athletes who truly show the region's depth of talent at every level across a variety of sports. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order.
Jasmine Bascoe
Age: 20
Jasmine Bascoe was an all-conference selection for Villanova as a freshman in 2024-25 after leading the Wildcats with 16.2 points and 4.3 assists per game in 34 games.
Bascoe, who’s from the Toronto area, followed a stellar freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign, again leading the team in points (18.9) and assists (4.8) per game. She was the Big East’s leading scorer last season, beating UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Bascoe led Denise Dillon’s Wildcats back to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a two-season drought, and the Wildcats retained Bascoe for a third season. If Bascoe takes another step forward, Villanova could be a team to watch in March.
“Denise, she trusts me, and I have all my trust in her, so I’ll do whatever she needs me to do,” Bascoe said ahead of her sophomore season. “I love it in Philly — nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Bascoe’s Villanova inspiration
Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe is having an impressive freshman season. She draws inspiration from a Wildcats legend.
She watched Jalen Brunson from home in Canada and hopes to shape her game around his. So far, it's paying off for her and the Wildcats.
Justin Crawford
Age: 22
Justin Crawford, one of the Phillies’ top five prospects entering the year, made his big league debut on opening day and has appeared in all but 10 games so far this season. Heading into play Wednesday, Crawford is slashing .270/.316/.361 as a rookie, and, after an early adjustment period at the plate, has hit .305 since June 1. The center fielder's defense also has steadily improved.
As for his struggles against left-handed pitching, which relegated him to a platoon role earlier in the season, Crawford hopes to pick the brain of new teammate Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champ and two-time Silver Slugger. And like Crawford, Arraez is a lefty who hits for average. Since Arraez’s arrival earlier this month, Crawford has been even better, slashing .342/.381/.500.
Commentary from David Murphy
Justin Crawford delights his dad Carl and showed the Phillies the weapon they might have in the nine-hole
Crawford didn’t just perform as advertised on opening day. He showed the value of what was advertised.
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Reese D’Ariano
Age: 17
The youngest member of the current United States field hockey team, Reese D’Ariano has plenty of international experience at just 17 years old. Before the field hockey World Cup in Belgium, D’Ariano won two gold medals with USA field hockey, including at the 2024 Indoor Pan American Cup in Calgary, Canada, where she was named tournament MVP. D’Ariano, who is a rising senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and committed to the University of North Carolina, is one of the top prospects in her class.
Before she began training with WC Eagles, her field hockey club, D’Ariano would train at a multipurpose field with her mother while her brother had swim practice. “Obviously, the progression was slow if you saw it day to day,” D’Ariano said. “But as the weeks and months went on, it was a pretty drastic change in how I progressed.”
Climbing the ranks
Reese D’Ariano embraces role as youngest player on USA field hockey’s World Cup roster
The 17-year-old, West Chester native was 9 the last time the U.S. women’s national team qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup. This will mark her biggest stage, and she's looking to contribute.
Riley Davis
Age: 16
Entering her senior year at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Riley Davis is the top-ranked lacrosse player in the Class of 2027, according to Inside Lacrosse. The five-star recruit and Penn State commit is a two-way midfielder for the Irish and also plays on the school’s varsity basketball team.
Riley’s father, Ben, played seven years in the MLB as a catcher. Her mother, Megan, was a two-sport athlete at Rutgers. Her brother, Tague, set Louisville’s freshman home run record (18) last year and led the nation in home runs (34) as a sophomore. Her older sister, Finley, is entering her freshman year at Furman, where she will play lacrosse after playing with Riley at Notre Dame.
Despite all that competition, Riley is considered the most athletic in a family of high-level athletes. “Riley is the best athlete in the family,” Ben told The Inquirer in April.
A family of stars
Former MLB catcher Ben Davis’ family is full of athletes. His daughter, Riley, might be the best.
Riley Davis is ranked as the No. 1 lacrosse player in the class of 2027. Her mother, Megan, and older sister, Finley, are “the anchor and the force” that guided her success.
Cooper DeJean
Age: 23
Securing your first career pick-six in the Super Bowl on your birthday is the kind of story dreams are made of. But that’s Cooper DeJean’s real life. DeJean, however, is much more than just that moment. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as the league’s best slot cornerback in 2025. He’s also one heck of a basketball player.
