Two soccer players, AJ Smith and Nick Dang, have made a surprising return to their team after being drafted to MLS.
“To have them both back was unlikely, and you have two guys that are a handful.” - George Gelnovatch
Smith and Dang were teammates at Virginia, where Dang had a standout junior year as a goal-scoring centerback. During the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Smith waited anxiously to see if his friend would be drafted, checking the results on a website.
Despite the initial uncertainty, both players are now back and making an impact on their team.
Author's summary: Two soccer players return to their team after MLS draft surprises.