From attacking newcomers the latest Academy to Pro signing, here are some incoming talents to watch in the new campaign.
The 2026 Gainbridge Super League Fall Season is just around the corner, kicking off on Saturday, August 15 on Peacock. Around the league, there have been numerous new arrivals who’ve earned their first professional contracts this summer.
Here are eight players who’ll be entering the professional ranks for the first time we’re excited to watch this season.
AJ Hennessey, Attacking Midfielder, Sporting Club Jacksonville – One of the traits Sporting JAX laid out in its inaugural season was to have its attacking players be ball progressors off the dribble. The side’s players gained an average of 8.3 yards per carry with a take-on in the 2025/26 season per Opta, putting opposing defenses under pressure in one-on-one situations.
AJ Hennessey figures to fit into that model directly. At TCU, the attacking midfielder recorded 14 goals and 14 assists over her career, but stood out in her ability to take on opponents. Per American Soccer Analysis, Hennessey averaged 3.2 progressive runs per 90 minutes in her senior season, while averaging 0.35xG+XA per 90 as well. A clean passer, she has the traits that could quickly fit into Head Coach Stacey Balaam’s rotation.
Erika Zschuppe, Second Forward, Tampa Bay Sun FC – One of the keys this offseason for Tampa Bay Sun FC was to find more potential scoring. In recent Florida Gulf Coast University standout Erik Zschuppe, the 2025 title-winners may have an important piece for the upcoming season and beyond.
Zschuppe was a standout in her collegiate career, recording double-digit goals in each of her final three seasons and bagging 21 goals in 17 appearances as a senior. That earned her unanimous selection as the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Player of the Year, as well as a third consecutive selection to the A-Sun All-Conference First Team. Hopefully for the Sun, that prolificness translates to the professional game.
Mac Midgley, Midfielder, Lexington SC – There might not have been a sharper team in the final third last season than Lexington SC, which while ranking in the middle of the pack in terms of passes into the final third (1,573) ranked first in Expected Assists from Open Play (31.45xA) and second in touches in the penalty area (784).
Adding Mac Midgley to the midfield unit that powered that success looks like a good fit. While the University of Tennessee grad only recorded 10 assists for the Volunteers in her career, as a senior she averaged 4.1 completed progressive passes per 90 minutes and 3.6 passes into the final third. An All-American Fourth Team selection last fall, the Michigan native should be one to watch closely as she enters the pro ranks.
Tatum Thomason, Attacking Midfielder, DC Power FC – After DC Power finally broke forward in terms of its scoring at the end of last season, the side adds Tatum Thomason from Arizona State University looking for the first-year pro’s qualities in and around the penalty area to add another option to the squad.
Thomason transferred to the Sun Devils for her senior season having previously competed at the University of Washington and put up a career year, notching seven goals and four assists in 1,528 minutes. Notably, Thomason got into good positions in the box for opportunities. She averaged 0.43 Expected Goals per 90 minutes at ASU on 2.41 shots per game, putting up an average of 0.18xG per shot. If she can find those same opportunities with the Power, it could add up to success.
Juliet Moore, Forward, Dallas Trinity FC – A Dallas native, Juliet Moore signed with her hometown club after previously competing at the University of Houston having had training stints with both the Houston Dash and Fort Lauderdale United FC since her senior season in 2024. Moore showed progression between her junior and senior season in terms of attacking output – having scored only once while adding five assists for the Cougars in 2023, she recorded five goals at a 17.9% shot conversion rate and 50% shooting accuracy in the 2024 season, notable upticks from the prior year in both numbers.
Trinity has made some notable additions this offseason to address its attack, which underperformed its Expected Goals mark by 6.18xG during the 2025/26 season. Moore may not be expected to lead the attack as a first-year pro, but there’s an opportunity for her to provide support in the final third as she moves into the professional ranks.
Jazmin Ferguson, Center Back, Tampa Bay Sun FC – Having ranked eighth in the league with a 1.61 Expected Goals Against mark in the 2025/26 season, Tampa Bay Sun FC was expected to make changes at the back. One of the new faces is Jazmin Ferguson, who is coming off a standout senior season at LSU, where she led the Tigers in minutes while helping the side reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and a return to the national rankings for the first time since 2021.
Ferguson was a strong one-on-one defender in her senior season for LSU, winning 71.3% of defensive duels while averaging 8.54 contested duels per 90 minutes. She also completed 80.9% of passes, averaging 4.9 progressive passes per 90 minutes, and could prove a threat from set pieces, recording four goals and three assists over two seasons for the Tigers. As the Sun rebuild, Ferguson will look to find her place in the lineup.
Jules Cagle, Defender, Fort Lauderdale United FC – The third player to earn a professional contract from the club’s Academy, Jules Cagle will step into the First Team fully in the new season after logging four appearances and one start for the side during the past campaign. The 17-year-old logged 130 minutes for FTL UTD, primarily slotting in at the right center back position, and while there’s not a lot to be gained from her overall numbers, the outlier of a 0.16 Interrupting G+ grade in very limited action stands out.
A native of Clemmons, N.C., Cagle became both the youngest player to debut for Fort Lauderdale and the youngest to record a start in the past campaign. Her progression this season will be important for a back line that allowed a league-high 58.12 Expected Goals Against this past campaign.
Marz Josephson, Goalkeeper, Lexington SC – With the impending end of Kat Asman’s loan from Orlando Pride, Lexington SC brought aboard former University of Kentucky goalkeeper Marz Josephson in as a trialist toward the conclusion of the past campaign. It proved successful, and the 25-year-old will now enter the professional ranks to compete for the starting role between the sticks for the defending titleholders alongside fellow new arrival Ryan Campbell.
Josephson was a standout for the Wildcats, recording 97 saves, a 77.6% save percentage, and 0.7 goals-against average while recording 16 shutouts in 40 career appearances for the side. The North Carolina native will now aim to produce at a similar level as she gets her chance in the professional ranks.