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Dallas looks to extend winning streak in South Florida | Week 4 Match Previews

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DC Power FC vs. Lexington SC 

Venue: Audi Field; Washington D.C. 

Kickoff: Friday, September 12, 7:00 p.m. ET 

Weather: Clear, 76°    

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com

Things to Know

  • DC Power (1-0-1) returns to action after having Week 3 off. Lexington (1-0-1) enters this weekend following a 2-0 win against Brooklyn on Sunday.
  • Lexington has the lead in the head-to-head record against DC, going 2-1-1 in their four matchups last season. The teams played to a 3-3 draw when they last met in Lexington on May 31, 2025.
  • Kat Asman (LEX) recorded her first clean sheet of the season. It was Lexington’s third clean sheet in club history.
  • Loza Abera (DC) has scored in both of her last two appearances against Lexington.
  • Hannah White and Amber Nguyen (LEX) will compete against their former University of Georgia teammates Ellie Gilbert and Margie Detrizio (DC).
  • Gianna Gourley (DC) will compete against Addie McCain and Tati Fung (LEX), who all played together at Fort Lauderdale United FC in the fall of 2024.
  • Sydney Cummings (DC) will compete against Taylor Alymer, McKenzie Weinert, Emina Ekić and Alyssa Bourgeois (LEX), who all played together last season at Spokane Zephyr FC.

Players to Watch

DC – Emily Colton: The former Wake Forest midfielder is one to watch as DC looks for its second win of the season. Colton scored her first professional goal in Week 2 to help DC earn a 2-2 draw with Spokane Zephyr and is a true playmaker in the midfield.

LEX– Catherine Barry: The forward showed her ability to convert in front of goal last weekend, notching a brace within a five-minute period to earn her side its first win of the season, a 2-0 shutout over Brooklyn FC.  

 DC Power FC Lexington SC 
Head Coach Omid Namazi Masaki Hemmi 
Record 1-0-1 1-0-1 
Standings 3rd 4th 

Fort Lauderdale United FC vs. Dallas Trinity FC 

Venue: Beyond Bancard Field; Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Kickoff: Saturday, September 13, 7:30 p.m. ET 

Weather: Cloudy, 79°    

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com

Things to Know

  • Fort Lauderdale United (1-0-2) is coming off its first win of the season, a 1-0 victory against Spokane Zephyr. Dallas (3-0-0) is on a three-match winning streak, most recently earning a 1-0 win against Sporting JAX.
  • Fort Lauderdale holds the 2-1-1 lead in the head-to-head record between the two teams. FTL UTD won 1-0 the last time the sides met on May 24, 2025, behind a goal by Kiara Locklear.
  • Bella Hara recorded five saves in last week’s match to earn the team’s first clean sheet of the season.
  • Four West Virginia Mountaineers will face off against each other in this meeting. Rylee Foster (DAL) and Sh’Nia Gordon (FTL) played together for three seasons from 2016-2018. Maya McCutcheon (DAL) and Lilly McCarthy (FTL) competed together for three seasons from 2021-2023.

Players to Watch

FTL – Bella Hara: The Guam Women’s National Team standout has been a steadying presence between the posts for Fort Lauderdale this season, tied for second in the league for saves (10) and guarding the net with five key saves to earn her team its first win and clean sheet of the season last weekend.  

DAL – Rhea Moore: The 15-year-old Academy standout showcased her attacking prowess in her professional debut last weekend, slotting home the game-winner in the closing minutes of the match to give Dallas its third-consecutive win.

 Fort Lauderdale United FC Dallas Trinity FC 
Head Coach Tyrone Mears Chris Petrucelli 
Record 1-0-2 3-0-0 
Standings 2nd 1st 

Sporting JAX vs. Carolina Ascent FC 

Venue: Hodges Stadium; Jacksonville, FL 

Kickoff: Saturday, September 13, 7:30 p.m. ET 

Weather: Clear, 76°    

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com 

Things to Know

  • Sporting JAX (1-2-0) is coming off a 1-0 loss to Dallas, while Carolina Ascent (0-0-2) is still searching for it first win of the season after most recently drawing 2-2 against Tampa Bay.
  • This is the first meeting between these two teams.
  • Emily Morris (CAR) will face off against her former Wake Forest teammate Kaitlyn Parks (JAX).

Players to Watch

JAX– Sophia Boman: The former University of Minnesota captain is a consistent strong presence in the midfield for the expansion side, playing every minute of the season for JAX so far and excelling in distribution, already completing 150 passes.  

CAR – Mia Corbin: The team’s leading scorer got on the scoreboard last weekend with her first goal of the season to help Carolina earn a 2-2 draw against Tampa Bay Sun.  