Now, he is taking on a new role as a safety in Vic Fangio’s base defense. He’ll still see the majority of his snaps in the slot, but his growing positional versatility is a testament to his skill as he becomes one of the Eagles’ most important players.
“Playing nickel in this defense is kind of like playing safety in a lot of ways,” DeJean said. “A lot of the techniques are pretty similar.”
DeJean’s making moves
How Cooper DeJean’s ‘first love’ of basketball helped set him on a path to the Eagles
Growing up in small-town Iowa, playing multiple sports was the norm. But DeJean stood out, especially on the basketball court, and he has the highlight reel to prove it.
Audrey Derivaux
Age: 17
A four-time world junior swimming champion, Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2027. But Derivaux recently reclassified to the Class of 2026 to start her collegiate swimming journey at Texas a year earlier than expected. Derivaux shared the news on her social media with an Instagram post captioned, “See you in August, Austin! Can’t wait to rep the Longhorns next season!”
(Editor’s note: Derivaux reclassified to 2026 after our list was complete.)
Derivaux, who turned 17 earlier this month, in 2024 was the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012 when she was 14 years old. She competed in the women's 400 individual medley, but fell short of earning a spot in Paris. In July, she competed in the USA Swimming national championship, finished with the second-best time in the 100-meter butterfly, and won a trio of under-18 events (the women’s 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the women’s 400-meter individual medley).
Derivaux on the rise
Meet Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux, the 14-year-old who’s swimming’s next rising star
The rising sophomore at Haddonfield Memorial High School became the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012. Could the 2028 Olympics be next?
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Natalie Dove
Age: 24
Since her professional debut in 2023, Natalie Dove is undefeated in nine fights — with two knockouts and five unanimous decisions. Dove, a super flyweight, remained undefeated in her most recent bout, an eight-round slugfest against Maria Micheo Santizo in April that ended with a split decision.
“No Love” Dove initially was exposed to the sport as a self-defense method and started sparring in Philadelphia at 14. She fought in amateur tournaments and trained as a hopeful for the 2020 Olympics before turning pro. Since May 2025, Dove has fought for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. She credits her toughness in the ring to her upbringing in Philly gyms and learning to hold her own “in a gym full of grown men that … talk [trash] the entire time.”
“I really don’t care what anyone says,” Dove said last year. “If anything, I’m probably the biggest bully in the gym. I think it just made me tougher and it made boxing fun for me.”
When Doves fly
How Philly’s Natalie Dove went from shadow boxing in her sleep to fighting with Jake Paul’s promotion
The 23-year-old Philly native had Olympic dreams. Now, she's preparing to face Randee Lynn Morales on Saturday for Jake Paul's MVP.
VJ Edgecombe
Age: 21
By the end of his first professional game, VJ Edgecombe already had flashed his star potential. The No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting and is set to start alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James. But don’t let him slip under the radar behind those huge names.
Edgecombe averaged 16 points per game last season and performed even better in the critical stretch in which Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George were sidelined. Brown, whose Celtics were eliminated in seven games by the Sixers, praised Edgecombe as a difference-maker in that first-round series. His teammates agree.
“He’s the guy,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ season ended. “I’m telling you guys, that guy is something different, and this was only Year 1. Year 2 is going to be better.”
Sixers’ future is now
‘I want us to go down in history’: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe’s bond will shape the Sixers’ future
Maxey and Edgecombe have served as the life source of this Sixers season. The franchise will likely will go as far as they can take them — now and in the years to come.
Tyson Foerster
Age: 24
Before an upper-body injury sidelined Tyson Foerster for 49 games, the winger was on pace for career-best numbers with 13 goals in 29 games thanks to a shot head coach Rick Tocchet called “really elite.” The Flyers signed Foerster to an eight-year extension this offseason, so, barring a trade, the winger will be in Philadelphia for years to come. He couldn’t be happier.
“For me, I love Philadelphia, and I love playing with these guys,” he said. “They asked me if I would look to extend this year, and it was a no-brainer for me. I mean, I don’t play hockey for the money, so it’s all fun, and just happy to be here, hopefully, for the next nine years.”
