The gap between the top two clubs in the 2025/26 Gainbridge Super League season narrowed as the final quarter of the season came into view, while Carolina Ascent FC hit a bump in the road and the Tampa Bay Sun continued to hold the upper hand against DC Power, providing another twist to the playoff race.
Here are four things we learned from the past weekend of action.
1. Lexington’s Fast Start, Resolute Defense Holds Up in Brooklyn
There have been few better clubs at starting games this season in the Gainbridge Super League than Lexington SC, and few poorer than Brooklyn FC. So, when McKenzie Weinert put the visitors ahead off a beautiful slide-rule pass from Catherine Barry to open the scoring in just the eighth minute, it didn’t come as a big surprise.
What did jump out the rest of the way, though, was how well Brooklyn was able to battle and contain one of the top attacks in the league. Midfielders Hope Breslin and Jennifer Cudjoe combined to record 16 recoveries while teammate Rylan Childers won 4 of 6 tackles as the hosts kept the field tilted in their favor at Maimonides Park.
What was lacking, unfortunately, was the final product. In the first half, Brooklyn had territory, but only once shot to show for it from beyond the penalty area. In the second the hosts came much closer, including a header by Breslin that rang the crossbar midway through the half, but Lexington – as has been typical this season – found a way to close out the game and close the gap to Sporting Club Jacksonville at the top.
“I think overall, I would say that we were better than them in the first,” said BKFC Head Coach Tomás Tengarrinha. “Today, I’m not sad but I’m frustrated and pissed. I can say pissed, yes, because these girls, they need more. They deserve more. Because what they did, what our players did today, they deserve at least a tie.”
The problem with starting slow – as Brooklyn has found this season – is sometimes that’s all it takes. Now they’ve got an even steeper climb to be part of the playoff conversation.
2. Carolina Ascent Pays Again for Finishing Challenges
Putting away chances consistently has become the theme of Carolina Ascent’s season, but over the club’s four-game winning streak that had moved to the back burner because of the club’s stellar performance at the defensive end.
As Fort Lauderdale United FC came to American Legion Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, though, the lack of finishing came back to haunt Ascent again, resulting in two dropped points that widened the gap to the top two after Lexington’s win.
“We created enough chances to win five straight tonight,” said Carolina Head Coach Philip Poole. “Overall, the performance was good and bright. You have got to put chances away to put opponents where they should be.”
Carolina was excellent in the second half, but aside from Mia Corbin’s well-placed penalty kick wasn’t clinical enough as Fort Lauderdale’s ability to block shots and another good four-save goalkeeping display by Haley Craig kept the visitors in the game. That allowed United to strike late as former Ascent player Kat González scored a goal that Poole described as “being good at what they’re good at” to grab a late point.
Results elsewhere ensured that the result didn’t diminish Ascent’s postseason chances, but it still felt like a missed opportunity.
3. Tampa Bay’s Hex Over Power Dents DC’s Postseason Chase
The run of form DC Power FC had been on leading into Week 24 combined with its upcoming schedule – facing eighth-placed Fort Lauderdale United FC and ninth-placed Tampa Bay Sun FC four times in its next five outings – appeared to be the set-up for a sustained playoff push.
Of course, the history book – and the Power’s home record – had something else to say about that on Thursday night as the Sun continued to prove the Power’s unsolvable riddle. Tampa Bay’s 2-0 victory at Audi Field maintained the side’s undefeated record against DC all-time on a night where nothing quite seemed to go right for the hosts.
“We were chasing the ball a lot as opposed to keeping the ball and that’s our style of play, we want to keep the ball a little bit more,” said Power Head Coach Omid Namazi. “Tonight, we could not connect three passes in a row. The only few times we did, we ended up with a shot but it was far and few in between.”
The Power still have the postseason in range with seven games to play, but the combination of an underwhelming eight points from 10 games at home this season and another trip to face the Sun in a couple of weeks means they’re going to have to reset and refocus to get there.
4. Sporting JAX’s Winning Streak Ends, Side Retains Cushion
There were elements that were familiar about Sporting Club Jacksonville’s performance on Saturday night. The Gainbridge Super League leaders largely had the better of the game and better chances against Spokane Zephyr FC thanks to Sophia Boman’s second goal in as many games.
There was one element that wasn’t familiar, at least as of late, as the blustery conditions at Hodges Stadium played havoc at times for both sides in a 1-1 draw that saw Spokane turn possession over nine times in Jacksonville’s attacking third, the first time that’s happened in the spring schedule. It didn’t prove too costly for the hosts, who still retained a four-point cushion on Lexington SC with seven games to play in the regular season, but it also highlighted the fact that the race for the Players’ Shield – which includes a showdown between the top two on April 25 – can quickly change.
“We feel like it’s a little bit of a setback, but it’s a point on the board,” said Sporting JAX Head Coach Stacey Balaam. “We know that every game is so tough and so competitive, and Brooklyn is going to come with a different style, a different look, different identity. The things that we’re going to learn from this [are] going to be a progression to move into next week.”
At this time of year with the pressure rising, even the league-leaders can be susceptible.