 Sporting JAX Carolina Ascent FC 
Head Coach Stacey Balaam Phillip Poole 
Record 1-2-0 0-0-2 
Standings 6th 7th 

Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC 

Venue: ONE Spokane Stadium; Spokane, WA 

Kickoff: Saturday, September 13th, 9:00 PM ET 

Weather: Clear, 75°    

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com 

Things to Know

  • Spokane Zephyr (0-2-2) and Tampa Bay Sun (0-2-1) are both looking for their first win of the season. In Week 3, Spokane drew 1-1 with Brooklyn and lost 1-0 to Fort Lauderdale, while Tampa drew 2-2 against Carolina.
  • Spokane holds a dominant 3-1-0 record against the reigning champs, and Zephyr won 3-2 at home the last time the two sides met on April 26, 2025.

Players to Watch

SPK– Sarah McCoy: One of last season’s four Ironwomen, McCoy continues to be a cornerstone of Spokane’s defense. She leads the team in passing accuracy (87.9%) and clearances (20) through its first four matches.

TB– Gabby Provenzano: The former Rutgers midfielder has come out swinging in her second season with the Sun, heading home her first professional goal late in the second half to help Tampa earn a 2-2 draw with Carolina Ascent and take home their first point last weekend.  

 Spokane Zephyr FC Tampa Bay Sun FC 
Head Coach Josh McAllister (interim) Denise Schilte-Brown 
Record 0-2-2 0-2-1 
Standings 8th 9th 

Early predictions for the 2025/26 Golden Award winners

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Which players are early contenders to win Golden Boot, Glove, Playmaker? 

We’re only a few weeks into the new Gainbridge Super League season, but based on the results we’ve seen so far, the competition is stacked, and the end-of-season awards are anybody’s game. 

While it’s still too early to call, here are the players who stand out as contenders for the Golden Boot, Glove and Playmaker awards based on what we’ve seen through Week 3. 

  • Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals, with assists as a tiebreaker.  
  • Golden Glove is awarded to the goalkeeper with the best goals-against average that has played at least 60% of the team’s minutes.  
  • Golden Playmaker is awarded to the player who records the most assists, with assists per minute as the tiebreaker. 

Golden Boot: Gianna Gourley, DC Power FC 

We’ve had our eyes on Gianna Gourley since she made her debut with DC Power last spring after joining on loan from Fort Lauderdale United. The forward made an immediate impact on DC’s offense and finished the season with a team-high seven goals through 14 appearances. Through two matches so far this season, three of her five shots were on target, and her two goals are tied for first in the league after scoring a brace in DC’s opener against Sporting JAX.  

However, other top strikers who joined the league mid-season like Fort Lauderdale’s Kiara Locklear and Spokane’s Ally Cook will also have a full campaign now to build on the momentum they created with their teams last year (after finishing the 24/25 season with seven and six goals, respectively). Then, there are the newcomers like Cat Barry (LEX) and Maddie Mercado (CAR), who have shown what they can do in front of goal, making this an exciting race to keep an eye on. 

Golden Glove: Rylee Foster, Dallas Trinity FC 

As it stands, Rylee Foster has the best goals-against average (0.33) of all goalkeepers, allowing just one goal in three matches. The Canadian international has 10 saves and two clean sheets, but even she admitted she hasn’t had too many challenges because her back line has been playing excellently.  

Dallas is averaging just 3.3 shots on target faced per game (behind only DC) and has faced 22 shots total (DC and Carolina have faced the least at 21, both playing one less match than Dallas). Trinity also has the best tackle success rate at 66%. 

The next keeper in line is Brooklyn’s Bre Norris with a GAA of 1.25, followed by a four-way tie at 1.5 including last season’s Goalkeeper of the Year Hope Hisey (SPK), Morgan Aquino (DC), and newcomers Kat Asman (LEX) and Jamie Gerstenberg (JAX). As defensive units create more cohesion over the course of the season, we’ll see which goalkeeper stands out above the rest. 

Golden Playmaker: Emina Ekić, Lexington SC 

Emina Ekić finished second behind Jill Aguilera in the Golden Playmaker race last season, and even with a new club, it seems the Bosnian international will be making a run for it again this year. Ekić is tied for first in the league with two assists and eight chances created, and she played a key role in Lexington earning four points from its first two games of the season. 

According to the tiebreaker, Tampa Bay’s Sabrina McNeill is the current leader having played eight less minutes than Ekić. Her two assists already surpassed the lone one she recorded last season with Fort Lauderdale, so it will be interesting to see how involved she continues to get into the Sun’s attack and if she can keep pace with Ekić. 

Which goalkeepers made it into the record books? | News & Notes Week 4

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WEEK 4 SCHEDULE

Friday, September 12
DC Power FC vs. Lexington SC, 7:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, September 13
Fort Lauderdale United FC vs. Dallas Trinity FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sporting JAX vs. Carolina Ascent FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, 9:00 p.m. ET

REWIND: WEEK 3 NOTES

MOORE MAKES HISTORY
Academy forward Rhea Moore scored the game-winner for Dallas Trinity FC less than 10 minutes after entering the match, becoming the youngest goal scorer in league history and in any women’s professional regular season match in the U.S. at 15 years, 332 days old.