Foerster’s big payday
Tyson Foerster talks lucrative extension with the Flyers: ‘It was a no-brainer for me’
Foerster missed 49 games because of injury a season ago, but cited his love of the Flyers and his teammates for why he inked an extension perhaps ahead of schedule.
Colton Hiller
Age: 16
Colton Hiller, the No. 2 player in the Class of 2028, is a 6-foot-7 small forward for Coatesville. In his sophomore season, he averaged 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.8 steals. Ahead of his junior year, Hiller is uncommitted but holds offers from more than 15 schools, including Villanova and Penn State. Last summer, he was part of the gold-medal winning Team USA at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup, where he averaged 13 points in six games.
In his two seasons with the Red Raiders, the five-star recruit has already surpassed 1,000 career points. He plays travel basketball in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, representing the 17-and-under PSA Cardinals, based in New York.
Despite having ‘a lot of eyes on me,’ hoops star Colton Hiller plans to stay at Coatesville
The 15-year-old, who’s nationally ranked, just wrapped up a stellar sophomore season. With the spotlight only getting bigger, Hiller has remained committed to developing in his hometown.
Maxwell Hiller
Age: 17
Maxwell Hiller — yes, he’s Colton’s older brother — also is a five-star recruit, but not in basketball. The Coatesville offensive lineman is entering his senior year and is the top-ranked interior O-lineman in the nation and No. 2 player overall for the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports. With more than 40 college offers, Hiller received his first college offer in eighth grade from Penn State. In April, the 6-foot-5 lineman committed to Florida.
“I don’t even watch the play, I just watch [Max],” Colton said of his brother. “I definitely like when he gets people on the ground, just pancakes, and that’s probably my favorite part.”
Max also played basketball, using it as a way to stay in shape, and even received an offer to play college hoops at La Salle.
Two Hillers are better than one
Meet Coatesville High’s Maxwell and Colton Hiller, who are rising stars in different sports
Max is a rising junior and ranked as one of the best offensive tackles in the country. Colton, who recently turned 15, is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard ranked No. 4 in his class.
Salman Khalil
Age: 21
Cairo-born Salman Khalil has been a standout in squash for Penn since he joined the Quakers in 2023. He was the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 and was the conference’s Player of the Year as a sophomore. Khalil, a rising senior, has been a standout for Penn as it has claimed its first two Potter Cups as the collegiate squash national champion in his first two seasons.
As a sophomore, Khalil became the first Quaker to claim the individual national championship (Pool Trophy) and the Potter Cup in the same season — and he did it while fasting for Ramadan. In addition to his career at Penn, Khalil is No. 52 in the squash world rankings. He holds a 42-16 record in noncollegiate events.
Khalil’s big win for Penn
Penn captured another national squash title even as three players fasted for Ramadan
Salman Khalil clinched the Potter Cup national team championship by beating Yale's Tad Carney. Khalil, Marwan Abdelsalam, and Omar Hafez of the Quakers were fasting during the final.
Makai Lemon
Age: 22
Makai Lemon, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2026, hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet. But with A.J. Brown gone, the rookie has big shoes to fill and a big opportunity in front of him. At Southern Cal, he averaged 14.6 yards per catch and racked up 1,156 receiving yards in 12 games in his final season. Lemon is known for his elite ball skills, despite being just 5-foot-11, on the smaller side for a receiver. He suffered an injury that sidelined him during minicamp and has been dealing with a hamstring injury during training camp. But when it’s time for him to take the field, Eagles fans will be “getting a dawg,” Lemon told the crowd on draft night.
“You drafted the guy that’s going to match the city’s intensity when it comes to pro football,” said Ray Fenton, Lemon’s former coach at Los Alamitos High School, located outside Los Angeles.
What Lemon brings
What the film says about Eagles first-round draft pick Makai Lemon
What does the newest Eagles wideout do well, and how does it fit in the new-look scheme?
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Isabeau Levito
Age: 19
Isabeau Levito became a household name this winter as one of the “Blade Angels,” the women’s figure skaters representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Olympics. She missed out on the podium, but she still got to bask in the experience of being an Olympian.
