On the latest edition of USL Super League Game Week, hosts Anna Witte and Marion Crowder recap Brooklyn FC’s big win to keep its postseason hopes alive, how Ally Cook has transformed Spokane Zephyr FC this spring, the impact of the loss of Laveni Vaka for Fort Lauderdale United FC, and how Tampa Bay Sun FC will respond with Jordyn Listro serving the league’s first red card suspension.
Tampa Bay Sun defender Brooke Hendrix later joins the show to discuss her journey back to playing in the United States, her mentality change from not knowing if she would play professionally to being a leader for the Sun, how the team is accomplishing the goals it set heading into the spring, and she gives superlatives for some of her Tampa Bay teammates.
Tampa Bay Sun FC
Brooklyn hosts Spokane in must-win match at Maimonides Park | Week 32 Match Previews
DC Power FC vs. Dallas Trinity FC
Venue: Audi Field; Washington, D.C.
Kickoff: Thursday, May 8th; 7:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Showers, 55°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- DC is returning after a week off. It most recently won 1-0 against Brooklyn in Week 30. Dallas is coming off a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay last week.
- Dallas is 1-0-2 against DC this season. Trinity earned a 1-0 result against DC when the teams last met in April.
- DC has won only one home match all season. The team is 1-7-3 at Audi Field and 3-5-4 on the road. However, five of Dallas’ seven losses have come on the road.
- Dallas’ Madison White is tied for first in the league with nine clean sheets.
- DC was eliminated from playoff contention.
- DC captain Claire Constant is one yellow card away from a one-match suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
Players to Watch
DC – Gianna Gourley: DC Power would not have seen the results it has this spring without Gourley. The striker leads the team with five goals, 29 shots and 11 shots on target. She scored the game-winner against Brooklyn to earn the team’s first spring victory.
DAL – Athalie Palomo: The Irving, Texas native has immediately made an impact on Dallas since joining in early April. She brings speed and composure to the left back position and goes strong into tackles and 50/50 challenges.
| DC Power FC | Dallas Trinity FC | |
| Head Coach | Phil Nana (Interim Coach) | Pauline MacDonald |
| Club Record | 4-12-7 | 11-7-7 |
| Standings | 7th | 2nd |
Brooklyn FC vs. Spokane Zephyr FC
Venue: Maimonides Park; Brooklyn, NY
Kickoff: Saturday, May 10th; 6:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 56°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Brooklyn is coming off a huge 4-1 win, its first of the spring and the most goals scored by the team in a single match. Spokane also won last week in a 2-0 victory over Lexington SC.
- The series record is 1-1-1 between the two sides this season. Spokane most recently won 1-0 when Brooklyn traveled to Washington in April.
- Spokane is 8-2-1 this spring, tying Carolina for the best record in the league since the return from break.
- If Spokane were to win this match and if Tampa Bay wins its match against Lexington, Brooklyn would be eliminated from playoff contention.
- Goalkeeper Hope Hisey is tied for first in the league with nine clean sheets. She narrowly leads the Golden Glove race with a 0.94 goals-against average.
- Spokane’s Ally Cook will be facing off against her former UCLA Bruin teammate (2022-2023) and Brooklyn goalkeeper Neeku Purcell.
Players to Watch
BKN – Hope Breslin: The Illinois alum scored her first goal of the season last week after weeks of creating chances in front of goal. Breslin also recorded three interceptions, three clearances, and won four tackles and six duels in the win.
SPK – Alyssa Bourgeois: The defender has been outstanding for Spokane, especially this spring. Bourgeois won 10 duels and five tackles, made five clearances and created two chances in the win against Lexington.
| Brooklyn FC | Spokane Zephyr FC | |
| Head Coach | Kevin Tenjo (Interim Coach) | Jo Johnson |
| Club Record | 10-9-7 | 10-8-7 |
| Standings | 5th | 4th |
Lexington SC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC
Venue: Lexington SC Stadium; Lexington, KY
Kickoff: Saturday, May 10th; 7:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 51°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Lexington is coming off a 2-0 loss to Spokane, while Tampa Bay most recently won 1-0 against Dallas.
- Tampa Bay has won all three matchups against Lexington this season, scoring at least three goals in each one. However, Lexington has never been shutout against Tampa Bay.
- Tampa Bay will be without its captain Jordyn Listro, who will be serving a one-match suspension for a red card.
- Lexington has won only one match at home all season. The team is 1-7-3 at home and 3-9-2 on the road. However, Tampa Bay is considerably better at home than on the road. The Sun is 7-2-4 at home and 3-4-5 on the road.
- Lexington was eliminated from playoff contention.
Players to Watch
LEX– Nicole Vernis: The Georgia Bulldog has become a consistent dominant presence in the midfield, especially alongside captain Shea Moyer. Vernis maintained 86% passing accuracy and won all five of her duels and two tackles in last week’s match.
TB – Vivianne Bessette: Bessette is both a creator and defensive force for this Tampa Bay side. Even with the added pressure of playing down a man against Dallas last week, she still had nine clearances, three interceptions, two duels won and one chance created.
| Lexington SC | Tampa Bay Sun FC | |
| Head Coach | Sam Stockley (Interim Coach) | Denise Schilte-Brown |
| Club Record | 4-16-5 | 10-6-9 |
| Standings | 8th | 3rd |
Spokane moves above playoff line for first time this season | News & Notes Week 32
REWIND: WEEK 31 NOTES
FTL 1 – 4 BKN
- GOALS:
- Jess Garziano (BKN) 19’.
- Sh’Nia Gordon (FTL) 26’, Laurel Ansbrow assist.
- Caroline Kelly (BKN) 56’, Mackenzie George assist.
- Hope Breslin (BKN) 59’.
- Cameron Brooks (FTL) 61’, own goal.
- STORYLINES:
- SNAPPED THE STREAK: Saturday marked Brooklyn’s first win of the spring, ending an 11-match winless streak.
- FOUR GOALS: The four goals scored were the most for Brooklyn in a single match.
- FIRSTS: Caroline Kelly and Hope Breslin both scored their first goals of the season.