DALLAS ON TOP
Dallas earned its third-consecutive win to start the season, remaining at the top of the table and setting a club record for most consecutive wins in a single season. Trinity is the only team to have recorded more than one win through the first three weeks.

BRACES ON BRACES
Lexington’s Catherine Barry became the fourth player this season to record a brace.

  • DC: Gianna Gourley, 8/23/25
  • SPK: Lena Silano, 8/30/25
  • JAX: Ashlyn Puerta, 8/30/25
  • LEX: Catherine Barry, 9/7/25

LEX BESTS BROOKLYN
Lexington SC earned its second-ever home win on Sunday, defeating Brooklyn 2-0. It was the first time that Lexington defeated Brooklyn, after going 0-2-2 in the first four meetings. It also ended an 11-match winless streak for the Girls in Green.

KEEPER STATS
Fort Lauderdale’s Bella Hara and Lexington’s Kat Asman joined Dallas’ Rylee Foster as the only goalkeepers to record a clean sheet so far this season. At 22 years old, Hara is the second-youngest goalkeeper to record a clean sheet in league history.

Additionally, Sporting JAX goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg recorded eight saves in last week’s match against Dallas, which is tied for the third-most saves in a single match.

WEEK 4 STORYLINES

SEARCHING FOR WINS
Tampa Bay, Spokane and Carolina are the only three teams to have not earned a win yet this season. Coincidentally, those were the three teams that earned the most wins during the spring schedule of last season (TB: 7, CAR: 8, SPK: 9).

SCORING STREAKS
Carolina’s Maddie Mercado has scored in both of the team’s opening matches. A third goal from the striker this weekend would tie the team’s scoring streak set last season by Mia Corbin.

Additionally, Fort Lauderdale’s Ella Simpson scored in the team’s last two matches.

UPCOMING MILESTONES & ACTIVE STREAKS

Upcoming Milestones
Approaching 15 all-time regular season goals
Allie Thornton (DAL) – 14
Mia Corbin (CAR) – 13

Approaching 10 all-time regular season assists
Emina Ekić (LEX) – 8
Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 7

Approaching 10 all-time regular season clean sheets
Hope Hisey (SPK) – 9

Active Streaks
Consecutive regular season minutes played across seasons
Sarah McCoy (SPK) – 2880
Amber Wisner (DAL) – 2790
Allison Pantuso (LEX) – 2700

Consecutive regular season matches with a goal across seasons
Tampa Bay Sun FC – 19
Fort Lauderdale United FC – 11

WEEK 4 DISCIPLINE REPORT

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the Gainbridge Super League’s discipline report for Week 4 of the 2025/26 season:

Fort Lauderdale United FC’s Taylor Smith has been suspended for one game following her red card for two cautionable offenses against Spokane Zephyr FC on September 6. Smith will be unavailable for selection in Fort Lauderdale’s contest against Dallas Trinity FC on Saturday night.

Lexington SC’s Hannah Johnson has been suspended for one game following her red card for two cautionable offenses against Brooklyn FC on September 7. Johnson will be unavailable for selection in Lexington’s contest against DC Power FC on Friday night.

WEEK 4 MATCH NOTES

DCvLEX

  • DC Power (1-0-1) returns to action after having Week 3 off. Lexington (1-0-1) enters this weekend following a 2-0 win against Brooklyn on Sunday.
  • Lexington has the lead in the head-to-head record against DC, going 2-1-1 in their four matchups last season. The teams played to a 3-3 draw when they last met in Lexington on May 31, 2025.
  • Kat Asman (LEX) recorded her first clean sheet of the season. It was Lexington’s third clean sheet in club history.
  • Loza Abera (DC) has scored in both of her last two appearances against Lexington.
  • Hannah White and Amber Nguyen (LEX) will compete against their former University of Georgia teammates Ellie Gilbert and Margie Detrizio (DC).
  • Gianna Gourley (DC) will compete against Addie McCain and Tati Fung (LEX), who all played together at Fort Lauderdale United FC in the fall of 2024.
  • Sydney Cummings (DC) will compete against Taylor Alymer, McKenzie Weinert, Emina Ekić and Alyssa Bourgeois (LEX), who all played together last season at Spokane Zephyr FC.

FTLvDAL

  • Fort Lauderdale United (1-0-2) is coming off its first win of the season, a 1-0 victory against Spokane Zephyr. Dallas (3-0-0) is on a three-match winning streak, most recently earning a 1-0 win against Sporting JAX.
  • Fort Lauderdale holds the 2-1-1 lead in the head-to-head record between the two teams. FTL UTD won 1-0 the last time the sides met on May 24, 2025, behind a goal by Kiara Locklear.
  • Bella Hara recorded five saves in last week’s match to earn the team’s first clean sheet of the season.
  • Four West Virginia Mountaineers will face off against each other in this meeting. Rylee Foster (DAL) and Sh’Nia Gordon (FTL) played together for three seasons from 2016-2018. Maya McCutcheon (DAL) and Lilly McCarthy (FTL) competed together for three seasons from 2021-2023.

