Last Year: As the inaugural season of the Super League was heading toward its winter break, the announcement came that Sporting JAX would be entering play for the 2025-26 season. As it turned out, they would be the only club being added for next season. The Jacksonville side will play its home games at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. Interest in the club locally is encouraging, with over 6,000 season tickets having been sold.

Over the Break: As the spring portion of last season rolled on, Sporting JAX got to work themselves, bringing on head coach Stacey Balaam from the college coaching ranks. Building the roster was soon to follow, with the first signings taking place in May. By early July the roster build was completed - earlier than any other club in the league. The anchor of the midfield for Sporting JAX is Parker Roberts who comes from the NWSL’s Orlando Pride. Julia Lester, on loan from Seattle Reign, is the most experienced player on the back line. Jade Pennock from England will be looked upon to provide goals and leadership up top. The rest of the roster is pretty young and lacking professional experience. But keep an eye out for a couple of under-20 players: midfielders Ashlyn Puerta and Helena Errington, who both have international experience for the US and New Zealand respectively. And a sleeper pick for your Super League fantasy team is forward Andrea Fernandez, a player from Spain who played college ball at Flagler College and scored 75 goals in 78 games.

Circle the Date: Sporting JAX is going to get tested early. After their opening game at home against DC Power on August 23rd, they then travel to Tampa Bay for an away match against the champs, then home to Dallas, then a home-and-home against Carolina. In fact, 10 of their 14 games in the fall portion of the season will be against clubs who made the playoffs last season. Welcome to the Super League!

Remaining Questions: This is a new side, so there are lingering questions all over the pitch. The key to this club’s success in Year One is going to be how well the veterans on this team can help mentor the younger players. With a schedule that is front-loaded with difficulty, this is a squad that’s going to be forced to grow up real quick.

The Finish: As a first-year club with a young roster, the expectation is that Sporting JAX is going to struggle. More than half the players on the roster will be playing in their first professional games when the season kicks off. There are some intriguing players to watch here, but a last place finish is what this team looks like right now.

Last Year: Last season seemed to be the experimental foray into women’s soccer by the MLS side of DC United. They hired and had the first firing in the league of their head coach, Frederic Brillant. The play on the field was disjointed, not playing to the strengths of key players and hovering at the bottom of the table all season. Phil Nona came in during the Spring season, turning around a struggling team unmotivated team, seeing them defeat top teams. Gianna Gourley transferred in from FTL to have a dynamic presence up top. She was dangerous on offense and a key threat.

Over the Break: Ten players are not returning for season 2. Madison Wolfbauer was the glue on the field, keeping the team going, scoring goals, and shoring up defense, her absence will be missed. Signed in the offseason, new head coach Omid Namazi’s background includes: NWSL, WUSA, WPS and USL Championship and top assistant experience with the U.S. First Team Women’s National Team and Houston Dynamo in MLS. Alexis Theoret, captain for UVA in 2024, signed with DC Power. She brings USYNT experience with key college game time.

Circle the Date: Audi Field is DC Power’s home field. Expansion side Sporting Jax is a good first test of team dynamics on August 23rd. October 4th, they face the season 1 Shield winner, Carolina Ascent, in what is sure to be a battle of a game.

Remaining Questions: Will Namazi’s experience in the men’s game translate, and how long to get up to speed in the D1 women’s game? Managerial time has been predominantly as an assistant coach, but will this be the opportunity he needs to shine? Is this a secure roster or will they need more depth in the lineup? There are more questions than answers, with many doubts lingering.

The Finish: Seventh would be a reasonable estimate of DC’s finish. A new coach, 1st time GM Steve Birnbaum, and a developing roster don’t make for a hopeful mix. We’ve seen stranger things bring about top results though.

Last Year: If you like roller coaster rides, then the first season of Ft. Lauderdale United was made for you. After struggling for much of the fall, United hit their stride and vaulted to the top of the table (albeit briefly) before scuffling their way into the 4th and final playoff spot. Then the club went and knocked off top-seeded Carolina to make the finals, which they would lose to Tampa Bay Sun.

Over the Break: The offseason strategy seemed clear-cut: keep the starting 11 intact and build upon it. But then Lexington SC came a-calling with cash and acquired Addie McCain. How do you replace her? Enter midfielder Carlyn Baldwin, a player with years of professional experience from playing in Portugal. The offense got a major boost in the form of English forward Sophie Harding, winner of the A-League’s best player award this past season. The back line for Ft. Lauderdale should also be improved, with the additions of Madison McComasky and Allie George (on loan from Racing Louisville). A key departure was their rock-steady goalkeeper Cosette Moche, who signed with NWSL’s Orlando Pride.

Circle the Date: After opening the season with two home games against the new and improved Lexington SC and shield winners Carolina, Ft. Lauderdale will go on the road for eight of their next eleven matches - including the rare away-and-away set with Sporting JAX on November 22nd and December 13th. If United is in the playoff hunt late in the season, they finish May with home games against Tampa Bay and Carolina, with the season finale at home against Dallas.

Remaining Questions: The biggest remaining question right now is who will be in goal for Ft. Lauderdale. As of this writing, there’s only one keeper on the roster (Haley Craig, who had signed with Portland Thorns but never appeared in a match). Filling the shoes of Cosette Morche is considerable. And how long will it take for newcomers Harding and Baldwin to click with Sh'Nia Gordon, Jasmine Hamid and Kiara Locklear?

The Finish: Is it possible that Ft Lauderdale could be a better team this season…and miss the playoffs? Yes - yes it is. They added offensive firepower and improved the backline, which will benefit from a full season of Laurel Ansbrow and a healthy Laveni Vaka. If they find a goalkeeper that can provide stability, on paper this is a better roster than last season. And yet, with the improvements made by other Super League sides, a 5th place finish and just missing the playoffs is a realistic outcome.