Tampa Bay Sun FC
{{short description|Women's soccer team in Tampa, Florida}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Tampa Bay Sun FC
| image = Tampa_Bay_Sun_FC_logo.png
| upright =
| fullname =
| nickname =
| founded = {{start date and age|2023|5|16}}
| stadium = Riverfront Stadium
Tampa, Florida
| capacity =
| owntitle =
| owner = Jeff Fox
David Laxer
Darryl Shaw
| chrtitle = President
| chairman = Christina Unkel
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = Denise Schilte-Brown
| league = USL Super League
| season =
| position =
| current = 2024–25 Tampa Bay Sun FC season
| American = true
| website = https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_b1 = _capelli shoulders black
| pattern_ra1 =
| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_so1 =
| leftarm1 = FFFF00
| body1 = FFFF00
| rightarm1 = FFFF00
| shorts1 = FFFF00
| socks1 = FFFF00
| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_b2 = _capelli shoulders white
| pattern_ra2 =
| pattern_sh2 =
| pattern_so2 =
| leftarm2 = 000080
| body2 = 000080
| rightarm2 = 000080
| shorts2 = 000080
| socks2 = 000080
}}
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.{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Sun FC |url=https://www.uslsuperleague.com/tampa-bay-sun-fc/ |website=USLSuperLeague.com |publisher=USL Super League |access-date=13 December 2023}}
History
= Establishment =
The Tampa Bay area was named as one of the initial USL Super League markets on May 16, 2023.{{cite web |title=USL Super League Announces Initial Markets |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2023/05/16/usl-super-league-announces-initial-markets/ |website=TampaBaySunFC.com |publisher=USL Super League |access-date=13 December 2023}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Brinkley |first1=Amber |title=Super League Tampa Bay names club president and head coach |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2023/07/15/super-league-tampa-bay-names-club-president-and-head-coach/ |website=TampaBaySunFC.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Sun |access-date=13 December 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Stinson |first1=Jim |title=Sarasota attorney, entrepreneur dives headfirst into next big career challenge |url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2023/aug/09/sarasota-attorney-entrepreneur-dives-career-challenge/ |website=BusinessObserverFL.com |date=9 August 2023 |publisher=Business Observer |access-date=13 December 2023}}
= Inaugural season =
{{See also|2024–25 Tampa Bay Sun FC season|l1=2024-25 Tampa Bay Sun FC Inaugural Season}}
Longtime University of South Florida women's soccer coach, Denise Schilte-Brown was announced as Tampa's head coach in July 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-17 |title=Longtime USF women's soccer coach will join the new USL Super League's Tampa Bay team |url=https://www.wusf.org/sports/2023-07-17/longtime-usf-womens-soccer-coach-join-new-usl-super-leagues-tampa-bay-team |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=WUSF |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Tampa Bay Sun FC Makes History with Inaugural Player Signings |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2024/04/23/tampa-bay-sun-fc-makes-history-with-inaugural-player-signings/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Tampa Bay Sun FC |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Tampa Bay Sun FC Sets Sights on Historic Home Opener Against Dallas Trinity FC |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2024/05/23/tampa-bay-sun-fc-sets-sights-on-historic-home-opener-against-dallas-trinity-fc/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Tampa Bay Sun FC |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2024/25 Schedule |url=https://www.uslsuperleague.com/league-schedule/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=USL Super League |language=en-US}}
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.{{cite web |title=Women's Pro Soccer Team Reveals Name, Logo and Colors |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2023/11/04/womens-pro-soccer-team-reveals-name-logo-and-colors/ |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=TampaBaySunFC.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Sun}}
= Sponsorship =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:;" |
| style="background-color:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;"|Period
!style="background-color:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;"|Kit manufacturer !style="background-color:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;"|Shirt sponsor !style="background-color:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;"|Sleeve sponsor !style="background-color:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;"|Ref. |
|---|
| 2024–present
| Tampa General Hospital (TGH) | N/A |
Stadium
The Sun FC play at Riverfront Stadium on the campus of Howard W. Blake High School, near downtown Tampa.{{cite web |last1=Brinkley |first1=Amber |title=Tampa Bay Women's Pro Soccer Team Looks to Expand Waterfront Stadium in Downtown Tampa for Temporary Home |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2023/10/11/tampa-bay-womens-pro-soccer-team-looks-to-expand-waterfront-stadium-in-downtown-tampa-for-temporary-home/ |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=TampaBaySunFC.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Sun}} 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.{{cite web |title=School Board Approves Temporary Stadium |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/news/2023/10/18/school-board-approves-temporary-stadium/ |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=TampaBaySunFC.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Sun}} The team plans to play at Riverfront Stadium until a new stadium in Ybor City is constructed.{{Cite web |last=Plasencia |first=Ariel |date=2024-05-02 |title=Construction underway at temporary home stadium for Tampa Bay Sun FC – Blake High School |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/construction-underway-at-temporary-home-stadium-for-tampa-bay-sun-fc-blake-high-school |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=FOX 13 News |language=en-US}}
Players and staff
= Roster =