JAXvCAR

  • Sporting JAX (1-2-0) is coming off a 1-0 loss to Dallas, while Carolina Ascent (0-0-2) is still searching for it first win of the season after most recently drawing 2-2 against Tampa Bay.
  • This is the first meeting between these two teams.
  • Emily Morris (CAR) will face off against her former Wake Forest teammate Kaitlyn Parks (JAX).

SPKvTB

  • Spokane Zephyr (0-2-2) and Tampa Bay Sun (0-2-1) are both looking for their first win of the season. In Week 3, Spokane drew 1-1 with Brooklyn and lost 1-0 to Fort Lauderdale, while Tampa drew 2-2 against Carolina.
  • Spokane holds a dominant 3-1-0 record against the reigning champs, and Zephyr won 3-2 at home the last time the two sides met on April 26, 2025.

Gainbridge Super League Power Rankings – Week 3

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Dallas remains in top spot with third consecutive win 

With shutout wins and last-minute equalizers, Week 3 of the 2025/26 season was certainly one to remember. Keeping their intensity as we move further into the season, here are our top four teams setting the pace in the Week 3 Power Rankings.  

On The Move

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Dallas Trinity FC
(3-0-0)
Week 4: @ FTL
Last Week:
1		 Returning to the No. 1 spot in the Power Rankings for the second consecutive week, Dallas Trinity FC is the only team to have multiple wins so far this season. Academy signing Rhea Moore slotted home the game-winner in the final minutes of the match for a 1-0 victory—Dallas’ second clean sheet of the season—over Sporting JAX. Trinity has shown its attacking depth thus far, with every goal across its three matches coming from a different scorer.
2 Fort Lauderdale United FC
(1-0-2)
Week 4: vs. DAL		 2
Last Week:
4		 Fort Lauderdale secured its first win of the season and maintains its undefeated record after defeating Spokane 1-0 on the road. Ella Simpson headed home her second goal of the season off a corner from Stella Nyamekye, and goalkeeper Bella Hara recorded five saves to earn her and the team’s first clean sheet of the campaign.
3 Lexington SC
(1-0-1)
Week 4: @ DC
Last Week:
Not Ranked		 Lexington SC came out swinging in its home opener over the weekend, with Catherine Barry netting a brace within a five-minute span in the first half to put Lexington ahead and ultimately earn a 2-0 win over Brooklyn FC. Kat Asman also recorded three saves and two punches in goal to preserve the clean sheet, helping the Girls in Green record only their second-ever home win.
4 DC Power FC
(1-0-1)
Week 4: vs. LEX		 2
Last Week:
2		 Despite DC Power having last week off, the team remains in third place in the league standings following its strong opening two performances. The upcoming match against Lexington will be a prime opportunity for the team to come out fresh and take down a tough opponent to create some distance in the standings and close the gap between first-place Dallas.

Can Sporting JAX build off its first win? | News & Notes Week 3

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WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

Wednesday, September 3
Brooklyn FC vs. Spokane Zephyr FC, 7:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, September 6
Carolina Ascent FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC, 7:00 p.m. ET
Sporting JAX vs. Dallas Trinity FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, September 7
Lexington SC vs. Brooklyn FC, 2:00 p.m. ET

REWIND: WEEK 2 NOTES

DALLAS GETS IT DONE
Dallas Trinity is the only team to win both of its first two matches this season, placing them atop the table with six points.

GOAL + ASSIST
Five players have recorded at least one goal and one assist to start the season:

  • DAL: Wayny Balata
  • DC: Gianna Gourley
  • LEX: Allison Pantuso
  • JAX: Meg Hughes
  • SPK: Ally Cook

FASTEST GOAL
Carolina Ascent’s Maddie Mercado recorded the fastest goal in league history – scoring 43 seconds into the team’s matchup against Fort Lauderdale United.

FIRST WIN FOR JAX
Sporting JAX secures their first-ever victory in the Gainbridge Super League after an impressive 3-2 win over the defending champions Tampa Bay Sun. 18-year-old Ashlyn Puerta recorded the team’s first brace in the match.

GOAL STREAK
FTL UTD’s Kiara Locklear and TB Sun’s Carlee Giammona both scored in each of their team’s first two matches this season.

WEEK 3 STORYLINES

HOME OPENERS
This weekend Carolina, Lexington and Spokane will all play at home for the first time this season.

TAMPA’S TOUGH START
Tampa Bay has opened the season with two losses, tying the club record for most consecutive losses. Last weekend’s result against Sporting JAX was only the third-ever loss for the Sun at home. The team will play on Saturday against Carolina Ascent, which the Sun has never lost a match against.

