Carolina Ascent FC vs. Dallas Trinity FC
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Kickoff: Saturday, February 21, 2 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 65º
Broadcast: PeacockTV.com
Storylines to Know
- Carolina Ascent (5-7-5, 20pts) returns to action aiming to break a three-game losing streak after a 2-0 defeat to Spokane Zephyr FC last Saturday saw the side drop below the playoff line.
- Dallas Trinity FC (7-5-3, 24pts) heads to Carolina after a bye during Week 19 caused by the postponement of the side’s contest at Lexington SC. That contest will now be played on Sunday, March 8 at the conclusion of the international break.
- Trinity has gone 3-1-1 in five previous meetings between the sides including victories in their past two meetings. Dallas’ Lexi Missimo scored the only goal when the sides met at the Cotton Bowl on December 12 in their last encounter.
- Dallas is currently on a six-game undefeated streak (4-0-2) and with either a win or a draw on Saturday would match the club’s longest undefeated run in its history. The streak is the second-longest in club history behind an eight-game winless run across the end of the 2024/25 season and the start of the current campaign.
- Carolina Ascent’s Mia Corbin has proven a threat in prior meetings between the clubs, recording three goals in five appearances, the most by a single player in the series’ history.
Players to Watch
Carolina Ascent FC – Rylee Baisden: The experienced forward has recorded four goals this season but ranks fifth in the league with a 6.26 Expected Goals mark individually and could be poised for a breakthrough performance as Ascent looks to find its shooting boots.
Dallas Trinity FC – Allie Thornton: The 28-year-old has scored twice in four prior contests against Ascent and is coming off a performance in Fort Lauderdale where she threatened regularly, recording three shots and a team-high six touches inside the penalty area.
Overview
| Carolina Ascent FC | Dallas Trinity FC | |
| Head Coach | Philip Poole | Nathan Thackeray |
| Record | 5-7-5, 20pts | 7-5-3, 24pts |
| Position | 5th | 3rd |
Lexington SC vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville
Venue: Lexington SC Stadium, Lexington, Ky.
Kickoff: Saturday, February 21, 2 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 46º
Broadcast: PeacockTV.com
Storylines to Know
- Lexington SC (7-0-9, 30pts) will try to extend its 17-game undefeated streak dating back to the end of the 2024/25 campaign as it returns to action after seeing last weekend’s contest against Dallas Trinity FC postponed.
- Sporting Club Jacksonville (9-4-4, 31pts) was able to regain first place in the league with a stellar bounce-back display against Spokane Zephyr FC on February 11 as they swept to a 3-0 victory at Hodges Stadium.
- Saturday’s contest brings together the top two teams in the Gainbridge Super League and the two highest-scoring teams as well. Lexington leads the league with 33 goals, while Sporting JAX sits on 32 goals entering the game.
- The contest also features the top two goalscorers in the league with Sporting JAX’s Ashlyn Puerta having bagged 11 goals – seven of which have come away from home – while Lexington’s Catherine Barry sits second with nine tallies.
- Lexington took victory in the inaugural meeting between the clubs on October 31 as Sarah Griffith, Emina Ekic, Catherine Barry, and Shea Moyer all found the net for the hosts in a 4-2 result at Lexington SC Stadium.
- Jacksonville’s defense has tightened up impressively since that result, allowing only three goals in the past eight games to help the side go on a 6-1-1 to put it alongside Lexington in the race for the Gainbridge Super League Players’ Shield.
Players to Watch
Lexington SC – Emina Ekic: The Bosnia and Herzegovina international found the net when the teams met for the first time and has remained one of the league’s elite playmakers this season, sitting tied for the league-lead in Expected Assists (3.52xA) and Big Chances Created (8) while ranking second in Chances Created (31)
Sporting Club Jacksonville – Paige Kenton: The first-year pro found the net when these teams last met and has proven one of the top attacking players in the league this season. Kenton leads the league with six assists while also posting a 10.99 Expected Goals+Assists mark, also tops in the GSL.
Overview
| Lexington SC | Sporting Club Jacksonville | |
| Head Coach | Kosuke Kimura | Stacey Balaam |
| Record | 7-0-9, 30pts | 9-4-4, 31pts |
| Position | 2nd | 1st |
Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC
Venue: Suncoast Credit Union Field, Tampa, Fla.
Kickoff: Saturday, February 21, 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear, 73º
Broadcast: PeacockTV.com
Storylines to Know
Tampa Bay Sun FC (1-6-9, 12pts) earned a second consecutive draw last Saturday night as it played to a 1-1 result against DC Power FC as Jordan Fusco scored her second goal in three games since joining the club in December.
- Fort Lauderdale United (4-6-7, 19pts) rallied twice to earn a 3-3 draw against Brooklyn FC last Saturday night as Jasmine Hamid and Ella Simpson scored second-half goals at Beyond Bancard Field.
- The Sun and FTL UTD have finished all square in their prior two meetings this season, playing to a scoreless draw on October 3 in Tampa and a 1-1 draw on November 15 in Fort Lauderdale. That continued the series trend, where Tampa Bay has claimed the only two victories in seven prior meetings overall, including the inaugural Gainbridge Super League Final last June.
- Tampa Bay continues to look for its first home win of the season after being pegged back against DC last week. The has shown positive signs in consecutive draws over the past two outings, however, scoring three goals while last week equaling a season-high with 18 shots.
- Fort Lauderdale earned a draw in interim Head Coach Paul Jennison as the side scored at least three goals in a game for the first time since a 4-1 victory against Dallas Trinity FC on September 13.
- FTL UTD has conceded 3+ goals in four consecutive games, tied for the longest such streak in the Gainbridge Super League’s history. Tampa Bay, however, has yet to score three goals in a game this campaign.
Players to Watch
Tampa Bay Sun FC – Sabrina McNeill: The Canadian full back has recorded four assists this season to lead the team and sits tied for the league-lead with 3.52 Expected Assists on 26 chances created overall.
Fort Lauderdale United FC – Abi Hugh: The winter arrival bagged her first goal and assist for FTL UTD last weekend against Brooklyn as she provided an attacking threat for the side down the left flank.
Overview
| Tampa Bay Sun FC | Fort Lauderdale United FC | |
| Head Coach | Denise Schilte-Brown | Paul Jennison |
| Record | 1-6-9, 12pts | 4-6-7, 19pts |
| Position | 9th | 8th |