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Carolina Ascent FC is set to host Spokane Zephyr FC on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in the final match of Week 29. Both teams are on undefeated runs, and the race to secure playoff spots is heating up.
Here are three reasons why you should tune into the match this weekend:
Saturday’s match should have a playoff atmosphere considering the form of both teams. In the Ascent’s last four matches, they’ve scored 13 goals and Samantha Leshnak Murphy has kept a clean sheet in each one. Zephyr has recorded seven goals in their last four matches, also all shutouts for goalkeeper Hope Hisey.
And nearly all of these goals were exciting to watch. Carolina has a league-high 15 unique goal scorers like Jill Aguilera, who just scored a stunner from a set piece last week, and Jenna Butler, who has shown to be one of the biggest aerial threats in the league. Meanwhile, Spokane does so well at building out of the back, connecting one-touch passes up the field or using their speedy outside backs to take the ball up the flanks and send in crosses. The team’s first goal against Dallas last weekend started with a short goal kick and worked its way up to the opposite six-yard box to striker Ally Cook.
Neither team has had to climb out of a deficit in months, so whoever is able to score first will likely be at a huge advantage.
The Super League standings are so close, and teams change positions nearly every week. As of Thursday, second through sixth place in the standings are separated by just five points. All eight clubs are in action this weekend, creating a lot of possible scenarios for placement following the conclusion of Week 29.
With Carolina vs. Spokane as the last match of the weekend, the other matchups will influence if Spokane can move above the playoff line or not. Brooklyn, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay all sit tied at 33 points, so it’s in Spokane’s best interest that all three lose or at max, earn just one point with a draw. If Zephyr takes care of business and those results occur, the team will move to third place, its highest placement this season.
For the most part, Carolina has taken care of business this spring. The team has gone 6-2-1 since the return from break and is not far from clinching a playoff berth. However, its remaining schedule might be the toughest in the league. After Spokane on Saturday, the Ascent close the season against Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Brooklyn and Dallas, the four teams directly below them on the table.
While it’s difficult to believe Carolina would lose out or drop below the playoff line, there is a possibility of it slipping a couple spots down the table, especially with a loss to Spokane. Carolina is one of the few that has a good shot at finishing in the top two, which would mean hosting at least one playoff match at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Ascent has a 6-2-4 record there, making playing in front of its home crowd a huge advantage in the postseason.
Tune in to the match this Saturday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. only on Peacock.
On the latest edition of USL Super League Game Week, hosts Anna Witte and Marion Crowder play another iteration of the “Five-a-Side Fantasy Draft” before breaking down what Brooklyn FC needs to do this weekend to keep its playoff hopes alive and discussing what to expect from Carolina Ascent FC and Spokane Zephyr FC in their match on Saturday.
Spokane forward Ally Cook later joins the show to discuss why she joined the team over the Winter Break, how her confidence as a striker as grown by scoring goals the last few months, and what her aspirations are for competing in her next Ironman race.
Venue: Lexington SC Stadium; Lexington, KY
Kickoff: Wednesday, April 16th; 6:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 39°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
LEX – Nicole Vernis: The Georgia Bulldog scored her first goal of the season last week to prevent the shutout against Tampa Bay. The midfielder had over 90% passing accuracy and recorded three shots and created two chances in the match.
SPK – Alyssa Bourgeois: The outside back dominated the right flank against Dallas on Saturday, earning her first assist of the season. Bourgeois’ speed and tenacity will be a problem for Lexington on both ends of the field.
Lexington SC | Spokane Zephyr FC | |
Head Coach | Sam Stockley (Interim Coach) | Jo Johnson |
Club Record | 4-13-4 | 7-7-7 |
Standings | 7th | 6th |
Venue: Audi Field; Washington, D.C.
Kickoff: Friday, April 18th 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 65°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Players to Watch
DC – Gianna Gourley: The striker has been on fire and scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season last week to put DC ahead against Fort Lauderdale. Gourley is clinical inside the box but is also not afraid to shoot from range, and she will be the biggest offensive threat against Tampa Bay on Friday.
TB – Jordyn Listro: The Sun’s captain is finding her stride and has recorded her first goal and assist in the last two matches. Listro does well at controlling the midfield and the team’s tempo and sends great passes forward for her teammates to run on to.
DC Power FC | Tampa Bay Sun FC | |
Head Coach | Phil Nana (Interim Coach) | Denise Schilte-Brown |
Club Record | 3-11-7 | 8-5-9 |
Standings | 8th | 5th |
Venue: Cotton Bowl; Dallas, TX
Kickoff: Saturday, April 19th; 5:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 73°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
DAL – Gracie Brian: The TCU alum has been making an impact on both sides of the pitch lately. The midfielder recorded three clearances, two tackles and an interception in last week’s match.