UPCOMING MILESTONES & ACTIVE STREAKS

Upcoming Milestones
Approaching 15 all-time regular season goals
Allie Thornton (DAL) – 14
Mia Corbin (CAR) – 12

Approaching 10 all-time regular season assists
Emina Ekić (LEX) – 8
Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 7

Approaching 10 all-time regular season clean sheets
Hope Hisey (SPK) – 9

Active Streaks
Consecutive regular season minutes played across seasons
Amber Wisner (DAL) – 2700
Sarah Clark (SPK) – 2700

Consecutive regular season matches with a goal across seasons
Tampa Bay Sun FC – 18
Fort Lauderdale United FC – 10
Spokane Zephyr FC – 7

WEEK 3 DISCIPLINE REPORT

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the Gainbridge Super League’s discipline report for Week 3 of the 2025/26 season:

Brooklyn FC Assistant Coach Francisca Ferreira has been suspended one game following her red card for a second caution against Dallas Trinity FC on August 30, 2025. Ferreira is unable to be on the sideline for Brooklyn’s contest against Spokane Zephyr FC on September 3, 2025.

WEEK 3 MATCH NOTES

BKNvSPK

  • Brooklyn (1-1-0) is coming off its first loss of the season after falling 1-0 to Dallas. Spokane (0-1-1) most recently drew 2-2 against DC Power.
  • Brooklyn and Spokane each have a 1-1-2 record against each other. The teams played to a 2-2 draw when they last met at Maimonides Park on May 10, 2025.
  • Jordan Thompson (BKN) will face off against three of her former Gonzaga teammates on Spokane: Sophia Braun, Kelsey Oyler and Charley Boone.
  • Alice Barbieri (BKN) will play against her former Oregon teammate Ally Cook (SPK).
  • Ginger Fontenot will play against her former team for the first time since joining Spokane this summer.
  • Charley Boone (SPK) and Annie Williams (BKN) will face each other for the first time since playing this past USL W League season together on Minnesota Aurora FC.

CARvTB

  • Carolina Ascent (0-0-1) is coming off a 2-2 road draw against Fort Lauderdale. Tampa Bay (0-2-0) is looking for its first win of the season after dropping back to back matches.
  • Carolina has never beaten Tampa Bay and has a 0-2-2 record against the reigning champs. The last time the teams met, they drew 1-1 at American Legion Memorial Stadium on May 17, 2025.
  • Gabby Provenzano (TB) will face off against former Rutgers teammate Meagan McClelland (CAR).
  • Audrey Harding (CAR) will play against her former UNC Wilmington teammate Sydney Schneider (TB).

JAXvDAL

  • Both teams enter Week 3 coming off a win. Sporting JAX won 3-2 against Tampa Bay, and Dallas won 1-0 against Brooklyn.
  • This is the first meeting between Sporting JAX and Dallas.
  • Caroline Kelly (DAL) will play against her former Brooklyn FC teammate Grace Phillpotts (JAX). Both players competed with Brooklyn in the spring of last season.

SPKvFTL

  • This will be Spokane’s second match of the week after playing Brooklyn on Wednesday.
  • Fort Lauderdale (0-0-2) will have its first road test after earning draws against Lexington and Carolina.
  • Fort Lauderdale has never lost to Spokane with a 1-0-3 record. The teams drew 1-1 at ONE Spokane Stadium in the very last match of the regular season in which Fort Lauderdale earned a playoff spot and eliminated Spokane.

LEXvBKN

  • This will be Brooklyn’s second match of the week after playing Spokane on Wednesday.
  • Lexington (0-0-1) will return to action after having Week 2 off. The team drew 3-3 against Fort Lauderdale in Week 1.
  • Lexington has never beaten Brooklyn and has a 0-2-2 record against them. In their last meeting, the teams drew 1-1 at Maimonides Park on April 19, 2025.

Carolina Ascent makes season debut against Fort Lauderdale | Week 2 Match Previews

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DC Power FC vs. Spokane Zephyr 

Venue: Audi Field; Washington, D.C. 

Kickoff: Saturday, August 30; 7:00 p.m. ET 

Weather: Sunny, 78° 

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com 

Things to Know

  • DC Power (1-0-0) is coming off a 3-1 win over Sporting JAX. Spokane Zephyr (0-1-0) most recently lost 2-1 against Dallas Trinity. 
  • DC Power has never won against Spokane Zephyr (0W-3L-1D). The last time the teams met at Audi Field, Spokane won 2-1 behind two goals from Emina Ekić. 
  • Saturday’s match will be the first time Sydney Cummings will play against her former club since joining DC Power. 
  • Former University of Central Florida teammates Mollie Rouse (SPK) and Madison Murnin (DC) will face off against each other. 
  • Sarah McCoy (SPK) will compete against her former University of Virginia teammates Claire Constant and Alexis Theoret (DC). 

Players to Watch

DC – Jaydah Bedoya: Ecuadorian international Jaydah Bedoya found the back of the net in her debut with DC Power last weekend. The forward recorded three goals and an assist last season with Carolina Ascent and will be a great addition to DC’s attack this year. 

