TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Sun FC claimed the inaugural USL Super League title on Saturday night with a 1-0 victory against Fort Lauderdale United FC after extra time before a sellout crowd of 5,006 fans at Riverfront Stadium.
Danish U-23 international Cecilie Fløe scored the decisive goal in the 100th minute off a feed from Sydny Nasello to break the deadlock, lifting the side with the best home record in the Super League’s inaugural season to victory against its Florida rival.
Here are three things we took away from the 2025 Super League Final.
1. Sydny Nasello provided the key for the Sun’s victory
The nervous energy surrounding both teams before the sellout crowd at Riverfront Stadium was evident throughout the contest, but the one player who seemed to harness it better than most was the Sun’s Sydny Nasello, whose willingness to take on opponents off the dribble to try and create her own shot or set up a teammate was a theme throughout.
The local product from Land O’Lakes, Fla., who reunited with Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown with the Sun having previously competed for her at the University of South Florida, completed a game-high 8 of 13 dribbles, tilting the Sun’s attack consistently toward the right side, with 44.5% of the side’s possession coming in the right third of the field.
Ten minutes into extra time, Nasello’s quick feet saw her receive a shot throw-in from Jordan Zade and quickly split two defenders before her cutback set up Cecilie Fløe for a close-range finish that ended up being decisive. The finish proved decisive, with Nasello claiming Final Most Valuable Player honors after an electrifying display that commanded attention every time she took control of possession.
2. The Sun’s pressure kept Fort Lauderdale on their heels
Throughout the night, Fort Lauderdale held a narrow edge in possession, but the pressure Tampa Bay put on its visitors throughout the 120 minutes eventually paid off. After Jasmine Hamid recorded the first shot of the game after just 20 seconds for United, the Sun began to take control of where the game was going to be played territorially, and it set the tone for what was to come.
The pressure Tampa Bay built in the second half – where the hosts recorded twice as many final-third entries (35-17) to United, resulting in 35.6 percent of play taking place in the Fort Lauderdale defensive third – could have paid off sooner if not for some strong defensive
work by the visitors, for whom Julia Grosso (5 of 5 tackles), Sabrina McNeil (5 of 5 tackles) and Laurel Ansbrow(4 of 4 tackles) were excellent.
With chances at a premium, however, Tampa Bay’s ability to dictate where the game was going to be played proved decisive as Fort Lauderdale eventually succumbed in extra time.
3. Fort Lauderdale’s McCain, Locklear were held in check by hosts
Fort Lauderdale United almost provided a final twist to the Final with four minutes to go in the second period of extra time when an excellent angled cross from the left by Sabrina McNeil picked out Addie McCain for a volleyed finish that looped over Tampa Bay goalkeeper Ashley Orkus but agonizingly wide of the right post.
It was arguably the best chance of the night for the visitors, who put together a solid first half before Tampa Bay began to gain more control as the game went on. For McCain, however, it was one of only two shots on the night as the Sun’s defense did well to limit United’s leading scorer across the 120 minutes.
While Jasmine Hamid and Sh’nia Gordon found space in wide areas, McCain and Semifinal hero Kiara Locklear were held in check with McCain recording only two touches inside the penalty area overall and ending the night without a chance created. Locklear, meanwhile, was held to only one shot as Sun center back Vivianne Bessette won a game-high 4 of 4 tackles and recorded nine clearances while Brooke Hendrix won 4 of 5 aerial duels to keep the visitors from many clear looks on goal.
Riverfront Stadium