FTL – Felicia Knox: Knox moved back into the starting lineup last week and made her presence known on the field. She sent in the corner that assisted on the game-tying goal, while also recording four chances created, five successful crosses and an interception.
Dallas Trinity FC | Fort Lauderdale United FC | |
Head Coach | Pauline MacDonald | Tyrone Mears |
Club Record | 10-6-6 | 9-6-6 |
Standings | 2nd | 4th |
Venue: Maimonides Park; Brooklyn, NY
Kickoff: Saturday, April 19th; 6:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Showers, 49°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Players to Watch
BKN – Leah Scarpelli: The outside back recently returned from injury and is back to making defensive and offensive plays for Brooklyn. Scarpelli had 10 clearances, two tackles and seven duels won in last weekend’s match.
LEX – Libby Moore: The UNC alum has brought a composed presence to Lexington’s backline since joining the team in February. She made three clearances, five tackles and won seven duels against Tampa Bay last week.
Brooklyn FC | Lexington SC | |
Head Coach | Interim Coach | Sam Stockley (Interim Coach) |
Club Record | 9-8-6 | 4-13-4 |
Standings | 3rd | 7th |
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium; Charlotte, NC
Kickoff: Saturday, April 19th; 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 63°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
CAR – Jill Aguilera: Aguilera is the ultimate playmaker for Carolina and currently leads the league with five assists. She scored an incredible goal from a free kick in the Ascent’s last win to bring her total goal contributions to seven on the season.
SPK – Katie Murray: Whether in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, Murray is a spark of energy Spokane has needed this spring. The midfielder scored the final goal in Zephyr’s 3-0 win last week, her third since the return from Winter Break.
Carolina Ascent FC | Spokane Zephyr FC | |
Head Coach | Philip Poole | Jo Johnson |
Club Record | 11-5-7 | 7-7-7 |
Standings | 1st | 6th |
Wednesday, April 16th
Lexington SC v Spokane Zephyr FC, 6:00 p.m. ET
Friday, April 18th
DC Power FC v Tampa Bay Sun FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 19th
Dallas Trinity FC v Fort Lauderdale United FC, 5:00 p.m. ET
Brooklyn FC v Lexington SC, 6:00 p.m. ET
Carolina Ascent FC v Spokane Zephyr FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
BROOKLYN COACHING CHANGE
Brooklyn FC announced Tuesday it has parted ways with head coach Jessica Silva and will soon announce the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
THREE-WAY TIE
Brooklyn, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay are in a three-way tie for third place with 33 points. A win for either team would tie it with second-place Dallas Trinity at 36 points.
ONGOING STREAKS
Teams from around the league are currently riding both positive and negative streaks as we head into the final seven weeks of the regular season.
ACADEMY STANDOUTS
DC Power and USYNT midfielder Valentina Perrotta became the youngest player to start in a Super League match at 14 years old. Carolina Ascent’s B Hylton also became the club’s youngest goal scorer at 17 years old.
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS
TAMPA, Fla. – There are no new suspensions to report.
GOALS:
ASSISTS:
CLEAN SHEETS:
HAT TRICKS:
BRACES:
Carolina Ascent continues to thrive and extended its first-place lead in the standings after picking up wins against DC Power and Brooklyn last week. The team has now won four matches in a row and all were clean sheets, tying the longest shutout streak in the league.
All eyes have been on Golden Boot race leader Mia Corbin, but the forward wasn’t one of the six Carolina goal scorers from last week. Sarah Troccoli, Jenna Butler, Addisyn Merrick, Jill Aguilera, Audrey Harding and B Hylton all got on the score sheet in the two victories. Corbin did however grab an assist, along with Riley Parker and Taylor Porter, who had two assists on Saturday.
The Ascent is one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the pitch; the team ranks first in goals for (35) while conceding the least (19) and has the most shutouts at 10. If Carolina can ride this momentum through the end of the regular season, it will set the team up not only for the postseason but in securing the Players’ Shield.