SPK – Ally Cook: The forward scored Spokane’s first goal of the season in last weekend’s clash with Dallas Trinity and will be a massive attacking presence for Spokane this season. Cook has shown to be a versatile scorer with speed that will be challenging for DC’s backline to battle. 

 DC Power Spokane Zephyr 
Head Coach Omid Namazi Josh McAllister (interim) 
Record 1-0-0 0-1-0 
Standings 1st 7th 

Fort Lauderdale United FC vs. Carolina Ascent FC 

Venue: Beyond Bancard Field; Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Kickoff: Saturday, August 30; 7:30 p.m. ET 

Weather: Thunderstorms, 90° 

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com 

Things to Know

  • Saturday will be Carolina Ascent’s first match of the new season. 
  • Fort Lauderdale United is coming off a 3-3 draw last week against Lexington SC. 
  • FTL UTD has a 3W-2L-0D all-time record against Carolina. The last time the team met was in the playoffs semifinals, where FTL won 2-1 on the road. 
  • Saturday’s match will be the first time Kat Gonzalez will play against her former club since joining Fort Lauderdale. 
  • Former Wake Forest teammates Laurel Ansbrow (FTL) and Emily Morris (CAR) will face off against each other. 
  • Former UNC Charlotte teammates Kiara Locklear (FTL) and Macey Bader (CAR) will face off against each other. 
  • Ansbrow and Bader were also former teammates in the USL W League with NC Courage U23. 
  • Fort Lauderdale is on a nine-match regular season scoring streak dating back to last season. The team was last held scoreless on April 5 against Tampa Bay Sun. 

Players to Watch

FTL – Jasmine Hamid: Back for her second season with Fort Lauderdale, Jasmine Hamid is already making an impact after scoring the equalizer last weekend against Lexington SC from the penalty spot in stoppage time.  

CAR – Jill Aguilera: Reigning Defender of the Year and Golden Playmaker Jill Aguilera was a crucial part of Carolina’s success last season. The outside back’s ability to shut down opponents in the defensive third while creating chances in the attack makes her a force to be reckoned with.  

 Fort Lauderdale United FC Carolina Ascent FC 
Head Coach Tyrone Mears Phillip Poole 
Record 0-0-1 0-0-0 
Standings 4th 6th 

Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Sporting JAX 

Venue: Suncoast Credit Union Field; Tampa, FL 

Kickoff: Saturday, August 30; 8:00 p.m. ET 

Weather: Scattered Thunderstorms, 85° 

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com 

Things to Know

  • Both teams are coming off losses from Week 1. Tampa Bay lost 2-1 to Brooklyn FC, and Sporting JAX fell 3-1 to DC Power FC. 
  • This will be the first time these two Florida teams meet. 
  • Former Duke Blue Devils Mackenzie Pluck (TB) and Sophie Jones (JAX) will face off against each other. 
  • Georgia Brown (JAX) will compete against her former University of South Florida teammate Vivianne Bessette (TB) and Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown. 
  • Tampa Bay continued its scoring streak last weekend with a 90+4’ goal from Carlee Giammona. The team has now not been shutout in its last 17 regular season matches and 19 matches, including postseason.  

Players to Watch

TB – Carlee Giammona: Carlee Giammona was a consistent presence for the Sun last season, playing in all 30 matches and scoring eight goals. The midfielder prevented a shut out last weekend with her stoppage time goal against Brooklyn, showing her scoring versatility and dominance inside the box. 

JAX – Jade Pennock: The English forward made history last weekend, scoring Sporting JAX’s first-ever goal in the opening moments of the match. Pennock’s experience brings a veteran presence to the team, and the group will need her skills to take down Tampa Bay’s defense. 

 Tampa Bay Sun Sporting JAX 
Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown Stacey Balaam 
Record 0-1-0 0-1-0 
Standings 8th 9th 

Dallas Trinity FC vs. Brooklyn FC 

Venue: Cotton Bowl; Dallas, TX 

Kickoff: Saturday, August 30; 8:30 p.m. ET 

Weather: Cloudy with scattered showers, 82° 

Broadcast: Peacocktv.com 

Things to Know

  • Both teams are coming off wins from Week 1. Dallas won 2-1 against Spokane Zephyr, and Brooklyn FC won 2-1 against Tampa Bay Sun. 
  • The teams have a split 2-2-0 record against each other. Brooklyn won the first two meetings, and Dallas won the most recent two matches. 

Players to Watch

DAL – Allie Thornton: Last season’s Golden Boot Winner Allie Thornton scored the game-winning goal to earn Trinity a 2-1 victory in last week’s match against Spokane Zephyr. Thornton’s aerial presence as well as her ability to shoot from distance makes her one of the best strikers in the league.  

BKN – Annie Williams: Also scoring a game-winner last weekend was former South Dakota State standout Annie Williams. The defender has years of experience overseas and showed in Week 1 her ability to make an immediate impact for Brooklyn. 

