Tampa Bay Sun FC will host the inaugural USL Super League championship match on Saturday, June 14, following Fort Lauderdale United FC's 2-1 extra-time upset victory over top-seeded Carolina Ascent on Sunday night.
The Sun secured their spot in the final with a 2-1 comeback victory over Dallas Trinity FC on Saturday at Riverfront Stadium. After falling behind to a 17th-minute Hannah Davison header that goalkeeper Ashley Orkus misplayed, Tampa Bay rallied back with goals from Natasha Flint and Carlee Giammona.
"There's moments to serve, moments to keep the ball. Once we started driving a little bit more at them we created a lot more opportunities. We were a lot more dangerous. So probably just cleaning that up," head coach Denise Schilte-Brown said in a post-match press conference.
The championship match at Blake High School's Riverfront Stadium marks a significant achievement for Tampa Bay's first professional women's soccer team in its inaugural season. The Sun finished the regular season as the league's second seed and have proven particularly strong at home, winning eight of their 12 league victories at Riverfront Stadium.
Against Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay holds a slight edge in their season series, remaining technically undefeated with one win and three draws in four meetings between the in-state rivals. The fourth-seeded United earned their finals berth by shocking league-leaders Carolina, setting up an all-Florida championship match.
Tickets for the final went on sale last weekend and remain available starting at $26. The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Blake High School, located at 1701 N Boulevard in downtown Tampa.
The Sun's playoff run has energized local sports fans during a challenging year that saw early postseason exits for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lightning. USL Super League President Amanda Vandervort expressed pride in the league's inaugural season, telling Creative Loafing Tampa Bay before Saturday's semifinal that she felt "like the luckiest woman on earth that I can sit here and watch these amazing athletes compete in our championship."
"Everyone working in the game is now afforded the ability to work in professional soccer, and that's going to make the entire industry better," Vandervort added, highlighting the league's impact on women's professional soccer in the United States.
The Sun's success has been built on strong home support, with multiple sellout crowds throughout the season. For those unable to attend Saturday's final, the match will be streamed nationally on Peacock. The winner will claim the first-ever USL Super League championship trophy in what promises to be a historic night for women's professional soccer in Tampa Bay.