Wikipedia

Tampa Bay Sun FC

Tampa Bay Sun FC
FoundedMay 16, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-05-16)
StadiumSuncoast Credit Union Field
Tampa, Florida
Capacity5,000
Owner(s)Jeff Fox
David Laxer
Darryl Shaw
PresidentChristina Unkel
Head coachDenise Schilte-Brown
LeagueUSL Super League
2024–25Champions
Websitehttps://www.tampabaysunfc.com/
Current season

Tampa Bay Sun Football Club is an American professional women's soccer club based in Tampa, Florida, that competes in the Gainbridge Super League (USLS). Founded in 2023, the team played its inaugural season in the 2024–25 USLS season. Tampa Bay Sun FC is owned by real estate developer and investor Darryl Shaw, Bern's Steak House owner David Laxer, and former BluePearl executive Jeff Fox.[1]

History

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Establishment

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The Tampa Bay area was named as one of the initial USL Super League markets on May 16, 2023.[2] On July 15, 2023, South Florida Bulls women's soccer head coach Denise Schilte-Brown was named as Sun's first-ever head coach, and former FIFA referee Christina Unkel was named as club president.[3][4]

Inaugural season

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See also: 2024-25 Tampa Bay Sun FC Inaugural Season

On April 23, 2024. Erika Tymrak was the first player signed to the inaugural roster, followed by Jordyn Listro and Domi Richardson on the same day.[5]

On May 23, 2024, the club announced their home opener would be against Dallas Trinity FC on August 18, 2024. The match was the third ever match played for the USL Super League.[6][7]

On September 8, 2024, Tampa Bay earned their first win, defeating Lexington SC 3–2 on the road.[8] On November 2, 2024, Tampa Bay earned their first home win, defeating Lexington 3–1.[9]

In March 2025, Tampa Bay became the first USLS team to host a National Women's Soccer League team in a friendly, playing NJ/NY Gotham FC to a 1–1 draw.[10]

Tampa Bay Sun FC defeated Fort Lauderdale United FC in the 2025 USL Super League Championship game to win the league title in their inaugural season.[11]

Identity

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Club leadership ran a naming selection contest that received 2,500 naming suggestions. On November 4, 2023, the club announced that nine winners had selected Suns as the teams name and after group meetings it was decided that Tampa Bay Suns best represented the essence of the area.[12] The Tampa Bay Sun FC name, logo, and colors were unveiled on November 4, 2023, at a ceremony in Ybor City attended by Tampa mayor Jane Castor.[13]

Sponsorship

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Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Sleeve sponsor Ref.
2024–present Capelli Sport Tampa General Hospital TECO Energy [14]

Stadium

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Tampa Bay Sun FC play at Riverfront Stadium on the campus of Howard W. Blake High School, near downtown Tampa.[15] Renovations were made to bring the stadium up to division one soccer league standards, namely increasing the capacity of the stadium from 1,800 to 5,000, installing turf, and adding a new scoreboard.[16]

The team plans to play at Riverfront Stadium until a new stadium in Ybor City is constructed.[17] Plans for the new stadium were unveiled on June 17, 2025. The stadium, which will have a capacity of 15,000, is to be located on a site once coveted by the Tampa Bay Rays for a new stadium, but was ruled out.[18]

Club culture

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Supporters

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The first official supporters' group established for the Tampa Bay Sun is The Heatwave.[19] The logo was created by IDC Sport Design.[20]

Honors

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Players and staff

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Roster

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As of August 22, 2025[21]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  JAM Sydney Schneider
2 DF  AUS Charlotte McLean (on loan from North Carolina Courage)
3 MF  USA Gabby Provenzano
4 DF  CAN Vivianne Bessette
5 MF  CAN Jordyn Listro
6 DF  CAN Sabrina McNeill
7 MF  SUI Sandrine Gaillard
8 FW  USA Hannah Keane
9 FW  ENG Natasha Flint
10 MF  JPN Yuki Watari
11 MF  USA Jilly Shimkin
13 FW  USA Emma Gaines-Ramos (on loan from Washington Spirit)
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF  USA Emerson Elgin (on loan from Boston Legacy FC)
15 DF  USA Brooke Hendrix
17 FW  COD Olga Massombo
19 MF  USA Carlee Giammona
20 DF  NOR Victoria Haugen
21 FW  USA Ava Tankersley
22 FW  USA Parker Goins
24 MF  USA Mackenzie Pluck
31 GK  AUT Bella Kresche
35 FW  USA Sydny Nasello
37 DF  USA Jordan Zade
44 GK  USA Emory Wegener

Academy players

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF  USA Siena Bryan
23 MF  USA McKenna Battilla
32 MF  USA Alyssa Parsons

Former players

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For details of former players, see Category:Tampa Bay Sun FC players and List of Tampa Bay Sun FC players.

