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New Faces, New Identity: the Lights' Roster Build So Far

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New Faces, New Identity: the Lights' Roster Build So Far

Published on February 5, 2026 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Las Vegas Lights FC News Release

The Lights are gearing up for a challenging 2026 USL Championship season. Here's all you need to know.

The 2026 USL Championship is right around the corner and the Lights, under Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia and Head Coach Devin Rensing's leadership, have been slowly but surely shaping up the team's roster to compete on all fronts.

With only ten returning players from the 2025 season, Vegas started the offseason with the clear mission of bringing in new elements that could fit within Devin Rensing's tactical plan. Neglia has placed an emphasis on quality and experience, seeking high-performance players with strong minutes in professional soccer.

This search has resulted in thirteen new player signings for the Lights - thirteen players with solid performance metrics, leadership, and significant minutes in the USL Championship and beyond.

Here's everything you need to know about the Lights 2026 roster... so far, with new players bolded.

Goalkeepers

99. Jared Mazzola

96. Carver Miller

As of right now, Jared Mazzola and Carver Miller are the Lights' goalkeepers for the 2026 season.

Mazzola, who spent the past two seasons at Sacramento Republic serving as understudy to USL Championship legend Danny Vitiello, brings dominance within the box, a winning mentality, and clutch saves to Vegas. His 2025 USL Cup is one for the books, making a tournament-high 24 saves while keeping an incredible five clean sheets to guide Sacramento to the final.

Carver Miller, the man of the people, is back for another season with the Lights. A 21-year-old goalkeeper with tremendous potential, Miller possesses the height and the reflexes to excel at this level. In the minutes he played throughout 2025, he showed glimpses of his capacity, conceding only one goal in two matches.

Center Backs

33. Aaron Guillen

30. Ben Ofeimu

3. Nate Jones

5. Elias Gartig

The Lights have bolstered their back line with three new center backs: Ben Ofeimu, Aaron Guillen, and Nate Jones.

Ben Ofeimu is a big, physical center back with more than 150 USL Championship appearances under his belt despite being only 25. Beyond his defending, he's a menace on set pieces, scoring a career-high three goals in his last season with Indy Eleven.

Aaron Guillen is a USL Championship and Tampa Bay Rowdies legend. A quality left-footed center back, Guillen is a born leader with more than 21,000 minutes of pro soccer experience. He's also versatile, often being deployed as a left back when needed.

After joining the Lights on loan from Colorado Rapids for the 2025 season, Nate Jones is back in Vegas on a permanent deal. A fast and trustworthy center back with good technique, Jones will be a valuable asset for Devin Rensing's defensive structure in 2026.

Finally, returning center back Elias Gartig is ready to continue his career's upward trajectory after playing every single minute of the 2025 USL Championship season - one of only three players in the league to do so. A tall defender with a commanding presence and personality, Gartig could become one of the Championship's most dominant defensive figures.

Outside Backs

45. Blake Pope

2. Jahlane Forbes

6. Nyk Sessock

81. Themi Antonoglou

20. Shawn Smart

Outside backs are key in transitioning play and moving the ball from the defensive to the attacking phase of the game. To reinforce its flanks, the Lights have signed four new players: Blake Pope, Jahlane Forbes, Nyk Sessock, and Themi Antonoglou.

A promising player who can be deployed on both wings, Blake Pope is an athletic and versatile outside back. He has a wealth of experience at the MLS NEXT Pro level and is clearly ready to take the next major step in his career.

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Jahlane Forbes brings MLS and US Youth National Team experience to the Lights' left flank. He's quick, robust, and knows the league well, as he spent the second half of the USL Championship season on loan at North Carolina FC.

Nyk Sessock is a lightning-fast, tricky right back with a keen eye for assists. Sessock shined at the collegiate and MLS NEXT Pro levels, and his high-energy profile fits well in Rensing's system.