{{updated|February 17, 2025|{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/roster/|title=Roster
|publisher=Tampa Bay Sun FC|access-date=February 8, 2025}}}}
{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=141B4D|color=FBD13B|border=FBD13B}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=USA|name=Lauren Kellett|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=USA|name=Jackie Simpson|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=CAN|name=Vivianne Bessette|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=CAN|name=Jordyn Listro|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=GHA|name=Wasila Diwura-Soale|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=USA|name=Erika Tymrak|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=USA|name=Hannah Keane|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|name=Natasha Flint|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=JPN|name=Yuki Watari|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=USA|name=Parker Goins|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|name=Jade Moore|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=DEN|name=Cecilie Fløe|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=USA|name=Skylar Alonso|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=USA|name=Brooke Hendrix|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=USA|name=Siena Bryan|pos=DF}}
{{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=141B4D|color=FBD13B|border=FBD13B}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=USA|name=Lindsay Nicholson|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=USA|name=Kaylan Marckese|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=USA|name=Carlee Giammona|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=NOR|name=Victoria Haugen|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=USA|name=Domi Richardson|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=USA|name=Paige Almendariz|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=USA|name=Brooke Denesik|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=USA|name=Ashley Clark|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=USA|name=Ashley Orkus|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=ISL|name=Andrea Hauksdóttir|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=USA|name=Taylor Yablonski|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=USA|name=Aaliyah Pitts|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=USA|name=Sydny Nasello|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=37|nat=USA|name=Jordan Zade|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=45|nat=USA|name=Ava Tankersley|pos=FW}}
{{fs end|nonumber=|bg=141B4D|color=FBD13B|border=FBD13B}}
= Staff =
As of September 9, 2024*
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" |Front office |
| style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" |Position
! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" |Name |
|---|
| Owners
|Jeff Fox |
| President
|{{flagicon|USA}} Christina Unkel |
| style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" colspan="2" |Technical staff |
| Head Coach
|Denise Schilte-Brown |
| Assistant Coach
|Erich Leite |
| Head of Soccer Operations
|Sam Ishee |
Records
=Year-by-year=
{{updated|February 8, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; |
| rowspan=2 style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|Season
!rowspan=2 style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|League !colspan=8 style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" |Regular season !rowspan=2 style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|Playoffs !rowspan=2 style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|Avg. attendance !colspan=2 style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" |Top Goalscorer |
|---|
| style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|P|Games Played}}
!style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|W|Wins}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|D|Draws}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|L|Losses}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|Pts|Points}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|{{tooltip|Pos|Position}} !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|Name(s) !style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope=col|Goals |
| 2024–25
|USLS |14 |5 |5 |4 |19 |16 |19 |5th |TBD |3,480 |6 |
{{note|1}}1. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, and USL Super Cup Playoffs, and other competitive matches.
=Head coaching record=
{{updated|February 8, 2025}}
Only competitive matches are counted.*
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;
|+ All-time Tampa Bay Sun coaching records |
| style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | Name
! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | Nationality ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | From ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | To ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | {{abbr|P|Matches coached}} ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | {{abbr|GF|Total goals scored (goals for)}} ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | {{abbr|GA|Total goals conceded (goals against)}} ! style="background:#141B4D; color:#FBD13B; border:2px solid #FBD13B;" scope="col" | Win% |
|---|
| {{sortname |Denise Schilte-Brown
|{{CAN}} | style="text-align:center;" |July 15, 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | present |14 |5 |5 |4 |19 |16 |53.57 |
Club Culture
= Supporters =
The first official supporters' group established for the Tampa Bay Sun is The Heatwave.{{Cite web |title=For this Sun fanbase, landing a women’s pro team was worth the wait |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2024/09/11/tampa-bay-sun-usl-super-league-heatwave-womens-soccer/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} The logo was created by IDC Sport Design.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3qH6U1Aikt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.instagram.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/}}
{{USL Super League}}
{{Tampa Bay sports}}
{{Florida Sports}}
Category:Association football clubs established in 2023
Category:2023 establishments in Florida
Category:USL Super League teams