On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Sun won the first ever USL Super League final, beating Ft. Lauderdale United in extra time with a goal from powerhouse forward, Cecilie Fløe Nielsen. The 1-0 scoreline would hold up and Tampa is now crowned the queens of the USL Super League.

The final was fitting way for this first season of the Super League to end, with both teams featuring plenty of interesting storylines and professional talent. These teams had played each other four times in the regular season and this matchup was very much a clash between two opponents who were evenly matched and knew each other well. The regular season matchups had yielded three draws and the final looked every bit as stalemated. While both sides had chances, Natasha Flint’s effort in the 54th minute looked every-bit the match winner, but was called back for offside. It would take another 50 minutes for Fløe to find the goal that would crown Tampa Bay the winners of the first Super League final.

*Photo courtesy of the USL Super League*

The MVP of the match was Sydny Nasello, who provided the assist on the match-winning goal and was an absolute menace throughout the match, both through her passing and shooting. After the match, she spoke about the confidence she and her teammates felt going into the final and how it fed her energy. “We had no doubt that this would be the outcome. We really did believe in ourselves and knew that this moment would be ours, we had to just go out there and take it.” Nasello is a Tampa native and highlighted the importance of winning the title at home in front of “the best fans in the league.” The match was played in Riverfront Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 5,006 fans, most of which were rooting for Sun.

The win for Nasello is a bit of a redemption arc, given her stunted path to the NWSL. Some anti-trans social media posts led Portland to part ways with her post draft, effectively ending her chances of playing in league. When she was signed by Tampa Bay, it was seen as controversial by some, but her level of play over the course of the season has, for the most part, overshadowed any backlash. Nasello has been a key part of the Tampa attack and her coach Denise Schilte-Brown spoke glowingly about her play. “It’s been awesome and I’ve been blessed to be on this journey with her. She’s a real Tampa girl and it’s so cool that she won the championship here. She’s a true talent and always has been.” The Tampa coach, who also coached Nasello in college, was critical of her experience in the NWSL, describing the claims against her as “super false.” Schilte-Brown made those comments on a special interview episode on the The Super Show podcast.

The title for Tampa Bay was followed by an announcement of a new stadium deal in the works. The Ybor Harbor project will feature a 15,000 seat, soccer-specific stadium and a boutique hotel. Darryl Shaw, Tampa Bay’s owner, spoke about the project in the press release. “The vision for a new Tampa Bay Sun FC stadium is rooted in creating opportunity, celebrating excellence, and laying down a cornerstone for Ybor City’s continued revitalization. We believe in the power of sport to inspire, unite, and drive meaningful change. By anchoring this historic neighborhood with a vibrant home for women’s professional soccer, we’re investing in our city’s future and honoring the community that makes it thrive.” This comes on the heels of the club’s investment in Riverfront Stadium, which it shares with a local high school team. Riverfront was on full display at the final, successfully living up to the moment. While the new stadium does not yet have a proposed launch date, big things are in the works and winning a championship will help fill those seats in the future.

And though the focus on Tampa Bay is entirely deserved, Ft. Lauderdale had an equally impressive first season. Launching a stadium of their own, the team did exactly what was necessary to make it into the final, qualifying for the playoffs on the last day of the season and then knocking off top-seeded Carolina Ascent in the semifinals. The team, which featured league standouts Addie McCain and Jasmine Hamid, was every bit up to the challenge of facing Tampa in the final, but couldn’t complete a title story of their own. Head Coach Tyrone Mears was masterful throughout the season, managing a roster packed with stars and delivering the necessary instruction to get the most out of them. There has to be a loser in a final and Ft. Lauderdale United came up just short.

While the Tampa Bay Sun winning the title is the headline of the story, the USL Super League should be proud of its first season. Under the leadership of league president Amanda Vandervort, the inaugural campaign went off without any apparent hitch. Every match was played and the presentation, both in person and on their broadcast partner Peacock, was every bit up to Division 1 standards. The league has some bright stars, including finals MVP Nasello, which could attract fans and suitors, something that’s a good thing for a league working to gain footing and gravitas for a sophomore launch. The final gave fans everything they could have hoped for and leaves us wanting more. Now the offseason kicks off, but thankfully it’s short and we’ll be back to talking Super League in just a few months.

- Dan Vaughn