 Dallas Trinity FC Brooklyn FC 
Head Coach Chris Petrucelli Tomás Tengarrinha 
Record 1-0-0 1-0-0 
Standings 2nd 3rd 

Which newcomers had the best performances of Week 1?

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Which players shined in their Gainbridge Super League debuts? 

Week 1 of the 2025/26 Gainbridge Super League season saw come-from-behind wins, an upset of the reigning champs and a slew of new players who made their league debuts. 

Before kickoff, we highlighted a few newcomers that we had our eyes on, but here are the four who impressed us the most in Week 1: 

Bre Norris, Brooklyn FC 

Both of Brooklyn’s goals in its home opener were from newcomers Catherine Zimmerman and Annie Williams. But even the scorers admitted the biggest performance of the match was from goalkeeper Bre Norris.  

“I thought Bre was a brick wall tonight,” said Zimmerman. “A lot of credit to her. A lot of credit to the back line. I think from Bre to the back line, everyone was really organized and just locked in.” 

Brooklyn has an entirely new goalkeeping unit from its inaugural campaign, so it was up in the air on who would get the starting nod in goal between Norris, Kelsey Daugherty and Nicolette Pasquarella. However, Norris notched four saves, including on two Tampa Bay breakaways, that were critical for the team to earn its first-ever win at Maimonides Park. 

Kelli Van Treeck, Fort Lauderdale United FC 

Veteran players dominated the highest-scoring match of the weekend, from 2024/25 Player of the Year Emina Ekic recording two assists and Fort Lauderdale’s Jasmine Hamid converting a penalty kick to earn her side a point in second-half stoppage time. Amongst those stellar displays, though, new United midfielder Kelli Van Treeck made her mark. 

Fort Lauderdale had a big gap to fill after transferring Addie McCain to Lexington, but perhaps the team found a replacement in the former Atlantic Sun Player of the Year. The midfielder intercepted a Lexington goal kick and played a pass inside the box for an easy finish to set up the team’s second goal of the night, connecting with her former Lipscomb teammate Kiara Locklear. Van Treeck also recorded three shots, including what would have been FTL UTD’s third goal, had it not hit off the woodwork. 

Maya McCutcheon, Dallas Trinity FC 

Dallas kept most of its starters from last season, but its biggest losses were defenders Jenna Walker, who retired after starting in all 23 of her appearances with Trinity, and Julia Dorsey, who ranked second on the team in minutes played (2,373). With a team that tends to play with a back three, finding cohesion along the backline is essential. Based on Saturday’s match, Maya McCutcheon looks to fit right into that system. 

Despite conceding first from an incredible finish by Spokane’s Ally Cook, Dallas’ defense responded well in the second half. McCutcheon finished with three clearances, two tackles, an interception and 86% passing accuracy rate in 90 minutes. McCutcheon and another newcomer Samar Guidry in a backline with All-League center back Hannah Davison will make for strong defensive unit throughout this season. 

Alexis Theoret, DC Power FC 

DC Power picked up right where it left off at the end of last season when it comes to offensive production. With players like Gianna Gourley, Loza Abera and new transfer Jaydah Bedoya, the team has seemed to figure out how to find the back of the net. However, bringing in a holding midfielder like Alexis Theoret might be the key to bridging the gap between the defense and its attackers up top. 

The University of Virginia alum recorded seven tackles, four interceptions, three clearances and one chance created in her professional debut. Theoret excelled at winning the ball in DC’s defensive third, and she knows when to either hold until the team resets or immediately look to go forward and quickly transition into the attack. Her years of playing experience with center back Claire Constant also strengthens the team’s defense, an area where it struggled last season. 

Which teams are on scoring streaks? | News & Notes Week 2

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WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

Saturday, August 30
DC Power FC vs. Spokane Zephyr FC, 7:00 p.m. ET
Fort Lauderdale United FC vs. Carolina Ascent FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Sporting JAX, 8:00 p.m. ET
Dallas Trinity FC vs. Brooklyn FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

REWIND: WEEK 1 NOTES

TWO FOR EMINA
Lexington’s Emina Ekić had two assists on Saturday against Fort Lauderdale. It was the second time she recorded two assists in a single match, becoming the only player in league history to record multiple games with multiple assists. She is now the current league leader all-time in assists with eight total.

TEAMMATES TURNED FOES
Addie McCain (LEX) and Wayny Balata (DAL) both scored against their former clubs in their debut with their new teams. McCain headed in a goal in the 63rd minute for the first of three goals against Fort Lauderdale. Balata also headed home her goal, equalizing against Spokane Zephyr in the 48th minute.

ALL AROUND ACTION
All eight teams in action scored in the league’s opening weekend and every match featured a header goal.

BROOKLYN ON TOP
Brooklyn FC earned its first win at Maimonides Park on Saturday after going 0W-3L-4D at home last spring. The team also remains undefeated against reigning champions Tampa Bay Sun FC (3W-0L-2D) after winning 2-1 on Saturday.