- ASSISTS: Laurel Ansbrow recorded her second assist of the season, and Mackenzie George recorded her fifth.
- QUOTES:
- Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Tyrone Mears:
- On the result and moving forward… “This bye week is a chance to refocus. We created quality chances in the first half but need to be more clinical and finish those chances—goals change games. We’ve put ourselves in a tough spot, but we have the talent to rise above it.”
- Fort Lauderdale defender Julia Grosso:
- On returning from injury and moving forward… “It felt amazing to be back, honestly, I’ve missed playing a lot. It’s been a long two months of training. I am really happy to be back, and I was really happy that it was a home match coming back in front of the fans. And moving forward, I just hope that we keep fighting, because we’re a really good team, and then for myself, just building confidence each game, just feeling more like myself again after my injury.”
- Brooklyn Interim Head Coach Kevin Tenjo:
- On the team’s performance… “The players did an outstanding job tonight. What really stood out was their mentality and attitude—they approached the game with determination, personality, and a real hunger to win. It was a complete performance and a well-deserved result for the group. This win gives us important momentum, and we’ll look to build on it as we prepare for the final two home matches and make our push for the playoffs.”
- Brooklyn scorer Hope Breslin:
- On the result and scoring her first goal… “We know there are only a few games left, so it’s now or never. The entire team has always had belief in each other & know we have what it takes to be successful. We have been training hard & it’s finally showing. I love playing with Sam (Kroeger) and Jess (Garziano) in the midfield, and think we all balance each other nicely. To score in the game tonight felt so good and was just a cherry on top of a great team win. Everyone showed up to play & win, & I’m so proud of us.”
- Brooklyn scorer Caroline Kelly:
- On the result and scoring her first goal… “It was an awesome feeling; I obviously haven’t been here for very long, but with just everything the team has gone through, it meant a lot to get that win. I was just happy to get us that goal, and then we just ran with that momentum, quickly scoring two more. We have two games left in the season, but I think this helped us get our feet back under us. As a team, we are capable of whatever we put our minds to, and I think we showcased that tonight.”
- Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Tyrone Mears:
SPK 2 – 0 LEX
- GOALS:
- Emina Ekić (SPK) 11’, penalty.
- Ally Cook (SPK) 50’, Katie Murray assist.
- STORYLINES:
- ON A ROLL: Spokane picked up its eighth win of the spring and moved above the playoff line for the first time this season.
- FROM THE SPOT: Emina Ekić leads the league with a perfect 4/4 from the penalty spot.
- GOALS: Ekić scored her eighth goal of the season, and Ally Cook scored her fourth.
- ASSIST: Katie Murray recorded her second assist of the season.
- CLEAN SHEET: Goalkeeper Hope Hisey tied for first in the league with her ninth clean sheet of the season.
- QUOTES:
- Spokane Head Coach Jo Johnson:
- On the team’s momentum… “We’ve had a great run, we’ve had a great push. We’ve still got three more games to finish it out. We control our destiny, so we just keep taking care of who’s in front of us, keep knocking them down, then we’re in that playoff hunt.”
- Spokane scorer Ally Cook:
- On the team’s mindset going into the final stretch of the season… “We don’t want to leave it up to anybody else. We want to control our future. We need to win the next three games—plain and simple. You don’t look ahead. You don’t look at other teams. It’s just: who’s next, and how are we going to win?”
- Lexington Interim Head Coach Sam Stockley:
- On the result… “Credit to Spokane for taking their chances early, but I was proud of the fight our players showed, especially in the second half. We created good moments and kept pressing until the final whistle.”
- Lexington goalkeeper Sarah Cox:
- On her performance… “As a goalkeeper, you always want to give your team a chance, and I was just doing my job. We never stopped pushing, and I’m proud of how we stayed together as a unit tonight.”
- Spokane Head Coach Jo Johnson:
TB 1 – 0 DAL
- GOALS:
- Hannah Keane (TB) 13’.
- STORYLINES:
- FIRST WIN: Tampa Bay earned its first win of the season against Dallas. It was previously 0-1-2 against the Trinity.
- SECOND: Hannah Keane scored her second goal of the season.
- RED CARD: Tampa Bay captain Jordyn Listro was issued a red card in the 25’ for serious foul play. It was the first time a straight red was issued in a match this season and resulted in the Sun playing with 10 players for the rest of the match.
- CLEAN SHEET: Sydney Schneider made four saves to earn her first clean sheet in her second appearance with the Sun.
- QUOTES:
- Tampa Bay scorer Hannah Keane:
- On scoring the lone goal… “It was mostly one-on-one for us forwards, and so we just tried to take opportunities that were given to us. And we did on one, and that’s good enough—that’s all you need—so, I’m happy about that.”
- Tampa Bay goalkeeper Sydney Schneider:
- On playing with 10 players after the red card… “It’s not the best situation, you don’t want that—but, at the same time, I have confidence in the people in front of me, and I hope they have confidence in me that we can—no matter what minute—play a man down, and just be disciplined, believe in each other, and that’s what we did. We needed those three points—to pull that out—and, being a player down, just shows what we can do.”
- Dallas Head Coach Pauline MacDonald:
- On the quick turnaround before their next match… “I think that sometimes the best way to bounce back is to be able to do it really, really quickly. We have that opportunity, which is fortunate and sits in our favor right now. It’s about rest, recover, refuel, evaluate and go again.”
- Dallas forward Cyera Hintzen:
- On moving forward after the loss… “We just have to put this game behind us. We all know that we’re disappointed with how we came out and how we played tonight. However, we also know that’s not who we are. We need to come out with a fresh start, and I think we’ll be in a good situation come Thursday.”
- Tampa Bay scorer Hannah Keane:
WEEK 32 SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 8th
DC Power FC v Dallas Trinity FC, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 10th
Brooklyn FC v Spokane Zephyr FC, 6 p.m. ET
Lexington SC v Tampa Bay Sun FC, 7 p.m. ET
WEEK 32 STORYLINES
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Carolina Ascent is the only team to secure a spot in the 2024/25 Super League Playoffs. The team has an opportunity to claim a top-two spot and earn home field advantage in the semi-finals this week if Lexington wins against Tampa Bay Sun.
