USL Super League champion Tampa Bay Sun FC gears up for a second season

The Sun’s pioneer season was about as successful as it could be.

Tampa Bay’s first-ever professional women’s soccer team finished with a record of 14-6-10, the first-ever USL Super League Championship, and plans for a permanent stadium in Ybor City. But next month, the slate gets wiped clean.

Tampa Bay Sun FC starts its 2025-26 season with an away game against Brooklyn FC on Aug. 23. Though the Ybor City stadium is far from becoming a reality, the team will play its first home match at Riverfront Stadium on Aug. 30 against a newcomer to the USL, Sporting Jacksonville.

As fans learned last year, the USL Super League season is split in half, with a month-long break for the athletes in between. For the Sun, the Fall season ends Dec. 20 and the Spring season begins Jan. 31.

The Tampa Bay Sun have 14 games in downtown Tampa this season, where Sun fans can head to Riverfront Stadium at Blake High School to see their favorite players on the pitch.

While the current USL Super League Champions are hoping for back-to-back trophies, almost a dozen player transfers or changes (so far) have shaken up the roster.

One notable loss is the Tampa Bay Sun’s leading goal scorer Cecil Fløe Nielson, who will play for Italy’s Napoli Femminile this year. She had 12 of the team’s 45 goals during the 2024-25 season.

The Sun’s other big goal-scorers Natasha Flint and Carlee Giammona remain in Tampa (for now).

Regardless of these shifts in personnel, Christina Unkel, President and General Manager of Tampa Bay Sun FC wants to keep things moving.

“We’re ready to build on the tremendous success of our inaugural season,” Unkel wrote in a press release.

“Together with our fans, we’re showing the Tampa Bay area the power of women’s sports. If you want to be inspired, see incredible action, or just have a great time, then come see the Sun next season.” [event-1]

Tampa Bay Sun FC 2025-26 home games

Fall

• Saturday, Aug. 30 v. Sporting Jacksonville – 8 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Sept. 20 v. Dallas Trinity FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Oct. 4 v. Fort Lauderdale United FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Nov. 22 v. Lexington SC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Dec. 6 v. Sporting Jacksonville – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Dec. 13 v. Brooklyn FC – 7:30 p.m. ET

Spring

• Friday, Jan. 31 v. Spokane Zephyr FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Friday, Feb. 14 v. DC Power – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Feb. 21 v. Fort Lauderdale United FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, March 18 v. Brooklyn FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sunday, April 5 v. Carolina Ascent FC – 5 p.m. ET
• Saturday, April 11 v. DC Power – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, April 25 v. Carolina Ascent FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, May 9 v. Dallas Trinity FC – 7:30 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay Sun FC 2025-26 away games

Fall

• Saturday, Aug. 23 at Brooklyn FC – 6 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Sept. 6 at Carolina Ascent FC – 7 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Sept. 13 at Spokane Zephyr – 6 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Oct. 11 at Brooklyn FC – 6 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Oct. 18 at Sporting Jacksonville – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Nov. 8 at Spokane Zephyr FC – 6 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Nov. 15 at Fort Lauderdale United FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Dec. 20 at Sporting Jacksonville – 7:30 p.m. ET

Spring

• Friday, March 13 at Carolina Ascent FC – 7 p.m. ET
• Thursday, March 26 at DC Power – 7 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, March 31 at Dallas Trinity FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, April 18 at Lexington SC – 5 p.m. ET
• Saturday, May 2 at Fort Lauderdale United FC – 7:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, May 16 at Lexington SC – 5 p.m.

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This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2025.