“It was just so cool with all these athletes from different sports all in one place,” Levito said. “It was very magical, and it was a dream come true.”
The South Jersey native also skated to a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Championships in March. Levito has eight podium finishes at major events in her career, including silver at the 2024 World Championships and gold at the 2023 U.S. Championship. And she’s already started teasing her next routine.
What’s next for Isabeau?
South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito reached the peak this year with the Olympics. She wants more.
The Olympics were "very magical and a dream come true," Levito said. But she also wished she pushed herself more and is eager to get back to training and up her content for next season.
Porter Martone
Age: 19
Porter Martone, who got his start blasting holes in the wall of his parents’ basement before starring at Michigan State, made an immediate impact following his NHL debut, with 10 points in his nine regular-season games. After the Flyers’ season ended in the second round against Carolina, Martone joined Team Canada at World Championships and got ice time on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, scoring one goal and four assists in 10 games.
“He wants to be out there when the game’s on the line,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He’s unflappable.”
Martone’s origin story
Flyers rookie Porter Martone blasted holes in his parents’ basement before becoming an NHL phenom
The teenager has taken the NHL by storm in the playoffs. He honed his scoring touch growing up in Ontario, firing slap shots in the basement and beating "Jeff" the goalie in his backyard.
Matvei Michkov
Age: 21
Matvei Michkov’s sophomore NHL season was a bit turbulent, but the 21-year-old’s potential is sky-high, if his post-Olympic break stretch leading the team in points is any indication. At his best, the winger is a game-breaker and an elite talent the Flyers desperately need.
“He knows he needs to improve off the ice in his training — and that’s not a secret — he’s admitted that himself. … So, the big thing for Matvei is adapting," general manager Danny Brière said.
Coming to America
Matvei Michkov is 5,100 miles away from his home in Russia. But in Philly, ‘life has become easier.’
The 21-year-old's adjustment to North American culture, the English language, and the NHL is ongoing. But the Flyers winger is starting to feel more comfortable on and off the ice.
Quinyon Mitchell
Age: 25
Quinyon Mitchell is the oldest player on our list and the only one who has already turned 25 — he beat our cutoff date by about two weeks — but the Eagles cornerback is more than deserving. He won the Super Bowl and was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and has just kept improving.
Mitchell was named first-team All-Pro in his second season and was ranked 47th on the NFL’s top 100 Players of 2026 by his peers, and there’s still room for him to grow. Mitchell’s lockdown coverage makes him a ball repellent. He was targeted just 85 times last year and gave up 36 catches for 451 yards and one touchdown. But in two NFL seasons, Mitchell still hasn’t picked off a pass in the regular season. He’s hoping to change that in 2026.
“I’ve been working with the staff on catching and eye placement and stuff like that, so I just need to get better,” Mitchell said.
Commentary from Marcus Hayes
Quinyon Mitchell looked like an All-Pro vs. the Lions. His Florida family and friends were there to see it.
The Eagles cornerback allowed zero catches against Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jared Goff, and the highest-scoring offense in the NFC.
Andrew Painter
Age: 23
After years of anticipation, Andrew Painter got his first crack at the Phillies’ rotation this year, and it didn’t go as many hoped. The 23-year-old had a 7.06 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts, before being demoted to triple A. His first game back in the majors showed promise. After giving up a double and a home run early, he settled in for six strong innings and only allowed one hit after that.
“When he’s done some things with his delivery, which is going more directly to the plate rather than spinning off, he’s had more life,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowskisaid.
His three starts since — including one that was cut short by hamstring tightness — have been trending in the wrong direction. But at his best, Painter still represents a ton of potential.
Commentary from David Murphy
Andrew Painter has reached his Roy Halladay moment. It is on him to seize it.
Failing is easy. The hard work is what comes next with his demotion to triple A. It's an endeavor upon which Painter must embark, much like Halladay did at his age.
Jordyn Palmer
Age: 17
Westtown School star Jordyn Palmer is a 6-foot-2 rising senior guard/forward who is No. 9 in her class, according to ESPN. Palmer, a three-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 23.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 3.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks as a junior, helping lead the Westtown School (28-2) to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game. She has 1,746 career points and 894 career rebounds.
