Tampa Bay Sun FC
| Founded | May 16, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | Riverfront Stadium Tampa, Florida | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| Owner | Jeff Fox David Laxer Darryl Shaw | ||
| President | Christina Unkel | ||
| Head coach | Denise Schilte-Brown | ||
| League | USL Super League | ||
| Website | https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/ | ||
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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]
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]
The Sun defeated Fort Lauderdale United in the 2025 USL Super League Championship game to win the league title in their inaugural season.[9]
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.[10]
Sponsorship
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Sleeve sponsor | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–present | Capelli Sport | Tampa General Hospital | TECO Energy | [11] |
Stadium
The Sun FC play at Riverfront Stadium on the campus of Howard W. Blake High School, near downtown Tampa.[12] 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.[13]
The team plans to play at Riverfront Stadium until a new stadium in Ybor City is constructed.[14] 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 since ruled out.[15]
Honors
- USL Super League
- Champions: 2024–25
Players and staff
Roster
- As of June 29, 2025[16]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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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.
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Staff
As of September 9, 2024*
| Front office | |
|---|---|
| Position | Name |
| Owners | Jeff Fox David Laxer Darryl Shaw |
| President | Christina Unkel |
| Technical staff | |
| Head Coach | Denise Schilte-Brown |
| Assistant Coach | Erich Leite |
| Head of Soccer Operations | Sam Ishee |
Records
Year-by-year
- As of February 8, 2025
| Season | League | Regular season | Playoffs | Avg. attendance | Top Goalscorer | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Name(s) | Goals | ||||
| 2024–25 | USLS | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 5th | TBD | 3,480 | Carlee Giammona | 6 |
^ 1. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, and USL Super Cup Playoffs, and other competitive matches.
Head coaching record
- As of June 15, 2025
Only competitive matches are counted.*
| Name | Nationality | From | To | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denise Schilte-Brown | Canada | July 15, 2023 | present | 28 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 28 | 42.86 |
Team records
- As of July 2, 2025.[17][18] Current players in bold. Statistics are updated once a year after the conclusion of the USL Super League season.
| Player | Appearances | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Nat. | Pos. | Sun career | USLS | Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | Vivianne Bessette | DF | 2024– | 30 | 0 | 30 | |
| Carlee Giammona | MF | 2024– | 30 | 0 | 30 | ||
| Sydny Nasello | FW | 2024– | 30 | 0 | 30 | ||
| 4 | Brooke Hendrix | DF | 2024– | 29 | 0 | 29 | |
| Jordyn Listro | MF | 2024– | 29 | 0 | 29 | ||
| 6 | Cecilie Fløe | FW | 2024– | 24 | 0 | 24 | |
| Natasha Flint | FW | 2024– | 24 | 0 | 24 | ||
| Jade Moore | MF | 2024–2025 | 24 | 0 | 24 | ||
| 9 | Ashley Orkus | GK | 2024–2025 | 21 | 0 | 21 | |
| 10 | Ashley Clark | FW | 2024–2025 | 17 | 0 | 17 | |
| Paige Almendariz | DF | 2024–2025 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||
| Parker Goins | FW | 2025– | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||
| Player | Goals scored | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Nat. | Pos. | Sun career | USLS | Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | Cecilie Fløe | FW | 2024– | 11 | 1 | 12 | |
| 2 | Natasha Flint | FW | 2024– | 9 | 1 | 10 | |
| 3 | Carlee Giammona | MF | 2024– | 7 | 1 | 8 | |
| 4 | Sydny Nasello | FW | 2024– | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 5 | Paige Almendariz | DF | 2024–2025 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Parker Goins | FW | 2025– | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Hannah Keane | FW | 2024– | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
Club culture
Supporters
The first official supporters' group established for the Tampa Bay Sun is The Heatwave.[19] The logo was created by IDC Sport Design.[20]
References
- ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC". USLSuperLeague.com. USL Super League. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "USL Super League Announces Initial Markets". TampaBaySunFC.com. USL Super League. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Brinkley, Amber. "Super League Tampa Bay names club president and head coach". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Stinson, Jim (August 9, 2023). "Sarasota attorney, entrepreneur dives headfirst into next big career challenge". BusinessObserverFL.com. Business Observer. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "Longtime USF women's soccer coach will join the new USL Super League's Tampa Bay team". WUSF. July 17, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Makes History with Inaugural Player Signings". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Sets Sights on Historic Home Opener Against Dallas Trinity FC". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "2024/25 Schedule". USL Super League. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Sun claim inaugural USL Super League title". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- ^ "Women's Pro Soccer Team Reveals Name, Logo and Colors". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "School Board Approves Temporary Stadium". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Roster". Tampa Bay Sun FC. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "Summary - Tampa Bay Sun - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Player Stats". USL Super League. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "For this Sun fanbase, landing a women's pro team was worth the wait". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.