With teams 2nd-6th all within six points of each other, the final three spots are anyone’s game and likely will not be determined until the final week of the regular season.
Additionally, Brooklyn would be eliminated from playoff contention this week if it loses to Spokane and if Tampa Bay wins against Lexington.
2025/26 SCHEDULE
The USL Super League unveiled this week the 2025/26 schedule for its first season as the Gainbridge Super League. A full slate of can’t-miss matchups kicks off Saturday, August 23, headlined by Sporting Jax’s highly anticipated home opener. The regular season will run through May 16, followed by a four-team playoff culminating in The Final the weekend of May 30.
View the full schedule here.
100th SUPER LEAGUE MATCH
Thursday’s matchup between DC Power FC and Dallas Trinity FC will be the Super League’s 100th match of the inaugural season.
WEEK 32 DISCIPLINE REPORT
TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Super League’s discipline report for Week 32 of the 2024/25 USL Super League season:
Tampa Bay Sun FC’s Jordyn Listro has been suspended for one game following her red card for serious foul play against Dallas Trinity FC on May 4. Listro will be unavailable for selection in Tampa Bay’s contest against Lexington SC on Saturday night.
Additionally, the following player enters the upcoming matches one caution away from their eighth yellow card of the season and a one-game suspension for caution accumulation.
– DC Power FC (1): Claire Constant
LEAGUE LEADERS – WEEK 32
GOALS:
- Mia Corbin (CAR) – 12 goals
- Allie Thornton (DAL) – 11 goals
- Addie McCain (FTL) – 10 goals
- Natasha Flint (TB) – 9 goals
- Jasmine Hamid (FTL) – 9 goals
- Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (TB) – 8 goals
- Emina Ekić (SPK) – 8 goals
- Carlee Giammona (TB) – 7 goals
ASSISTS:
- Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 6 assists
- Emina Ekić (SPK) – 6 assists
- Madison Perez (LEX) – 5 assists
- Madi Parsons (LEX) – 5 assists
- Chioma Ubogagu (DAL) – 5 assists
- Shea Moyer (LEX) – 5 assists
- Audrey Harding (CAR) – 5 assists
- Mackenzie George (BKN) – 5 assists
- Mackenzie Pluck (BKN) – 4 assists
- Taylor Porter (CAR) – 4 assists
- Kiara Locklear (FTL) – 4 assists
CLEAN SHEETS:
- Madison White (DAL) – 9 clean sheets
- Hope Hisey (SPK) – 9 clean sheets
- Meagan McClelland (CAR) – 6 clean sheets
- Cosette Morche (FTL) – 5 clean sheets
- Samantha Leshnak Murphy (CAR) – 5 clean sheets
- Ashley Orkus (TB) – 5 clean sheets
- Morgan Aquino (DC) – 5 clean sheets
Super League Power Rankings – Week 31
Just when we thought the playoff picture couldn’t get any tighter, three big results completely shook up the standings by the end of Week 31. Spokane Zephyr FC has moved above the playoff line for the first time since early in the fall, Brooklyn FC finally broke its 11-match winless streak, and Tampa Bay Sun FC earned all three points despite playing with 10 players for most of the match.
The spring has transformed Zephyr into a championship contender. The offense has exploded into a goal scoring machine, averaging 1.72 goals per game and only have been shut out twice. On the defensive end, the team has conceded only 10 goals and goalkeeper Hope Hisey leads the league in clean sheets (nine) and goals-against average (0.94).
For Brooklyn, not only did it secure the win it needed, but it also dominated Fort Lauderdale United FC in a 4-1 route after only scoring one goal for the entire month of April. While the team is still in fifth place, it got a much-needed result that can create some momentum before it closes out the season at home the last two matches.
For the first time this season, a team had to compete with 10 players due to a red card, but you wouldn’t have even noticed it based on how Tampa Bay played. Getting the early go-ahead goal from Hannah Keane helped the Sun play with composure to earn a win against Dallas Trinity FC, which now has only a one-point lead over Tampa Bay.
On The Move
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
| 1 |  |
Carolina Ascent FC (13-5-7) Week 32: — |
 Last Week: 1 |
The Ascent has set the standard for the rest of the league as it sits in first place with a comfortable six-point advantage over Dallas. The team is on the brink of securing hosting the playoffs and the first Players’ Shield. |
| 2 |  |
Spokane Zephyr FC (10-8-7) Week 32: @ BKN |
Last Week: 2 |
It seems like Spokane can’t stop scoring, as it recorded a 2-0 victory over Lexington for its eighth win of the spring. Zephyr is now officially above the playoff line, and the team needs to keep this form as it travels to Brooklyn in a huge match of consequence this weekend. |
| 3 |  |
Tampa Bay Sun FC (10-6-9) Week 32: @ LEX |
 1Last Week: 4 |
The Sun showed extreme fortitude to play for over 70 minutes at a disadvantage following captain Jordyn Listro’s red card and still come away with the three points. The match also showed the talent of goalkeeper Sydney Schneider, who made four saves and managed the clock well to preserve the clean sheet. |
| 4 |  |
DC Power FC (4-12-7) Week 32: vs. DAL |
1 Last Week: 5 |
Despite being out of the playoff race, DC Power still plays competitively and has been one of the more entertaining teams to watch, especially with the scoring prowess of Gianna Gourley. If the team can return from the week off and earn a result against Dallas this wekend, it could have huge results on the teams still in the playoff hunt. |
| 5 |  |
Brooklyn FC (10-9-7) Week 32: vs. SPK |
3 Last Week: 8 |
A lot of people may have counted Brooklyn out, but getting that huge win over Fort Lauderdale shows this team is not going away easily. Brooklyn looked like the team it was in the fall, pressing high, being aggressive and shutting down its opponents inside the box. It was just what the team needed heading into its final two matches. |
| 6 |  |
Dallas Trinity FC (11-7-7) Week 32: @ DC |
 3Last Week: 3 |
Dallas did not come out with the energy it needed on Sunday and failed to take advantage of the opportunity it got playing 11v10 for most of the match. For Trinity to hold 67% of possession and record 14 shots and not come away with a single goal is not going to be good enough if it wants to hold on to second place. |
| 7 |  |
Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-8-7) Week 32: — |
1 Last Week: 6 |
After the previous loss to Carolina Ascent, Fort Lauderdale needed a big response over Brooklyn to try to stay in the top four spots. The team’s defense looked scrambled and unorganized, its offense wasn’t clinical enough, and it came up extremely short. Its saving grace is having a match in hand over every team above it in the standings. |
| 8 |  |
Lexington SC (4-16-5) Week 32: vs. TB |
1 Last Week: 7 |
It’s hard for a team to stay locked in defensively after conceding a penalty kick and going down a goal within the first ten minutes of the match. Limiting Spokane to only two goals is better than Lexington’s last few results but is ultimately not enough once again to earn a result. |
Tampa Bay hosts Dallas in potential playoff matchup | Week 31 Match Previews
Fort Lauderdale United FC vs. Brooklyn FC
Venue: Beyond Bancard Field; Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kickoff: Saturday, May 3rd; 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 73°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Both teams are coming off losses from Week 30. Fort Lauderdale fell 5-2 to Carolina, and Brooklyn lost 1-0 to DC.