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
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1 | ![]() |
Carolina Ascent FC (11-5-7) Week 29: vs. SPK |
![]() Last Week: 2 |
The Ascent has hit cruise control and is now four points clear of second-place Dallas. The team continues to find ways to win and takes care of both sides of the ball to earn results. Carolina is once again the team to beat. |
2 | ![]() |
Spokane Zephyr FC (7-7-7) Week 29: @ LEX; @ CAR |
![]() Last Week: 5 |
Spokane is the only other team to have built some positive consistency over this Spring Schedule. Zephyr has gone 5-1-1 since the return from break, and the only loss was a 2-1 defeat to Carolina. Things are starting to click for Spokane, and it is exciting to watch. |
3 | ![]() |
Tampa Bay Sun FC (8-5-9) Week 29: @ DC |
![]() Last Week: 3 |
The Sun have earned back-to-back wins and continue to make Riverfront Stadium a fortress. Like last week, each of the goals were scored by different players, including Hannah Keane netting her first of the season, showing the diversity of attacking threats on the Tampa Bay roster. |
4 | ![]() |
Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-6-6) Week 29: @ DAL |
![]() Last Week: 4 |
FTL UTD has been tested a bit recently, but it bodes well for the team that it fought back from going down a goal and earned a point, especially after being shut out the past two weeks. Its next match against Dallas could be a turning point as it tries to hold on to a top-four spot. |
5 | ![]() |
Dallas Trinity FC (10-6-6) Week 29: vs. FTL |
![]() Last Week: 1 |
Just when Dallas looked like it was back on track after picking up a couple wins, the team was absolutely thwarted by Spokane last weekend. Despite recording 15 shots, only four were on target and it wasn’t enough against Zephyr’s solid backline. |
6 | ![]() |
DC Power FC (3-11-7) Week 29: vs. TB |
![]() Last Week: 6 |
It’s been a frustrating run for DC this spring, as it has clearly improved in multiple areas but is still not getting the results it needs. Its record since the break is 0-4-3, but all of the losses have been decided by one goal. Last week’s draw against FTL UTD is another example of its phenomenal effort not being enough to earn all three points. |
7 | ![]() |
Lexington SC (4-13-4) Week 29: vs. SPK; @ BKN |
![]() Last Week: 8 |
While it was good to see Lexington prevent another shutout with the goal by Nicole Vernis on Saturday, it still fell 4-1 to Tampa Bay. The defensive struggles have been the biggest obstacle for Lexington this season and the reason why its postseason hopes are hanging in the balance this week. |
8 | ![]() |
Brooklyn FC (9-8-6) Week 29: vs. LEX |
![]() Last Week: 7 |
Things couldn’t look worse for Brooklyn. The team has picked up four points in its last nine matches and is now in a three-way tie for a playoff spot, and it has played more matches than both of them. Something needs to change for Brooklyn, and it needs to happen quickly. |
by De Turner
The playoff race is heating up, and every point counts for these Super League teams as they make a run for a top-four spot.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from Week 28:
Carolina Ascent is the definition of peaking at the right time. Whether it’s the 5-0 rout it produced against Brooklyn or the gritty 1-0 win it pulled out against DC, the Ascent find a way to earn results. The team has won its last four in a row, recording clean sheets in each contest, outscoring their opponents by 13 goals.
The most impressive part is that those 13 goals came from nine different players. This squad has so much depth and chemistry, and it has found some consistency that has built momentum over the past month. With five matches left, the Ascent are back to being the team that was so formidable at the start of the fall.
Back to back to back to back 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/htKQFeJAgq
— Carolina Ascent FC (@carolinaascent) April 13, 2025
If you look at the standings and the stats, Dallas seems to be one of the best teams in the league. Multiple players can score, Madison White and the backline are an extremely tough defensive unit, and they have disciplined and experienced veterans like Chioma Ubogagu and Amber Brooks controlling the midfield.
But if you look deeper and dissect their results from the spring, Trinity hasn’t really been as impressive as you would think for a No. 2 team. They’ve now lost twice to Spokane, who completely embarrassed Dallas’ defense last weekend, and the 3-0 loss to Carolina showed just how wide the gap is between the top two teams in the league. Dallas’ only wins have been against Lexington, DC and a struggling Brooklyn side that’s earned four points in its last nine matches. Dallas’ upcoming match against Fort Lauderdale will show if this team is truly a championship contender or just a playoff pretender.
Final score: DAL 0 – 3 SPK pic.twitter.com/rssalXtDsX
— Dallas Trinity FC (@dallastrinityfc) April 13, 2025
Let’s face it: with Brooklyn now in a three-way tie with Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale despite having played more matches than both and its recent overall form, a postseason berth does not appear to be in its future. FTL UTD, Carolina and Dallas are in the best shape to finish above the playoff line, and that means the final spot is going to fall to either Tampa Bay or Spokane.
The Sun have six matches left this season compared to Zephyr’s seven, and you can make a good argument Spokane has the easier schedule of the two as they try to make up a five-point margin between the sides. The key game will be when they go head-to-head one final time this month at ONE Spokane Stadium. If that match goes anything like their last meeting, Zephyr might be able to sneak into that No. 4 spot.
🏆 Final Whistle: Tampa Bay Suns blaze past Lexington with a 4-1 victory! 🌟 What a game! pic.twitter.com/GPr9VpSiP9
— Tampa Bay Sun FC (@TampaBaySunFC) April 13, 2025
by De Turner
Only eight weeks remain in the Super League’s inaugural regular season, and it’s coming down to the wire as teams compete for a spot in the postseason. The top four teams are separated by just five points, with Tampa Bay Sun FC and Spokane Zephyr FC still in the playoff picture.
