Tampa Bay Sun FC

Last updated
Tampa Bay Sun FC
Tampa Bay Sun FC logo.png
FoundedMay 16, 2023;20 months ago (2023-05-16)
Stadium Riverfront Stadium
Tampa, Florida
OwnerJeff Fox
David Laxer
Darryl Shaw
PresidentChristina Unkel
Head coachDenise Schilte-Brown
League USL Super League
Website https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Tampa Bay Sun FC is an American professional women's soccer club based in Tampa, Florida, that competes in the USL Super League (USLS). 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]

Contents

History

Establishment

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

Longtime University of South Florida women's soccer coach, Denise Schilte-Brown was announced as Tampa's head coach in July 2023. [5]

The first signings were announced by the club 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. [6]

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. [7] [8]

Identity

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. [9]

Sponsorship

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsorSleeve sponsorRef.
2024–present Capelli Sport Tampa General Hospital (TGH)N/A [10]

Stadium

The Sun FC play at Riverfront Stadium on the campus of Howard W. Blake High School, near downtown Tampa. [11] 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. [12] The team plans to play at Riverfront Stadium until a new stadium in Ybor City is constructed. [13]

Players and staff

Roster

As of January 17, 2025 [14]

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
4 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Vivianne Bessette
5 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Jordyn Listro
6 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Wasila Diwura-Soale
7 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Erika Tymrak
8 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Hannah Keane
9 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Natasha Flint
10 MF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Yuki Watari
11 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kristen Edmonds
12 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jade Moore
13 FW Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN Cecilie Fløe
14 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Skylar Alonso
15 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Brooke Hendrix
16 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Siena Bryan
17 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lindsay Nicholson
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kaylan Marckese
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Carlee Giammona
20 FW Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Ella Martinez
21 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Domi Richardson
22 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Paige Almendariz
23 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Brooke Denesik
24 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ashley Clark
28 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ashley Orkus
29 MF Flag of Iceland.svg  ISL Andrea Hauksdóttir
30 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Taylor Yablonski
32 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Aaliyah Pitts
35 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sydny Nasello
— FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Parker Goins
— DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jordan Zade

Staff

As of September 9, 2024*

Front office
PositionName
OwnersJeff Fox
David Laxer
Darryl Shaw
President Flag of the United States.svg Christina Unkel
Technical staff
Head CoachDenise Schilte-Brown
Assistant CoachErich Leite
Head of Soccer OperationsSam Ishee

Records

Year-by-year

As of December 30, 2024
SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsAvg. attendanceTop Goalscorer
PWDLGFGAPtsPosName(s)Goals
2024–25 USLS 135441714195thTBD3,480 Carlee Giammona 5

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

Head coaching record

As of December 5, 2024

Only competitive matches are counted.*

All-time Tampa Bay Sun coaching records
NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%
Denise Schilte-BrownFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada July 15, 2023present11443141054.55

Club Culture

Supporters

The first official supporters' group established for the Tampa Bay Sun is The Heatwave. [15] The logo was created by IDC Sport Design. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ "Tampa Bay Sun FC". USLSuperLeague.com. USL Super League . Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "USL Super League Announces Initial Markets". TampaBaySunFC.com. USL Super League . Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Brinkley, Amber. "Super League Tampa Bay names club president and head coach". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Stinson, Jim (9 August 2023). "Sarasota attorney, entrepreneur dives headfirst into next big career challenge". BusinessObserverFL.com. Business Observer. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Longtime USF women's soccer coach will join the new USL Super League's Tampa Bay team". WUSF. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  6. ↑ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Makes History with Inaugural Player Signings". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  7. ↑ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Sets Sights on Historic Home Opener Against Dallas Trinity FC". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  8. ↑ "2024/25 Schedule". USL Super League. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  9. ↑ "Women's Pro Soccer Team Reveals Name, Logo and Colors". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "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 2024-08-11.
  11. ↑ 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 13 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "School Board Approves Temporary Stadium". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Plasencia, Ariel (2024-05-02). "Construction underway at temporary home stadium for Tampa Bay Sun FC – Blake High School". FOX 13 News. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  14. ↑ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Makes History with Inaugural Player Signings". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "For this Sun fanbase, landing a women's pro team was worth the wait". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  16. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-12-30.


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