- Both teams are currently in a three-way tie with Spokane at 34 points.
- Fort Lauderdale has a 2-1-0 record against Brooklyn this season. FTL UTD most recently won 2-0 when the teams met at Maimonides Park in March.
- Both teams are currently riding winless streaks. Fort Lauderdale has gone five matches without a win, while Brooklyn has done 11 matches without a win.
- Fort Lauderdale’s Addie McCain was named to the April Team of the Month.
Players to Watch
FTL – Addie McCain: McCain has been the backbone of Fort Lauderdale’s midfield all season. She just scored her tenth goal of the campaign, and she also leads the team in duels won, tackles won and interceptions.
BKN – Allison Pantuso: The only player in the league with more duels and tackles won than Addie McCain is Allison Pantuso. The center back is the only Brooklyn player to have never left the field, anchoring the team’s defense all season.
| Fort Lauderdale United FC | Brooklyn FC | |
| Head Coach | Tyrone Mears | Kevin Tenjo (Interim Coach) |
| Club Record | 9-7-7 | 9-9-7 |
| Standings | 4th | 5th |
Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Dallas Trinity FC
Venue: Riverfront Stadium; Tampa, FL
Kickoff: Saturday, May 3rd; 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 71°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Tampa Bay is coming off a 3-2 loss to Spokane last week, while Dallas most recently won 3-1 against Lexington.
- Dallas has a 1-0-2 record against Tampa Bay this season. The teams most recently drew 1-1 at the Cotton Bowl in February.
- Tampa Bay has only dropped two matches at home this season and only lost once at home this spring.
- This matchup could potentially be a semifinal match, as Dallas and Tampa Bay sit in second and third place in the league standings with four weeks left in the regular season.
- Tampa Bay’s Sydny Nasello, Brooke Hendrix and Ashley Orkus and Dallas’ Tamara Bolt, Amber Brooks and Allie Thornton were all named to the April Team of the Month.
- This is the first of three consecutive road matches for Dallas. The team is 5-3-2 while on the road this season.
Players to Watch
TB – Sydny Nasello: The midfielder has been nearly unstoppable on the right flank for the Sun. Nasello was the main reason behind why Tampa Bay stayed in the match against Spokane last week, as she netted her third goal of the season and drew the penalty.
DAL – Tamara Bolt: The Brazilian winger is one of many offensive threats on Dallas’ roster. She had a goal, four chances created and 85% passing accuracy in the team’s win last week.
| Tampa Bay Sun FC | Dallas Trinity FC | |
| Head Coach | Denise Schilte-Brown | Pauline MacDonald |
| Club Record | 9-6-9 | 11-6-7 |
| Standings | 3rd | 2nd |
Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Lexington SC
Venue: ONE Spokane Stadium; Spokane, WA
Kickoff: Saturday, May 3rd; 9:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 46°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Spokane is coming off a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay last week, while Lexington looks to rebound from a 3-1 loss to Dallas.
- The teams have a 1-1-1 series record this season, with Spokane most recently winning 3-0 when the teams met in Kentucky last month.
- Spokane has won four of its last five matches and has gone 7-2-1 this spring. Lexington is on a six-match winless streak and hasn’t earned all three points since its 2-1 win over DC on March 9.
- Spokane is currently in a three-way tie with Fort Lauderdale and Brooklyn with 34 points.
- Spokane’s McKenzie Weinert, Sydney Cummings and Emina Ekić,and Lexington’s Shea Moyer were named to the April Team of the Month.
Players to Watch
SPK – McKenzie Weinert: The University of Washington alum was named the Player of the Month after recording her first three goals and first assist of the season in April. When Weinert connects with midfielder Emina Ekić, it’s very difficult for any defense to stop them.
LEX – Shea Moyer: Lexington’s captain is the reliable force in the midfield, contributing on both sides of the ball for the Girls in Green. Moyer earned her fifth assist last week, along with three clearances, two tackles and two interceptions.
| Spokane Zephyr FC | Lexington SC | |
| Head Coach | Jo Johnson | Sam Stockley (Interim Coach) |
| Club Record | 9-8-7 | 4-15-5 |
| Standings | 6th | 8th |
Playoff race heats up with three spots remaining | News & Notes Week 31
REWIND: WEEK 30 NOTES
SPK 3 – 2 TB
- GOALS:
- Taylor Alymer (SPK) 14’.
- McKenzie Weinert (SPK) 25’, Emina Ekić assist.
- Sydny Nasello (TB) 27’.
- McKenzie Weinert (SPK) 68’, Katie Murray assist.
- Tash Flint (TB) 78’, PK.
- STORYLINES:
- BAGGED A BRACE: McKenzie Weinert scored a brace for the first time this season. She is the second Spokane player to record a brace aside from Emina Ekić, who has done it twice.
