Eye of the Tiger: A Season to Remember for Atlanta United 2
- Madison Crews
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
It’s been just over a week since Atlanta United 2’s season officially came to a close, and I wanted to put into words what this year was like — not only to watch, but to cover and call for the 2’s.
Now on the Five Stripes Countdown on 92.9 The Game, I do the Matchday Mixtape for each match. I thought I’d do the same thing for this article — but one song kept coming to mind whenever I thought about Atlanta United 2.
Written specifically for Rocky III, the song soundtracks the film’s training sequence. It’s all about overcoming hardship and bouncing back stronger — exactly what Atlanta United 2 did this season. Every setback was met with a response. They worked together as 11 men on the field and got the job done.
We saw so many players take huge steps in their careers this season. Nine ATLUTD Academy players made their Atlanta United 2 debuts, and many became key contributors down the stretch as the 2’s pushed for a playoff berth.
Gabriel Wesseh, Santiago Pita, and DD Sibrian were among the standouts, consistently starting and causing problems for opponents. Wesseh’s confidence with the ball grew tremendously. Pita showcased his comfort and skill in 1v1 situations. Sibrian showed how composed and reliable he can be in midfield, cleaning up mistakes and steadying play for the 2’s.
This is exactly what Atlanta United 2 is for — giving young players professional minutes and preparing them for the moment their name is called.
We also saw players like Nyk Sessock, Sal Mazzaferro, and Patrick Weah step up to help not only the second team, but the first team as well. Sessock made his MLS debut on June 12 as a substitute against New York City FC and earned multiple call-ups throughout the season, including an appearance against Pumas on August 2. Signed initially with the 2’s, he earned a first-team contract for the rest of the year.
Mazzaferro was called into action in the 4-0 loss to Inter Miami when Stian Gregersen went down in the first half. As captain of Atlanta United 2, Sal proved his quality and leadership in the back — a player many of the Academy and younger players looked up to for guidance. A true captain, on and off the field.
Weah also featured late in that match. He had a slower start to the season but came on strong as the year went on. His acceleration is elite, and he’s willing to do the dirty work defensively while producing some of the most insane goals I have ever seen. (Hint: go vote for Weah’s scorpion-kick goal on MLS NEXT Pro socials.)
We also saw continued growth from Cooper Sanchez, Dominik Chong Qui,
and Jonathan Ransom, who signed with Atlanta United 2 through the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season and will officially become Homegrown players on January 1, 2027.
There were so many breakthrough performances and new faces who made an impact this year. It’s been exciting to watch José Silva Ball develop in these matches as well.
This season will always hold a special place in my heart. My first-ever play-by-play on 92.9 The Game was for Atlanta United 2’s 3-2 victory over Columbus Crew 2 — a night that made Atlanta radio history. After the match, Jason told me that he and Mike Conti had been through it all, and with my call for the 2’s, I became the first woman to call play-by-play for a local radio broadcast in Atlanta.
I didn’t know how to feel afterward, but I remember thinking it was fitting that it happened with Atlanta United 2. One of my first major projects with Soccer Down Here during my internship was an Atlanta United 2 season preview — so to come full circle with this group was a special moment.
This team and coaching staff accomplished something incredible this season. Watching them flourish every match was an absolute treat. On behalf of all of us at Soccer Down Here, thank you for making our jobs easier — and for always keeping us on our toes.
I can now say I’ve called one match that stretched across two days and two different venues, one at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and another that unfolded across an entire week. It was chaotic, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
It’s bittersweet that we couldn’t see this group reach the playoffs — something that’s never been done in club history — but history can be rewritten, and this squad has shown that it’s possible.
I think I’ve rambled enough, but hopefully you’ve enjoyed my reflections on the 2025 Atlanta United 2 season. I’m already looking forward to whatever chaos 2026 has in store.
I’ll leave you with this: this season — for both the first team and the 2’s — is the perfect example of why you need to pay attention to these young players and Atlanta United 2. This is the future of Atlanta United.
For the final time this year — Up the 2’s!