She has offers from more than 20 colleges, including South Carolina and LSU. In June, she was named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball, awarded to the best female high school basketball player in the state, voted on by fans, coaches, and media.
Best is yet to come
Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer — a basketball phenom and highly sought-after recruit — has untapped potential
The 6-foot-2 junior, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation, has had constant attention on her since she was 14. She has taken her game to a new level, but the best of her talents has yet to be displayed.
Labaron Philon Jr.
Age: 20
Labaron Philon Jr. is one of a few professional players on this list who have yet to make their debut, but there are high hopes and plenty of hype surrounding the former Alabama point guard who fell to the Sixers as the 22nd overall pick in this summer’s draft.
Of course, the expectations have eased in recent weeks as the Sixers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. But the 20-year-old brings shooting (48.2% for the Crimson Tide in two seasons) and a spark off the bench behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Philon’s Sixers career already got off to a good start at NBA Summer League, and he’s got a plan for his transition into the league.
“Having the same ‘dawg’ mentality that I had at Alabama and being the same person,” Philon said after his Sixers debut. “Being me, really.”
Philon’s ready for Philly
Labaron Philon Jr. is ready for his rookie season with ‘a lot at stake’ after Sixers added LeBron James, Jaylen Brown
"Being a rookie and being able to be around all those guys is a privilege for me," Philon said after the Sixers added James and Brown this offseason.
Lavar Scott
Age: 22
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott comes from a racing family, so it’s no surprise that he was able to climb the ranks of stock car racing to become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR. In two full seasons in the ARCA Menards Series, Scott finished in the top five 22 times for Rev Racing, including four second place finishes.
He earned a full-time spot in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, making 22 starts in Alpha Prime Racing’s No. 45 Chevrolet. Scott has earned five top-20 finishes in 22 starts this season. Still looking for his first NASCAR win, Scott is chasing a feeling that he first learned racing go-karts at five years old.
“It’s a feeling that when I go to bed, I think about, [when I] wake up, [I] think about, [when I] sleep, [I am] thinking about. It’s just the feeling of standing on top of your car after a win and [celebrating] with your friends and family and knowing you did your job really well that day,” Scott said in June.
From South Jersey to NASCAR
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott, one of NASCAR’s three Black drivers, is chasing greatness and not looking back: ‘There was no Plan B’
Go behind the scenes at Pocono Raceway with 22-year-old South Jersey native Lavar Scott and the family that helped him become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR.
Luigi Suigo
Age: 19
Standing at 7-foot-3, Italian-born center Luigi Suigo was the marquee addition for Kevin Willard this summer as he tries to lead Villanova back to the NCAA Tournament. Suigo, born in northern Italy, has played professionally in Europe since 2023. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 games during 2025-26 for KK Mega Basket of Serbia. Suigo entered the 2026 NBA draft and was projected as a late first-round, early second-round selection before he withdrew and decided to play college basketball at Villanova.
“He wants to make sure when he gets drafted, he’s going to play,” Willard said of Suigo in June. “The big thing is I think he needs to get Americanized a little bit, to American basketball. I think that’s why college will be really good for him.”
Even better for the Italian big man, Suigo will begin his college career with a game in Rome, where the Wildcats will play Notre Dame on Nov. 1.
From Italy to the Main Line
Big man Luigi Suigo has arrived at Villanova. His journey to the 2027 NBA draft is underway.
Suigo is expected to join the short list of Villanova players who are on campus for one season before being selected in the NBA draft. But his temporary stop at Villanova is a critical one.
Cavan Sullivan
Age: 16
Cavan Sullivan, the youngest professional on this list, has a chance to be the most internationally recognized real athlete to come from Philadelphia — apologies to Rocky. The attacking midfielder has a deal in place that will send him to English giant Manchester City once he turns 18, but for now, he’s tearing up the pitch for the Union. He netted his first MLS goal in May, and his role for the team has continued to grow.
“It’s a big year for me,” Sullivan said in January. “It’s exciting, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I know there’s still work to do and stuff to prove.”
Look out for Sullivan in stars and stripes, too. He’s still waiting on his first senior team call-up, but he’s received numerous call-ups to U.S. youth national teams and scored twice at the 2025 FIFA under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
A Philly soccer story
Why Cavan Sullivan, hyped as the world’s best 14-year-old soccer player, chose to turn pro with the Union
In a few years, Sullivan will play for English superpower Manchester City. But for now he has chosen to start with his hometown team. Here's the inside story of why he picked the Union.
Quinn Sullivan
Age: 22
While his younger brother has Europe’s attention, Quinn Sullivan has developed into an integral piece for his hometown club. Before an ACL tear ended his 2025 season, Sullivan scored three goals and logged eight assists in 31 appearances across all competitions as the Union claimed the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Sullivan also has experience with the U.S. men’s national team and made one start during the 2025 Gold Cup.
Sullivan returned from his ACL injury in July 2026, and now that he’s fully healthy, he’s back in the Union’s starting lineup. Quinn isn’t making a move to Europe yet, but the Bridesburg native is happy to represent his hometown club for now.
“I’d love to be the face of this team,” Sullivan said in January. “I mean, I grew up supporting this team. I love this team; I love this city. I feel like I embody what Philadelphia means.”
Holding down the homefront
Quinn Sullivan ‘would love to be the face’ of the Union. When he returns from a torn ACL, he just might be.
Though the 21-year-old from Bridesburg likely won't be back on the field until July, he's in good spirits. He appreciates all the support he's gotten from fans, the Union, and the national team.
Gage Wood
Age: 22
Gage Wood, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2025, made his first start at Citizens Bank Park in July — as part of the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
But the right-hander, who was promoted to double-A Reading earlier this season, is progressing quickly through the system. Wood’s elite fastball helped get him to No. 33 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, but there are questions about whether Wood is a starter or a reliever long-term.
“Obviously, I want to go back to the Bank as fast as I can,” Wood said. “I just keep working every day and try to get there as fast as possible.”
Patience paying off
Phillies prospect Gage Wood may have to take a longer road to the majors — and he’s OK with that
After the Phillies drafted the 22-year-old pitcher out of Arkansas, they plan to develop Wood as a starter. Fans caught a glimpse of the first-round pick in the Spring Breakout game on Saturday.
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That completes the first installment of The Inquirer’s 25 Under 25 athlete list. Naturally we couldn’t include every great athlete from the area, so be sure to check out our list of those who just missed the cut. We also have a list of the best under-25 athletes that are from the region but no longer play here. And, of course, we want to know who you think should’ve made the cut but didn’t, so email us at sports.daily@inquirer.com with anyone we might have missed.
Staff Contributors
Design and Development: Julia Duarte
Reporting: Gabriela Carroll, Owen Hewitt, Mia Messina
Editing: Matt Mullin
Illustration: Vivi John
List Curation: Inquirer Sports Editors
Digital Editing: Matt Mullin
Copy Editing: Maria McIlwain
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Sullivan didn’t actually get to play against Messi until May of this year, when the Union infamously surrendered a two-goal first-half lead in a 6-4 loss that became Bradley Carnell’s last game as manager.
Now, finally, the Union’s 16-year-old star might get to play on his own turf against the Argentine legend.
Though there’s no guarantee Messi (or anyone) will play Wednesday night at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m., Apple TV), all signs point to it happening. So the hype machine is up and running: Messi vs. Sullivan, soccer’s greatest of all time against an American phenom in the land of underdogs.
Cavan Sullivan (right) posing with Lionel Messi at their first meeting in 2024.Philadelphia Union
It won’t just be those two on the field, of course. There will be several other players, and Sullivan was quick to point that out.
“Just more excited, because I know I’ll be able to go against him and play against him,” Sullivan said. “But not just him, right? Obviously, [Sergio] Reguilón’s on the field, [Rodrigo] De Paul, Casemiro, there’s other tremendous players. But I’m not too focused on that — just focused on my play and the team preparing and just ready to go.”
There also will be a lot of eyes on 18-year-old Union centerback Neil Pierre as he prepares for a potential battle with a star striker more than twice his age, 39-year-old Luis Suárez.
