Fort Lauderdale United FC

Last updated

Fort Lauderdale United FC
Fort Lauderdale United FC logo 2024.png
Founded21 November 2023;21 months ago (2023-11-21)
Stadium Beyond Bancard Field at NSU
CEOTommy Smith
Head CoachAlissa Rogers
League USL Super League
Website https://www.ftlutd.com/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Fort Lauderdale United FC is an American professional women's soccer club based in Broward County, Florida, that competes in the USL Super League (USLS). [1] The team will play its home matches at a new soccer-specific stadium being constructed at Nova Southeastern University.

Contents

The club is principally owned by Tommy Smith, who serves as chair and CEO.

History

On November 21, 2023, the USL Super League announced that it had awarded a franchise to Fort Lauderdale, making it the first professional women's soccer team in South Florida. [2]

On January 25, 2024, former Premier League and MLS player Tyrone Mears was announced as the team's first head coach. [3] On May 14, 2024, Felicia Knox was revealed as the team's first ever signing after being drafted by Angel City FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft. [4] One day later, the club welcomed defender Laveni Vaka who made history as Tonga's first female professional soccer player. [5] On June 26, 2024, the club announced its full coaching staff, with Alissa Rogers as Associate Head Coach and former Fort Lauderdale Strikers star Aly Hassan as Director of Recruitment. [6]

Stadium

In November 2024, the team's home stadium at Nova Southeastern University on the site of the former Miami Dolphins training facility was rebranded from NSU Soccer Field to Beyond Bancard Field. [7] [8] [9] The $7 million project, which seats nearly 7,000 fans, is the result of a multi-year exclusive naming-rights agreement between FTL UTD and Beyond Bancard, a provider of payment-processing solutions. [9] [10] [11]

Included in the agreement are exclusive stadium-wide Beyond Bancard branding and a new stadium logo featured on all signage and LED boards. Beyond Bancard also acts as the team’s presenting sponsor for weekly kids’ soccer clinics and participates in giveaways, content series, and exclusive email offers for FTL UTD fans. [9]

On April 29, 2025, the team announced the launch of a men's side that is set to play in USL League One in 2026. [12]

Identity

The name and crest were unveiled on February 29, 2024. [7] The Fort Lauderdale United FC crest features the initials FTL prominently displayed, meant to intertwine like the canals of the city. The “glint” represents the vibrant sun bouncing off the waters the region is known for. The club’s colors represent Fort Lauderdale’s world-renowned beaches and shallow waters, with seafoam green contrasting the ocean blue.

Fort Lauderdale United FC is abbreviated to FTL UTD for short.

Players and staff

Current roster

As of September 12, 2025

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.NationPlayer
2 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Madison McComasky
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sheyenne Allen
4 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lily Nabet (on loan from Angel City)
5 DF Flag of Tonga.svg  TGA Laveni Vaka
7 MF Flag of Bermuda.svg  BER Nia Christopher
8 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Stella Nyamekye (on loan from Gotham FC)
9 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Sophie Harding
11 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sh'Nia Gordon
12 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Darya Rajaee
15 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lilly McCarthy
16 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Princess Ademiluyi (on loan from Gotham FC)
17 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jasmine Hamid
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ella Simpson
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Carlyn Baldwin
20 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kiara Locklear
21 MF Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  DOM Kathrynn González
22 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kate Colvin
23 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Taylor Smith
24 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Allie George (on loan from Racing Louisville)
27 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Julia Grosso
28 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Laurel Ansbrow (on loan from Boston Legacy)
29 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kelli Van Treeck
30 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Haley Craig
31 GK Flag of Guam.svg  GUM Bella Hara

Academy players

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.NationPlayer
32 FW Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Mia Herrera
33 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Dakota Harrell
34 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jules Cagle
35 DF Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Daniela Todd
No.Pos.NationPlayer
36 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alexa Strickler
37 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Blane McElroy
38 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sadie Zelnick
39 FW Flag of El Salvador.svg  SLV Maya Buerger

Former players

For details of former players, see Category:Fort Lauderdale United FC players and List of Fort Lauderdale United FC players.

