PHOENIX — Phoenix Rising’s Darius Johnson believes the team is trending in the right direction with how they’ve played over the past few weeks.
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Phoenix Rising’s Dariusz Formella looks for an opening to score on June 7, 2025. Credits: Phoenix Rising FC
Rising have been on a hot streak, going undefeated in their last six matches and winning four in that span. Many players are stepping up, especially with absences from a few due to international play.
Johnson has been out playing for Grenada but told reporters he has been keeping up with Phoenix in the meantime. He noticed how much more mature the young club has been playing in recent weeks, and keeping things simple.
Phoenix Rising’s Ryan Flood runs for the ball against FC Tulsa on June 14, 2025. Credits: Phoenix Rising FC
“You can see that we’ve learned a lot from the mistakes that we had in the early parts of the season. It was a very naive and young team, and I think everybody started to realize their roles.”
When it came to early-season injuries and the slow start, Johnson said the growing pains would eventually subside. He mentioned how head coach Pa-Modou Kah helped the young core focus throughout the season.
The move AND the finish ????????
Ihsan Sacko of @PHXRisingFC has won the @select_america Goal of the Week! pic.twitter.com/L0gvHZlAzk
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) June 19, 2025
“I’m so proud of the team,” Johnson said. “… There [are] young players that came up and they’re grown into men. They’re settling into an environment where they know that you have to be a man, a man in a man’s game.”
Phoenix Rising returns to the pitch to face off against the Charleston Battery on Saturday, June 21.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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