- GOALS: Taylor Aylmer scored her fourth goal, Sydny Nasello scored her third and Tash Flint scored her ninth goal of the season.
- ASSISTS: Ekić recorded her league-leading sixth assist of the season. Katie Murray recorded her first assist.
- 3-2 SCORELINE: Saturday was the fourth time this season Spokane finished a match with a 3-2 scoreline and the second time that was the score against Tampa Bay. Spokane was on the other side of this result when the team previously played at Riverfront Stadium, and the Sun came from behind twice to win 3-2.
- FIRST TO SCORE: Spokane has won all seven of its matches this spring when it scores first. In all three of its other matches, it was either shutout or scored second.
- QUOTES:
- Spokane Head Coach Jo Johnson:
- On the slow start… “We didn’t play well in the first 15 minutes, but we didn’t get down on ourselves or lose our focus. We figured out how to handle their pressure, and our players stayed prepared.”
- On how the win builds confidence for the team’s playoffs ambitions… “Good teams find ways to win. Playoff teams find ways to win. Even today wasn’t our best game, but we found a way to close it out.”
- Spokane scorer McKenzie Weinert:
- On scoring a brace… “It’s been nice to finally put some balls in the back of the net, but credit to my teammates and coaches for always believing in me.”
- Tampa Bay Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown:
- On overall thoughts on the match… “Never an easy trip to Spokane, but the ladies came ready and dominated most of the match. The goals against came a little too easily, but we stayed resilient and fought hard until the final whistle. Proud of the effort and heart.”
- Tampa Bay midfielder Sydny Nasello:
- On the team’s focus the rest of the season… “Our focus going forward is just to keep improving and trusting the process. We are doing the right things, and it’s frustrating at times, but I really believe in this group, and we just need to be more clinical in and around the box. We created so many chances, not just today, and we just didn’t put them away. And then we need to be strong defensively for a full 90 minutes. A lot of the goals we are conceding are too easy, and we just need to be better and cleaner all around and the results will come for us.”
- Spokane Head Coach Jo Johnson:
BKN 0 – 1 DC
- GOALS:
- Gianna Gourley (DC) 37’, Emily Colton assist.
- STORYLINES:
- SNAPPED THE STREAK: Saturday’s win was DC’s first of the spring, and it ended a nine-match winless streak for DC dating back to November. Brooklyn holds the longest current winless streak at 11 matches.
- FIFTH: Gianna Gourley scored her fifth goal of the season. It was also Morgan Aquino’s fifth clean sheet of the season.
- FIRST: Emily Colton recorded her first assist of the season.
- CLOSE GAMES: All nine of DC’s matches this spring have been draws, or the results have been decided by one goal.
- HOME/AWAY: DC’s win was its third win on the road. Power FC has a better record away (3-5-4) than it does at Audi Field (1-7-3).
- QUOTES:
- Brooklyn Interim Head Coach Kevin Tenjo:
- On the team’s playoff hopes… I’m very competitive, so I think success will be getting into the playoffs. We are gonna keep competing. We believe in this group of girls. They are giving their 100%. At this point, the results are not with us. But, we keep fighting. And of course, the goal is to be in the playoffs.”
- Brooklyn defender Tori Hansen:
- On the team’s mindset… “It’s been a tough couple weeks, but we keep going. It’s that simple. We do have three games left. We’re still in contention for playoffs, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
- DC Interim Head Coach Phil Nana:
- On the team’s first win of the spring… “More than the win, I’m really happy with the performance from the group. You can see how we’re constantly growing and becoming the team we want to be. I thought we controlled most aspects of the game. The possession, space, tempo, the ball. Out of possession, I think we got our tactics right with our press and block shape.”
- DC scorer Gianna Gourley:
- On the team’s chemistry… “From day one, the culture’s been great. We’ve supported each other, and a lot of teams would have caved considering we’ve had a lot of results not go our way. We’ve stayed together and it’s why we still play with fire and play with passion. When someone scores, we celebrate because it’s a team effort and we’re happy for one another. We have a bond here and we all celebrate together knowing what we put in day in, day out. It’s nice to celebrate together because it’s been a long time coming.”
- Brooklyn Interim Head Coach Kevin Tenjo:
FTL 2 – 5 CAR
- GOALS:
- Jasmine Hamid (FTL) 3’, Kiara Locklear assist.
- Mia Corbin (CAR) 5’, Audrey Harding assist.
- Audrey Harding (CAR) 17’.
- Sarah Troccoli (CAR) 34’, Jill Aguilera assist.
- Audrey Harding (CAR) 77’, Kathrynn González assist.
- Mia Corbin (CAR) 81’ – PK
- Addie McCain (FTL) 90+2’, Thelma Hermannsdottir assist.
- STORYLINES:
- DOUBLE BRACES: For the first time this season, two players on the same team each scored a brace in the same match.
- GOLDEN BOOT: Mia Corbin’s brace, her second of the season, moves her back to the top of the Golden Boot race with 12 goals.
- GOALS: Jasmine Hamid scored her ninth goal of the season, Audrey Harding scored her fourth and fifth goals, Sarah Troccoli scored her third and Addie McCain scored her tenth.
- ASSISTS: Kiara Locklear recorded her fourth assist of the season, Harding recorded her fifth, Jill Aguilera recorded her sixth, and Kathrynn González and Thelma Hermannsdottir both recorded their first.
- SNAPPED THE STREAK: FTL UTD was the first team to score on Carolina since Tampa Bay on March 15. The Ascent had set the record for most consecutive clean sheets with five.
- QUOTES:
- Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Tyrone Mears:
- On the team’s overall performance… “It was a poor performance from us tonight — we have to be better in every area. We’ll use this feeling as fuel heading into Brooklyn. The focus now is on learning from tonight and making sure we respond the right way next week.”
- Fort Lauderdale captain Addie McCain:
- On how to shift the focus toward next week… “I think the team will reflect, watch the game back, learn from our mistakes and move forward. We still have so much to play for and it’s about putting that last game in the rearview mirror and continuing to push for one of those playoff spots which we are fully capable of.”