The end of the season also means end-of-year awards, which the Super League recently announced along with the dates for the inaugural USL Super League Playoffs. Here’s who we think the favorites are for the five major awards as the teams look to close out their campaigns on a high note.
Among the top four teams in the league, no single player has as much of an impact on their team’s success than Addie McCain. Tied for first in the Golden Boot race, McCain also leads FTL UTD in minutes played, tackles won, duels won, interceptions, chances created and is second in assists and third in shots. She makes her teammates better and will be the key to Fort Lauderdale finishing the regular season above the playoff line.
Also in contention: Chioma Ubogagu, Dallas Trinity FC; Mia Corbin, Carolina Ascent FC
Ever since Sealey Strawn came in as a substitute and scored the game-winner in her third appearance for Trinity against FTL UTD in November, it was clear she would be a major asset for Dallas going forward. The 17-year-old has two goals and two assists in four starts and 13 appearances and would likely have more, if not for her being called up to the USYNT U-18s camp last month.
Also in contention: Taylor Smith, Fort Lauderdale United FC; Emma Johnson, Lexington SC
The Super League’s first announced Head Coach has led Carolina Ascent FC to a remarkable inaugural campaign. Poole guided the Ascent to what will likely be the league’s longest unbeaten run of the season, going its opening 11 matches without a loss. The team has never fallen below fourth on the table and is a favorite to win the first Players’ Shield.
Also in contention: Tyrone Mears, Fort Lauderdale United FC; Pauline MacDonald, Dallas Trinity FC
The contest for Defender of the Year is one of the toughest to predict, as nearly every club has at least one outstanding center back leading its defense. Brooke Hendrix is first among defenders in clearances (114) and blocks (19) with an 88% tackle success rate. On the other hand, Brooklyn’s Allison Pantuso leads the league in tackles (60) and duels won (149) and ranks second in recoveries (135) behind her teammate Kelsey Hill, while also playing all 1,980 minutes. However, Brooklyn’s 16 goals conceded this spring compared to Tampa Bay’s nine puts the odds in Hendrix’s favor.
Also in contention: Allison Pantuso, Brooklyn FC; Sarah Clark, Spokane Zephyr FC; Hannah Davison, Dallas Trinity FC
Goalkeeper of the Year is another award that might be too early to call. As of now, Brooklyn’s Sydney Martinez leads the league in save percentage (80.5%), goals conceded (8) and goals-against average (0.76), but her battle for a starting spot with teammate Neeku Purcell might prevent her from claiming this award. It’s opened the door for Dallas’ Madison White, who now leads the league in shutouts (9) and is second in saves (46) and GAA (0.83) with the most minutes played among goalkeepers.
Also in contention: Sydney Martinez, Brooklyn FC; Cosette Morché, Fort Lauderdale United FC; Hope Hisey, Spokane Zephyr FC
Tuesday, April 8th
DC Power FC v Carolina Ascent FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 12th
Carolina Ascent FC v Brooklyn FC, 7:00 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Sun FC v Lexington FC, 7:00 p.m. ET
Fort Lauderdale United FC v DC Power FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Spokane Zephyr FC v Dallas Trinity FC, 9:00 p.m. ET
TOP OF THE TABLE
Four different teams have held the No. 1 spot in the league table over the last month. Just six points separates 1-5 in the standings, with sixth-place Spokane Zephyr just seven points behind fourth place, and at least one game in hand over the top three.
GOLDEN BOOT RACE CONTINUES
Carolina’s Mia Corbin, Fort Lauderdale’s Addie McCain and Dallas’ Allie Thornton are all tied for first place in the Golden Boot race with nine goals each.
2024/25 USL SUPER LEAGUE PLAYOFF DATES ANNOUNCED
The USL Super League announced the official dates for its inaugural postseason, marking an exciting milestone in the league’s first campaign. The 2024/25 USL Super League Playoffs will kick off the weekend of June 7, with the highly anticipated 2025 USL Super League Final scheduled for the weekend of June 14.
Read the full release with playoff structure and end of year awards here.
WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE
2025/26 expansion side Sporting JAX announced Stacey Balaam as the first head coach of the team for its inaugural season. Balaam most recently served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt University, helping to lead the NCAA Top 20 program to historic achievements since 2023.
Read the full announcement here.
INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS
17 players have been called up to their national teams for the most recent FIFA international window:
SUPER CONNECTIONS
Teammates from college to national teams to the USL W League will face off against each other this week:
TAMPA, Fla. – There are no new suspensions to report.
GOALS:
ASSISTS:
CLEAN SHEETS:
HAT TRICKS:
BRACES: