Lexington SC claimed the 2025/26 Gainbridge Super League Players’ Shield, awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season, in dramatic fashion on the final day of the regular season as Addie McCain slotted home late to earn her side a 1-0 win against Tampa Bay Sun FC before Carolina Ascent FC took a 3-1 win against Sporting Club Jacksonville to swing the race for silverware Lexington’s way.
Having finished at the bottom of the Super League standings in its inaugural season, Lexington claimed the Players’ Shield on goal differential, finishing tied with Sporting JAX on 53 points but holding a +26 goal differential to Jacksonville’s +22 mark at the end of the regular season.
“I told them one day at a time,” said Head Coach Kosuke Kimura. “Every day, we must show up for each other and do the right thing that we have been working on all season. We 100% can improve and clean up our mistakes, but at the same time, we never quit. We just keep going, we keep building from day one and truly it just shows the immense growth from the team. With the team, the coaches and all the people behind it, it is truly something special to be a part of.”
Lexington SC will enter the 2026 Gainbridge Super League Playoffs with the No. 1 overall seed, earning home field advantage for the semifinal match against the No. 4 seed. Tickets for the match are available here.
The postseason will kick off the weekend of May 23, with the 2026 Gainbridge Super League Final scheduled for May 30. The playoffs will feature a fixed-bracket, single-elimination format, played under FIFA Rules with extra time and a penalty shootout if required. All three playoff matches will be streamed live on Peacock.