- Carolina Head Coach Philip Poole:
- On the team’s response after conceding early… “The response was really good. I think we haven’t necessarily been great from coming from behind, we’ve tied a couple of games. We haven’t been necessarily great at turning those into wins, so it’s another step forward in that department for sure.”
- Carolina defender Jill Aguilera:
- On the team heading to the playoffs…“It’s really exciting to be the first team to clinch playoffs, our hard work has been paying off but we still have important games coming up and our intensity and high performance mindset does not change as we work toward winning the final games of the season. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far, but our work isn’t done yet.”
- Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Tyrone Mears:
DAL 3 – 1 LEX
- GOALS:
- Tamara Bolt (DAL) 5’.
- Hannah White (LEX) 69’, Shea Moyer assist.
- Sealey Strawn (DAL) 70’, Camryn Lancaster assist.
- Allie Thornton (DAL) 90+3’, Jenny-Julia Danielsson.
- STORYLINES:
- SEASON SWEEP: Dallas won all four matchups this season against Lexington. Dallas scored at least three goals in all four matches.
- GOALS: Tamara Bolt scored her first goal of the season, Hannah White scored her second, Sealey Strawn scored her third and Allie Thornton scored her eleventh.
- ASSISTS: Shea Moyer recorded her fifth assist of the season, Camryn Lancaster recorded her first and Jenny-Julia Danielsson recorded her second.
- SUPER SUB: All three of Strawn’s goals were after she was substituted into the match. No one else in the league has scored more than two goals off the bench.
- QUOTES:
- Dallas Head Coach Pauline MacDonald:
- On overall thoughts on the match… “I think that there are a lot of lessons for us to be learned from this evening. I’m delighted with the result and it keeps us in a very good spot to secure a playoff spot, which is our objective.”
- Dallas scorer Sealey Strawn:
- On what the win means for the team… “It was really important for us. We have four games left, and today in the locker room, the main point was that we needed to win this match. We needed to come away with three points and we did that. I am really proud of that.”
- Lexington Interim Head Coach Sam Stockley:
- On how conceding early impacted the rest of the match… “The first half performance was very lackluster, but in the second half we came out and we went toe to toe with them. We got the goal, and then obviously to concede the second goal within 15 seconds was a real blow for us, but we tried to then get after the rest of the game, and we conceded the late goal. Very pleased with our performance in the second half.”
- Lexington forward Natalie Higgins:
- On overall thoughts on the match… “I think last night’s 3-1 score didn’t reflect the team’s performance especially in the second half. This team is special and I think there’s a togetherness about this squad that has weathered many storms and continues to stay connected and play for each other. We are a team that’s not going to take our foot off the gas .We will continue to work hard and play every game with a hunger to get a result.”
- Dallas Head Coach Pauline MacDonald:
WEEK 31 SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 3rd
Fort Lauderdale United FC v Brooklyn FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Sun FC v Dallas Trinity FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Spokane Zephyr FC v Lexington SC, 9 p.m. ET
WEEK 31 STORYLINES
CAROLINA CLINCHES
Carolina’s emphatic 5-2 victory over FTL UTD saw the team become the first to clinch a spot in the inaugural Super League Playoffs. Carolina currently sits atop the table with their eyes on the Player’s Shield.
APRIL TEAM OF THE MONTH
The USL Super League unveiled the Team of the Month for April with Spokane’s McKenzie Weinert named the Player of the Month after netting three goals and an assist.
Read the full Team of the Month here.
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
The final standings are far from set, but what would the playoffs look like if they were to start today? Find out who would be in and who’s on the bubble here.
Additionally, here is a refresher on the Playoff structure, dates and end of year awards.
EVERY MINUTE
Going into the final month of the regular season four players have played every minute for their club:
- Allison Pantuso, BKN – 2250 minutes
- Taylor Porter, CAR – 2250 minutes
- Amber Brooks, DAL – 2160 minutes
- Sarah Clark, SPK – 2160 minutes
2025 USL W LEAGUE SEASON KICK OFF
The 2025 USL W League season kicks off this weekend, with Cargo Stockton SC taking on Oakland Soul SC Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET.
Both Stockton and Oakland have alumni competing in the inaugural Super League season. Notably, Gianna Gourley, who has scored five goals for DC Power, and Sydney Shepherd has four goals for Lexington SC.
Four USL Super League clubs will field a W League team this season:
- Carolina Ascent FC
- Fort Lauderdale United FC
- Lexington SC
- Sporting JAX
DISCIPLINE REPORT – WEEK 31
TAMPA, Fla. – There are no new suspensions to report.