Staff

As of 2 March 2025*

Front office
PositionName
Founder & chairmanTommy Smith
Chief Financial OfficerTony Myers
Chief Operating OfficerTodd Sussman
Technical staff
Head CoachAli Rogers
Head of RecruitmentAly Hassan
Head Athletic TrainerMackenzie Booth
Equipment ManagerMarco Sanchez
Performance CoachTyler Raborn
Goalkeeper CoachPaul Jennison
Technical CoachIvan Arenas
Technical CoachRafael Quero

Records

Year-by-year

As of September 13, 2025
SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsAvg. attendanceTop Goalscorer
PWDLGFGAPtsPosName(s)Goals
2024–25 USLS 2811983533424th Finals 2,306 Flag of the United States.svg Addie McCain 10
2025–26 USLS 422010682ndTBD1,951 Flag of the United States.svg Kiara Locklear3

Head coaching record

As of September 13, 2025

Only competitive matches are counted.*

All-time Fort Lauderdale United FC coaching records
NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%
Tyrone Mears Flag of England.svg  England January 25, 2024present3414119474141.18%

Team records

As of July 2, 2025. [13] [14] Current players in bold. Statistics are updated once a year after the conclusion of the USL Super League season.
Most appearances
PlayerAppearances
#NameNat.Pos.United careerUSLSPlayoffsTotal
1 Sh'Nia Gordon Flag of the United States.svg FW 2024–28230
Addie McCain Flag of the United States.svg MF 2024–28230
3 Taylor Smith Flag of the United States.svg MF 2024–27229
4 Jasmine Hamid Flag of the United States.svg FW 2024–26228
5 Darya Rajaee Flag of the United States.svg MF 2024–25227
6 Felicia Knox Flag of the United States.svg MF 2024–26026
7 Cosette Morché Flag of the United States.svg GK 2024–22224
8 Celia Gaynor Flag of the United States.svg DF 2024–21122
9 Tatiana Fung Flag of the United States.svg MF 2024–202519221
10 Laveni Vaka Flag of Tonga.svg DF 2024–18018
Kiara Locklear Flag of the United States.svg FW 2024–16218
Top goalscorers
PlayerGoals scored
#NameNat.Pos.United careerUSLSPlayoffsTotal
1 Addie McCain Flag of the United States.svg MF 2024–10010
2 Jasmine Hamid Flag of the United States.svg FW 2024–909
3 Kiara Locklear Flag of the United States.svg FW 2024–527
4 Sh'Nia Gordon Flag of the United States.svg FW 2024–505

References

  1. ↑ "USL Super League adds team in Fort Lauderdale for inaugural 2024-25 season". equalizersoccer.com. The Equalizer. November 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. ↑ "USL Super League awards franchise to Fort Lauderdale". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. November 21, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Super League Fort Lauderdale Appoints Tyrone Mears as Club's First Head Coach". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. January 25, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC announces first player, Felicia Knox". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC makes history signing Tonga's first female professional soccer player, Laveni Vaka". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC rounds out its coaching staff with dynamic Associate Head Coach and Head of Recruitment Appointments". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. June 26, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "FORT LAUDERDALE UNITED FC, ANNOUNCES NAME AND CREST". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Nova Southeastern University to be Home to Super League Fort Lauderdale Women's Professional Soccer Team". news.nova.edu. Nova Southeastern University. November 21, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Fort Lauderdale United FC & Beyond Bancard Strike Multi-Year Seven Figure Naming Rights Deal". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Nova Southeastern University stadium to host new pro soccer team, undergo $7M renovation". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. July 12, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ "About Beyond Bancard" . Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ "United Soccer League, Fort Lauderdale United FC Announce Men's League One Soccer Team in 2026". Fort Lauderdale United FC. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Summary - Fort Lauderdale United - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC Player Stats". USL Super League. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
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