Staff

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As of September 9, 2024*

Front office
Position Name
Owners Jeff Fox
David Laxer
Darryl Shaw
President United States Christina Unkel[3]
Technical staff
Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown[3]
Assistant Coach Erich Leite
Head of Soccer Operations Sam Ishee[22]


Records

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Year-by-year

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As of October 18, 2025
Season League Regular season Playoffs Avg. attendance Top Goalscorer
P W D L GF GA Pts Pos Name(s) Goals
2024–25 USLS 28 12 10 6 42 28 46 2nd Champions 3,223 Denmark Cecilie Fløe 12
2025–26 USLS 8 0 5 3 9 13 5 9th TBD 1,595 United States Carlee Giammona 3
Total 36 12 15 9 51 41 – – – – Denmark Cecilie Fløe 12

^ 1. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, and USL Super Cup Playoffs, and other competitive matches.

Head coaching record

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As of October 11, 2025

Only competitive matches are counted.*

All-time Tampa Bay Sun coaching records
Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
Denise Schilte-Brown  Canada July 15, 2023 present 37 14 14 9 53 41 37.84%

Team records

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Further information: List of Tampa Bay Sun FC players
As of July 2, 2025.[23][24] Current players in bold. Statistics are updated once a year after the conclusion of the USL Super League season.
Most appearances
Player Appearances
# Name Nat. Pos. Sun career USLS Playoffs Total
1 Vivianne Bessette Canada DF 2024– 30 0 30
Carlee Giammona United States MF 2024– 30 0 30
Sydny Nasello United States FW 2024– 30 0 30
4 Brooke Hendrix United States DF 2024– 29 0 29
Jordyn Listro Canada MF 2024– 29 0 29
6 Cecilie Fløe Denmark FW 2024– 24 0 24
Natasha Flint England FW 2024– 24 0 24
Jade Moore England MF 2024–2025 24 0 24
9 Ashley Orkus United States GK 2024–2025 21 0 21
10 Ashley Clark United States FW 2024–2025 17 0 17
Paige Almendariz United States DF 2024–2025 17 0 17
Parker Goins United States FW 2025– 17 0 17
Top goalscorers
Player Goals scored
# Name Nat. Pos. Sun career USLS Playoffs Total
1 Cecilie Fløe Denmark FW 2024– 11 1 12
2 Natasha Flint England FW 2024– 9 1 10
3 Carlee Giammona United States MF 2024– 7 1 8
4 Sydny Nasello United States FW 2024– 4 0 4
5 Paige Almendariz United States DF 2024–2025 2 0 2
Parker Goins United States FW 2025– 2 0 2
Hannah Keane United States FW 2024– 2 0 2

References

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  1. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC". USLSuperLeague.com. USL Super League. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  2. ^ "USL Super League Announces Initial Markets". TampaBaySunFC.com. USL Super League. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Brinkley, Amber. "Super League Tampa Bay names club president and head coach". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Stinson, Jim (August 9, 2023). "Sarasota attorney, entrepreneur dives headfirst into next big career challenge". BusinessObserverFL.com. Business Observer. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Makes History with Inaugural Player Signings". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Sets Sights on Historic Home Opener Against Dallas Trinity FC". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "2024/25 Schedule". USL Super League. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sun Earn First-Ever Win in Thriller vs Lexington". Tampa Bay Sun Football Club. September 9, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Sun Earn First Home Victory in 3-1 Win Over Lexington". Tampa Bay Sun Football Club. November 4, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  10. ^ "Tampa Bay to Host Historic First Match Between America's Top Women's Pro Soccer Leagues". Tampa Bay Sun Football Club. March 3, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun claim inaugural USL Super League title". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "Women's Pro Soccer Team Reveals Name, Logo and Colors". Tampa Bay Sun Football Club. November 4, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Women's Pro Soccer Team Reveals Name, Logo and Colors". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun Football Club Announces Front-of-Kit Partner and Official Health Care Providers, Tampa General Hospital and USF Health". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Brinkley, Amber. "Tampa Bay Women's Pro Soccer Team Looks to Expand Waterfront Stadium in Downtown Tampa for Temporary Home". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "School Board Approves Temporary Stadium". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Plasencia, Ariel (May 2, 2024). "Construction underway at temporary home stadium for Tampa Bay Sun FC – Blake High School". FOX 13 News. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  18. ^ Liebson, Rebecca (June 17, 2025). "Tampa Bay Sun unveil plans for pro soccer stadium at Ybor Harbor". Tampa Bay Times via msn.com. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  19. ^ "For this Sun fanbase, landing a women's pro team was worth the wait". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  20. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  21. ^ "Roster". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  22. ^ "Super League Tampa Bay Names Head of Soccer Operations". Tampa Bay Sun Football Club. September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  23. ^ "Summary - Tampa Bay Sun - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  24. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Player Stats". USL Super League. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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