LEAGUE LEADERS – WEEK 31
GOALS:
- Mia Corbin (CAR) – 12 goals
- Allie Thornton (DAL) – 11 goals
- Addie McCain (FTL) – 10 goals
- Natasha Flint (TB) – 9 goals
- Jasmine Hamid (FTL) – 9 goals
- Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (TB) – 8 goals
- Carlee Giammona (TB) – 7 goals
- Emina Ekić (SPK) – 7 goals
- Madison Parsons (LEX) – 5 goals
- Luana Grabias (BKN) – 5 goals
- Audrey Harding (CAR) – 5 goals
- Gianna Gourley (DC) – 5 goals
ASSISTS:
- Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 6 assists
- Emina Ekić (SPK) – 6 assists
- Madison Perez (LEX) – 5 assists
- Madi Parsons (LEX) – 5 assists
- Chioma Ubogagu (DAL) – 5 assists
- Shea Moyer (LEX) – 5 assists
- Audrey Harding (CAR) – 5 assists
- Mackenzie Pluck (BKN) – 4 assists
- Mackenzie George (BKN) – 4 assists
- Taylor Porter (CAR) – 4 assists
- Kiara Locklear (FTL) – 4 assists
CLEAN SHEETS:
- Madison White (DAL) – 9 clean sheets
- Hope Hisey (SPK) – 8 clean sheets
- Meagan McClelland (CAR) – 6 clean sheets
- Cosette Morche (FTL) – 5 clean sheets
- Samantha Leshnak Murphy (CAR) – 5 clean sheets
- Ashley Orkus (TB) – 5 clean sheets
- Morgan Aquino (DC) – 5 clean sheets
MILESTONES
HAT TRICKS:
- DAL – Allie Thornton (09.13.24)
- FTL – Addie McCain (09.22.24)
- BKN – Luana Grabias (11.13.24)
BRACES:
- DAL – Chioma Ubogagu (09.13.24)
- DC – Madison Wolfbauer (09.29.24)
- TB – Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (10.02.24)
- CAR – Ashlynn Serepca (10.19.24)
- LEX – Madison Parsons (10.19.24)
- DC – Allie Flanagan (10.25.24)
- TB – Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (11.02.24)
- LEX – Hannah Richardson (12.14.24)
- TB – Natasha Flint (12.14.24)
- FTL – Kiara Locklear (12.14.24)
- DAL – Allie Thornton (03.09.25)
- SPK – Emina Ekić (03.15.25)
- FTL – Sh’Nia Gordon (03.15.25)
- CAR – Audrey Harding (03.23.25)
- TB – Natasha Flint (03.29.25)
- CAR – Mia Corbin (03.29.25)
- SPK – Emina Ekić (04.16.25)
- CAR – Eli Hutchinson (04.19.25)
- SPK – McKenzie Weinert (4.26.25)
- CAR – Aubrey Harding (4.26.25)
- CAR – Mia Corbin (4.26.25)
USL Super League Team of the Month – April
The USL Super League announced the Team of the Month for April on Thursday, with Spokane Zephyr FC forward McKenzie Weinert earning Player of the Month.
Weinert scored three goals and recorded one assist in 440 minutes played to lead Zephyr to a 4-1-0 record during April. Her brace in the 3-2 win over Tampa Bay Sun FC put the team in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot with four matches left in the regular season. The honor is Weinert’s first Team of the Month recognition.
GK: Samantha Leshnak Murphy, Carolina Ascent FC – Leshnak Murphy makes her first team of the month after recording three clean sheets and conceding only twice to help the Ascent to four wins in April.
D: Sydney Cummings, Spokane Zephyr FC – The Georgetown alum played all 450 minutes and made a league-high 40 clearances last month on Spokane’s backline. The defender also scored twice in two separate matches on 100% shooting accuracy.
D: Susanna Fitch, DC Power FC – The outside back had an excellent month on both sides of the field. Fitch won 23 duels, 10 tackles and made 14 clearances, while also creating two chances, making eight interceptions and recording an assist in the 1-1 draw against FTL UTD.
D: Sydney Studer, Carolina Ascent FC – The center back has been outstanding since returning to Carolina’s starting lineup. Studer maintained 86.7% passing accuracy and 71% duel success rate while recording an assist and 15 clearances.
D: Brooke Hendrix, Tampa Bay Sun FC – Hendrix makes her third Team of the Month appearance after leading the Sun to a 3-1-0 record in April behind 360 minutes played, 85% passing accuracy, 87.5% duel success rate and 26 clearances.
M: Sydny Nasello, Tampa Bay Sun FC – The USF Bull was a spark on Tampa Bay’s offense last month. Nasello recorded two goals on nine shots, nine interceptions and 25 duels won.
M: Addie McCain, Fort Lauderdale United FC – McCain recorded another strong month both offensively and defensively for FTL UTD. The midfielder had one goal, 30 duels won, 13 tackles won, seven interceptions and 10 clearances.
M: Amber Brooks, Dallas Trinity FC – Another captain dominating the midfield was Amber Brooks. The UNC Tar Heel created eight chances, won 31 duels, made 13 clearances, scored one goal and played all 450 minutes to help Dallas to a 3-1-1 record.
F: McKenzie Weinert, Spokane Zephyr FC – Weinert had a breakout month in April, recording her first three goals and first assist of the season. She also won seven tackles, made six interceptions and got back on the defensive end with nine clearances.
F: Tamara Bolt, Dallas Trinity FC – The Brazilian striker has made an immediate impact for Dallas’ offense since joining the team this spring. In April, she recorded one goal, 30 duels won, 13 tackles won and created nine chances.
F: Mia Corbin, Carolina Ascent FC – Corbin spearheaded the red-hot Carolina offense that netted 14 goals in April. Three goals came from Corbin, and the forward also recorded an assist, 15 shots and five chances created.
Coach: Philip Poole, Carolina Ascent FC – Poole earns his second Coach of the Month honor after leading Carolina to an undefeated month, outscoring its opponents 14-2, to become the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Bench: Allie Thornton (DAL), Shea Moyer (LEX), Emina Ekić (SPK), Ashley Orkus (TB)
How would the USL Super League Playoffs look if they started today?
Heading into the final month of regular season play, we’re kicking off the USL Super League Race to the Playoffs, where we provide weekly information on where teams stand in their bid to reach the 2025 USL Super League Playoffs.
The final standings are far from set, but what would the playoffs look like if they were to start today? Here’s the outlook for the two semifinal matchups based on the standings through Week 30.
No. 1 Carolina Ascent FC vs. No. 4 Fort Lauderdale United FC
Carolina is the only club thus far to secure its spot in the playoffs and is on the road to locking in the Players’ Shield and No. 1 seed. The team has won six matches in a row, outscoring its opponents 21-2 in that span. Fort Lauderdale United slides into that fourth spot on tiebreakers over Brooklyn and Spokane Zephyr. FTL UTD is not quite in the same run of form as Carolina, but it has games in hand to pick up extra points.
These two sides just faced off last week, and if it has any indication of how an actual playoff matchup would go, things don’t look great for Fort Lauderdale. If the Ascent could get a win like that on the road, spearheaded by braces from Audrey Harding and Golden Boot leader Mia Corbin, imagine it in front of its home crowd with a chance to host the Final on the line.
The key for Fort Lauderdale would be controlling possession, as it did in the second half of the March 2 match between the two sides when it came from behind to win 2-1. FTL UTD returned from halftime with composure, utilized the speed of Jasmine Hamid and Kiara Locklear, and scored in transition and on a set piece, where the team has been dominant all season.