BAGGED A BRACE
Gianna Gourley scored two goals on Saturday, her second time recording a brace with DC Power. She is the first player in club history to record multiple braces and the sixth person in the league to record multiple braces.

MULTI-GOAL WIN
DC Power scored three goals on Saturday, tying its record for most goals in a single match. The 3-1 win marked the first time DC had beaten an opponent by multiple goals.

FIRST FOR JAX
England native Jade Pennock scored the first-ever goal for Sporting JAX in the seventh minute of the team’s inaugural match against DC Power.

WEEK 2 STORYLINES

CAROLINA IS BACK
Last season’s Players’ Shield winners will begin their 2025/26 campaign this weekend against Fort Lauderdale United FC. The last time Carolina Ascent played there, the Ascent won 5-2 in one of the highest scoring matches in league history.

REIGNING CHAMPS RETURN HOME 
Tampa Bay Sun will return home on Saturday to host its new Florida competitor Sporting JAX. The Sun has the best home record in the league (10W-2L-4D, including playoff matches), and it has not lost at home since March 19.

LOAN RECALL
Dallas Trinity midfielder Deb Abiodun has been called back by the Washington Spirit from her loan. Abiodun made 7 starts in 13 appearances with Dallas in the 24/25 regular and postseason. She played all 90 minutes in the team’s opener on Saturday.

UPCOMING MILESTONES & ACTIVE STREAKS

Upcoming Milestones
Approaching 15 all-time regular season goals
Allie Thornton (DAL) – 14
Mia Corbin (CAR) – 12


Approaching 10 all-time regular season assists
Emina Ekić (LEX) – 8
Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 7


Approaching 10 all-time regular season clean sheets
Hope Hisey (SPK) – 9

Active Streaks
Consecutive regular season minutes played across seasons
Allison Pantuso (LEX) – 2610
Amber Wisner (DAL) – 2610
Sarah Clark (SPK) – 2610

Consecutive regular season matches with a goal across seasons
Tampa Bay Sun FC – 17
Fort Lauderdale United FC – 9
Spokane Zephyr FC – 6

WEEK 2 DISCIPLINE REPORT

TAMPA, Fla. – There are no new suspensions to report. 

WEEK 2 MATCH NOTES

DCvSPK

  • DC Power (1-0-0) is coming off a 3-1 win over Sporting JAX. Spokane Zephyr (0-1-0) most recently lost 2-1 against Dallas Trinity.
  • DC Power has never won against Spokane Zephyr (0W-3L-1D). The last time the teams met at Audi Field, Spokane won 2-1 behind two goals from Emina Ekić.
  • Saturday’s match will be the first time Sydney Cummings will play against her former club since leaving Spokane to join DC Power.
  • Former University of Central Florida teammates Mollie Rouse (SPK) and Madison Murnin (DC) will face off against each other.
  • Sarah McCoy (SPK) will compete against her former University of Virginia teammates Claire Constant and Alexis Theoret (DC).

FTLvCAR

  • Saturday will be Carolina Ascent’s first match of the new season.
  • Fort Lauderdale United is coming off a 3-3 draw last week against Lexington SC.
  • FTL UTD has a 3W-2L-0D all-time record against Carolina. The last time the team met was in the playoffs semifinals, where FTL won 2-1 on the road.
  • Saturday’s match will be the first time Kat Gonzalez will play against her former club since leaving Carolina to join Fort Lauderdale.
  • Former Wake Forest teammates Laurel Ansbrow (FTL) and Emily Morris (CAR) will face off against each other.
  • Former UNC Charlotte teammates Kiara Locklear (FTL) and Macey Bader (CAR) will face off against each other.
  • Ansbrow and Bader were also former teammates in the USL W League with NC Courage U23.
  • Fort Lauderdale is on a nine-match regular season scoring streak dating back to last season. The team was last held scoreless on April 5 against Tampa Bay Sun.

TBvJAX

  • Both teams are coming off losses from Week 1. Tampa Bay lost 2-1 to Brooklyn FC, and Sporting JAX fell 3-1 to DC Power FC.
  • This will be the first time these two Florida teams meet.
  • Former Duke Blue Devils Mackenzie Pluck (TB) and Sophie Jones (JAX) will face off against each other.
  • Georgia Brown (JAX) will compete against her former University of South Florida teammate Vivianne Bessette (TB) and Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown.
  • Tampa Bay continued its scoring streak last weekend with a 90+4’ goal from Carlee Giammona. The team has now not been shutout in its last 17 regular season matches and 19 matches, including postseason.

DALvBKN

  • Both teams are coming off wins from Week 1. Dallas won 2-1 against Spokane Zephyr, and Brooklyn FC won 2-1 against Tampa Bay Sun.
  • The teams have a split 2-2-0 record against each other. Brooklyn won the first two meetings, and Dallas won the most recent two matches.