“It’s not going to be so much about the physical part of it, but it’s the clever movements, it’s the experience, it’s the guile, the way that he positions himself,” Union interim manager Ryan Richter said of Suárez. “The way he almost goes invisible from the game from the centerback, has been standing in an offside position, and then pops up at the right time. It’s going to take a lot of focus from Neil and a lot of communication from Andre [Blake] and from our back line to make sure that we know where he is at all times.”
Neil Pierre (right) will face his biggest challenge yet against Inter Miami’s superstars.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
His first meeting with the Union was his sixth of 108 games in pink, the Leagues Cup semifinal in August of 2023. It also was 4-1, but in the other direction. Messi scored Miami’s second goal in front of a bursting-at-the-seams crowd in Chester.
This time, Inter arrives following another 4-1 result: a shocking loss at first-place Nashville on Saturday that will echo all the way until the playoffs. It was a reminder that for all the Herons’ star power, they can be beaten.
The Union, meanwhile, are riding a four-game winning streak in MLS games, including Sunday’s wild comeback win in New York.
“I would say momentum exists,” Sullivan said. “We have it right now: Four wins in the league is pretty cool, coming off a poor start of the season. So, yeah, obviously vibes are high. But never too high, never too low, and we’ve just got to stay focused and be ready to go.”
The vibes were especially high after Sunday night’s final whistle, when Sullivan and fellow Northeast Philadelphia native Frankie Westfield led the team’s celebrations with the Union fans along the first-base line at Yankee Stadium. For all the talk of Sullivan eventually going to Manchester City, that moment showed the Union are his club.
“That moment was really special to me,” he said. “Since my debut to now where I’m actually playing, these fans have welcomed me and supported me along the way. … Big thanks to them, and I obviously feel at home.
So what will it take for this to finally be the time the Union beat Messi?
Cavan Sullivan leads the Union over to the away fans’ section to celebrate the win:
“We’ve just got to come out with that fire,” Sullivan said. “We went through it today: Don’t play scared. Have that same bravery we’ve had in the past. We’re just going to put our body on the line to fight for the fans, fight for each other, and the fans will see.”
He’s also ready, as many longtime Union fans are, for there to be a lot of pink shirts in the crowd amid the usual blue and gold. A victory could win some of them over, too.
Sullivan claimed he “doesn’t really focus on the fans too much,” but within a breath he admitted he knows.
“You obviously notice when your home crowd is there to support versus when they’re not,” he said. “But, yeah, I think by the end of the night, you’ll see people buying Philadelphia Union jerseys because they watched a good game and they saw a team with spirit and fight. Maybe we have a little bit of an underdog story.”
Messi still brings Philly out
For those who thought the Lionel Messi Effect had worn off, given that it’s his third MLS season, know that it’s still alive and well here in the Philly area.
The Union’s game Wednesday night vs. Inter Miami at Subaru Park again will be in front of a near-capacity crowd with just standing room only tickets remaining, according to multiple sources.
Lionel Messi undoubtedly will play in front of a sold-out crowd again when Inter Miami travel to Subaru Park to face the Union. Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
That leaves the secondary market for an actual seat, and, as of Tuesday evening, tickets jumped close to three times their usual price. The cheapest seat was in the Union’s supporters’ section, the River End, for $187, which included fees on SeatGeek, the official secondary ticket market for several MLS clubs, including the Union. That same seat on a regular match day is a fraction of that.
Premium tickets, like Managers Row (behind the team benches) could run you $1,229. It was $136 to stand along the Seaport Party Deck, with limited availability remaining for standing room only.
Union interim head coach Ryan Richter says the excitement over Lionel Messi is great for the league but not what he and his team are focused on ahead of Wednesday’s match. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
But currently in a quest to lock in a playoff spot — which if you can believe that the Union are a mere five points out from the final playoff spot in MLS’ Eastern Conference — Richter says that the Messi hoopla is “an amazing thing for the league,” but at the end of the day, three points are all he and the Union are envisioning.
“What Messi and what Miami has done for MLS and for our league has been incredible,” Richter said. “Just the following that they brought and the excitement that comes around with them coming into town. But for us … we are pushing to win the game. It’s a league game, and we’re in desperate need of three points. And that’s how we have to approach it. … We are in a moment where the three points are the most important thing. And that’s what we have to attack the game with. [Our motivation] is going for the win.”