No. 2 Dallas Trinity FC vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Sun FC
Dallas has bobbled between the top three spots in the standings throughout the spring, earning 1.7 points per game, second behind only Carolina and Spokane. The team’s depth has propelled it to its current spot, with multiple new roster signings strengthening the attacking unit it already had. Tampa Bay has quietly snuck into third place only recently. The Sun stayed in the middle of the pack through single points off draws earlier in the spring, but a recent winning streak pushed it above the playoff line.
We’ll get a preview of this potential matchup this Saturday, only at a different venue. In this playoff scenario, Dallas Trinity would host, whereas this weekend’s showdown will be at Tampa Bay’s Riverfront Stadium. Trinity looks its best at the Cotton Bowl; it has only lost twice at home, and Dallas won 2-0 against Tampa Bay the first time they played there. Home field advantage along with Trinity’s multiple scorers, all with speed and the ability to score in various ways, could run circles around a Tampa Bay defense that concedes early and often.
The Sun would need to lean on its big three of Tash Flint, Carlee Giammona and Cecilie Fløe in this matchup, who have combined for 24 goals this season. They could exploit Dallas’ defensive formation, especially when they have players like Vivianne Bessette who can deliver absolute dimes over the top.
Still in the hunt: No. 5 Brooklyn FC and No. 6 Spokane Zephyr FC
This three-way tie really makes things unpredictable. While these two teams technically wouldn’t be in the playoffs if it started today, they still have a shot at playing in June, so here’s a look at what they need to do these last few weeks to move into that fourth and maybe third place spot.
To put it simply, Brooklyn needs to win out. And even with nine more points, it would need some other fortuitus results from around the league to beat out two other teams that have more matches left to play. Three wins is a tough ask for a team that has recorded the fewest points per game this spring (0.45). What’s more, its three remaining matches are against the two teams it’s tied with and No. 1 Carolina.
Spokane, on the other hand, has completely flipped its season around this spring. That’s given it a great chance to push above the playoff line. Zephyr still has Lexington and DC on the schedule, two teams they’ve already beaten this spring, along with Brooklyn and Fort Lauderdale. Taking down the two teams standing in their way of the postseason would be poetic for this Spokane team.
Super League Power Rankings – Week 30
Carolina remains at the top behind sixth straight win
It’s all about consistency and momentum as we head into the final month of regular season play. Carolina Ascent FC continues to set the standard for the rest of the league as it became the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Ascent picked up its sixth-consecutive win, tying the league record, and have a six-point lead over Dallas as Carolina heads into a three-week hiatus.
Spokane grabbed a huge win against Tampa Bay on Saturday to move Zephyr into a three-way tie with Fort Lauderdale and Brooklyn. Spokane has scored 10 goals in its last four wins, and with clinching potentially coming down to tiebreakers, an upswing in scoring to increase its goal differential is massive.
On the other hand, Brooklyn and Fort Lauderdale have struggled to earn results lately; neither team has won in its last five matches. Brooklyn fell at home again, this time to then-last place DC Power FC, and Fort Lauderdale suffered its worst loss of the season to Carolina, also on its home turf. The two sides face each other next week in what will be possibly their biggest matches of the season.
On The Move
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
| 1 | |
Carolina Ascent FC (13-5-7) Week 31: — |
Last Week: 1 |
Carolina continues to steamroll the competition and does not show any signs of slowing down. The team put out another five-goal performance even after going down a goal and conceding for the first time since the middle of March. With three matches to go, Carolina might hold on to that top spot for the rest of the season. |
| 2 | |
Spokane Zephyr FC (9-8-7) Week 31: vs. LEX |
2 Last Week: 4 |
Spokane bounced back from its last loss to Carolina with an impressive 3-2 win against Tampa Bay. Zephyr has won seven of its 10 spring matches, coming back from last place at the break to being in the running for a playoff spot. If the team keeps up this momentum, it very well could reach that feat. |
| 3 | |
Dallas Trinity FC (11-6-7) Week 31: @ TB |
Last Week: 3 |
Trinity earned another three points at home last weekend to keep the pressure on Carolina. Forward Tamara Bolt scored her first goal, as she has become another strong attacking threat beside Allie Thornton and Camryn Lancaster. Now, the team needs to keep this form and get a result against the Sun next week to create some space in the standings. |
| 4 | |
Tampa Bay Sun FC (9-6-9) Week 31: vs. DAL |
2 Last Week: 2 |
Tampa Bay’s three-match winning streak came to an end last weekend at the hands of Spokane, which has defeated the Sun three times this season. Sydny Nasello single-handedly got the team back in the match, but the Sun will need more of a team effort this weekend to take down Dallas and hold on to third place. |
| 5 | |
DC Power FC (4-12-7) Week 31: — |
3 Last Week: 8 |
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, DC Power has still been playing with fortitude and grit. The team won its first match since November in the 1-0 victory on the road against Brooklyn. Gianna Gourley has completed shifted DC’s offense and has created chances for the team in every match this spring. |
| 6 | |
Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-7-7) Week 31: vs. BKN |
1 Last Week: 5 |
It was disappointing to see Fort Lauderdale drop a 5-2 result to Carolina after getting on the board first in the third minute. After Carolina quickly equalized, FTL UTD never got a hold back in the match until it was too late. The team needs to quickly regroup and get a win over Brooklyn on Saturday to get its momentum going back in the right direction. |
| 7 | |
Lexington SC (4-15-5) Week 31: @ SPK |
Last Week: 7 |
For a team that previously conceded six goals the last time it was at the Cotton Bowl, it was a good defensive showing for Lexington to hold Dallas to just one goal at halftime. However, the team let off the brakes for just a second after equalizing and dropped its fifteenth match of the season. |
| 8 | |
Brooklyn FC (9-9-7) Week 31: @ FTL |
2 Last Week: 6 |
Things don’t look great for Brooklyn, as it finds itself in another three-way tie after falling again to DC Power last weekend. The team is not creating quality looks in front of goal, and it allowed DC to have more possession and shots on its home field. With only three matches left, Brooklyn desperately needs to earn a win this weekend. |