Themi Antonoglou is the type of player who drives attacks and generates significant scoring opportunities for attackers. A product of the Toronto FC youth setup, Antonoglou led the Canadian Premier League's assists table in 2024 while playing for Winnipeg side Valour FC. He'll be most comfortable when playing on the left.

Finally, the last element in the Lights' outside back repertoire, a familiar face that's returning to the team in 2026: Shawn Smart. A speedy, skillful right back who's become a fan favorite, Smart will head into his third season wearing the Lights badge.

Central Midfielders

43. Abraham Okyere

8. Kyle Scott

23. Marc Ybarra

18. Carson Locker

17. Patrick Leal

27. Giorgio Probo

The Lights have strengthened the midfield with the incorporation of three new players: Ghanaian pivot Abraham Okyere, former Chelsea FC Academy graduate Kyle Scott, and 2024 USL Championship runner-up Marc Ybarra.

Okyere is a maestro in tight spaces who dictates the rhythm of play with his high soccer IQ, technical ability, and accurate passing. He was a set starter for FC Haka in the Finnish first division last season, starting in 18 of 22 matches as a central midfielder.

Kyle Scott knows the ins and outs of the USL Championship. A well-rounded midfielder who contributes to both defense and attack, Scott accumulated 81 appearances for Orange County SC before heading to Crawley Town in the English fourth tier.

A seasoned USL Championship player with strong stints at Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Rhode Island, Marc Ybarra is a ball-playing midfielder known for his defensive acumen. He'll give Rensing a more defensive, hard-hitting profile to deploy in the center of the pitch.

Promising midfielder Carson Locker is the latest addition to the Lights' central midfield arsenal. At just 18 years of age, he has racked up an impressive 1,631 minutes at the MLS Next Pro level, showcasing his talent at St. Louis City SC and FC Cincinnati's second teams. His maturity and talent make him one of the young talents to follow in the upcoming USL Championship season.

Patrick Leal and Giorgio Probo are the sole returners in midfield. Leal is notable for his high work rate and continuous drives towards attack, often moving from the team's double-pivot into an attacking midfielder role. Probo is as elegant as they come; a central midfielder with refined technique and top-tier playmaking.

Attacking Midfielders/Wingers

7. Ben Mines

10. Edison Azcona

11. Christian Pinzon

Attacking midfielders and wingers lead a team's attacking efforts using their creativity and clever playmaking abilities. In the Lights' case, there are three options available for these crucial roles: new signing Ben Mines and returning players Edison Azcona and Christian Pinzon.

Mines had a strong 2025 with Loudoun United, registering 14 goal contributions across 34 appearances to help take the team to their first-ever USLC playoffs. His development with the New York Red Bulls organization (famed for their high pressing style) fits perfectly within Devin Rensing's preferred system.

Meanwhile, returnees Azcona and Pinzon will aim for health and consistency in 2026. Blessed with technique, speed, and an innate talent to take on rivals with ease, the upcoming season looks increasingly promising for the gifted duo.

Forwards

9. Manuel Arteaga

14. Johnny Rodriguez

21. Nighte Pickering

In soccer, the team that scores more goals than the opposition wins. Obviously.

To score goals, you need proper forwards: goalscoring machines with killer instinct. The Lights' options up front are excellent: Manuel Arteaga and returnees Johnny Rodriguez and Nighte Pickering.

Manuel Arteaga is a seasoned striker with experience in South America, Europe, and USL. The Venezuelan has made 163 appearances in the Championship, scoring 61 goals during his stints with Indy Eleven, Phoenix Rising, and Tampa Bay Rowdies. A fierce competitor, Arteaga is a tremendous addition to the Lights attacking options.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez was the team's top scorer in 2025, tallying ten goals across all competitions. A well-known striker at the USL Championship level who has double digit goals in each of the last three seasons, he figures to be a centerpiece in attack.

A young veteran of the league, Nighte Pickering has racked up 98 pro soccer appearances at just 21 years of age. Pickering is a quick forward who can be deployed as a striker or as a winger; he'll be one of the young players to watch in the upcoming season.

The roster build as it stands:

Goalkeepers: