Sunshine State duel highlights the second weekend of action in the campaign, with Carolina on the verge of a notable landmark
Welcome to The Weekender, where we’ll get you set up for what you need to know going into this weekend’s Week 2 slate in the 2026 Gainbridge Super League fall season.
This weekend features a three-game slate that kicks off on Friday night as both Brooklyn FC and DC Power FC aim for their first win of the campaign, while Saturday night features a Sunshine State showdown and a potential landmark for Carolina Ascent FC.
Here’s what we’re looking out for.
1. Game of the Weekend – Sporting Club Jacksonville vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC
Sporting Club Jacksonville will try to add to its late season-opening victory as it hosts in-state foe Tampa Bay Sun FC for its home opener at Hodges Stadium on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET | Peacock) with the Sun arriving having also earned a late result in their season opener last Saturday.
Jacksonville took a 1-0 win against the third team in the Super League’s Florida triumvirate, Fort Lauderdale United FC, as Baylee DeSmit scored an 89th minute winner, while Tampa Bay newcomer Tori Zierenberg struck in the third minute of second half stoppage time to earn her side a 1-1 draw against Dallas Trinity FC.
The result gave the new-look Sun lineup a positive start to its new season ahead of a challenging pair of road contests ahead.
- LEVELING UP: Sporting Club Jacksonville’s victory against Fort Lauderdale maintained the club’s undefeated record against its two in-state foes. That includes a 3-0-1 record against Tampa Bay, with Jacksonville having notched three goals in each of their three victories in the series a season ago. That included Super League Player of the Year Ashlyn Puerta bagging four goals in three appearances, tied for the most goals she recorded against a single opponent a season ago.
- POSITIVE SIGNS: While Tampa Bay’s equalizer came late against Dallas, the overall performance had plenty to be happy about for Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown. The Sun outshot their hosts 17-10, were dangerous from set pieces and dictated where the game was going to be played, with only 20.8% of the contest taking place in their defensive third despite Dallas holding 63.9% of possession. Tampa Bay won possession six times in the attacking third and had a +8 recovery differential, with Darya Rajaee and Leah Scarpelli making a positive impact in their debuts.
- PUSHING ON: Those are the traits the visitors will be aiming to build on as they head to face a Jacksonville side that had the highest average possession in the league during the 2025/26 season and ranked second in the league in recoveries, with Sophie Jones holding down the center of midfield. That area will likely be key as Jacksonville looks to put together a sharper display and take a second consecutive win to start the season.
For its standout campaign, Jacksonville proved more vulnerable at home than on the road a season ago, going only 6-4-4 at home. With the format of the fall season, improving that record could be a gamechanger, but Sporting should get a test as Tampa Bay looks to break through and claim its first win in the series.
2. The Rest of the Weekend’s Action
Brooklyn FC vs. DC Power FC (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Peacock)
- Brooklyn FC and DC Power FC will both be aiming for their first points of the season at Maimonides Park with the hosts looking to add a third consecutive home opener victory against their northeastern rival. BKFC fell 3-0 on the road against defending Super League champions Lexington SC last Saturday night in Head Coach Alex Smith’s debut, and will want to get out to a faster start after recording only two shots in the opening half in Kentucky. The Power also fell on opening night but had plenty of positives to take away from their 1-0 setback at home to Carolina Ascent FC as they recorded 23 shots – including six from newcomer Tatum Thomason and four from Tyler Lussi – only to be denied a result. With the series finely poised – DC holds a narrow 3-2-2 lead all-time – this could be an entertaining start to the weekend.
Dallas Trinity FC vs. Carolina Ascent FC (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET | Peacock)
- Carolina Ascent FC is on the verge of a notable landmark when it visits Dallas Trinity FC at the Cotton Bowl as it looks to build on its opening night victory at DC Power FC, which itself was a record-setter. Ascent’s 1-0 win via Mia Corbin’s early goal at Audi Field was the club’s seventh consecutive road regular season win, the longest such streak in Super League history, while Saturday will mark its first opportunity to be the first club to 30 regular season wins in the league. Trinity narrowly missed out on a result against Tampa Bay Sun FC in its opener, settling for a 1-1 draw after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, and now will try to break a two-game losing run in the series after falling 1-0 in the most recent meeting between the clubs in April.
3. Kit of the Week – DC Power FC’s Away Alternate
DC Power FC will debut its white and sky blue alternates on Friday night when it visits Brooklyn FC, one of three striking new designs the club has released for the new season.
4. Landmark of the Week – Carolina Ascent FC’s Philip Poole
Carolina Ascent FC Head Coach Philip Poole could become the first manager to record 30 regular season victories in the Gainbridge Super League as his side shoots for the same landmark on the road at Dallas Trinity FC.
Check out Week 2’s News & Notes
5. Where to Watch Nationally
Friday
Brooklyn FC vs. DC Power FC, 7 p.m. ET (Peacock)
Saturday
Sporting Club Jacksonville vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, 7 p.m. ET (Peacock)
Dallas Trinity FC vs. Carolina Ascent FC, 8:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)