Tampa Bay Sun FC players celebrate after a 2-1 victory of Dallas Trinity FC at Blake High School in Tampa, Florida, on June 7, 2025. Credit: Photo via TBSunFC/Facebook
Ironically, the sun might’ve almost rained on the parade for Tampa Bay sports fans on Saturday night.

In the 17th minute, looking west into the sunset at Blake High School’s “Big Jim” stadium, Tampa Bay Sun FC goalkeeper Ashley Orkus seemed to have a routine save on her hands, but misplayed a Hannah Davison header that bounced into the net, giving Dallas Trinity FC a 1-0 lead.

Orkus—starting in the place of Jamaica national team netminder Sydney Schneider, who was injured late last month against DC Power FC—didn’t have much trouble after that, however, and watched her side staged a calm and collected comeback 2-1 win in front of a seasoned home crowd.

As she’s known to do, forward Sydny Nasello, an alum of the University of South Florida, got the scoring started in the 35th minute when she earned a penalty kick by burning Cyera Hintzen in the box and being tripped up after.

Manchester City alum Natasha Flint, second in goal scoring for the Sun, coolly sent her PK into the lower left corner of the net to even the match at 1-1.

There wasn’t much looking back for the side coached by Denise Schilte-Brown (“DSB” to supporters, and the winningest coach in USF Women’s Soccer history).

In the 57th minute, Orkus—who started for the Sun in the season kickoff last August and has appeared in 20 games—preserved the tie by coming up with a gritty save after Dallas midfielder Chioma Ubogagu picked up a rebound in the six-yard box.

The Sun was in control after that, continuing its great play at home, before the 59th minute when midfielder Carlee Giammona put the icing on a 10-touch possession by chipping a beautiful ball from Flint over Dallas goalkeeper Madison White for the game winner.

Dallas and Tampa Bay actually played their first-ever USL Super League matches against each other last summer (and arrived to the match even, 1-1-2 after meeting four times in the regular season), but the Sun never looked fazed by the early goal. The composure on Saturday night reflected the trust-the-process approach by a side that hovered at the middle of the table for most of this inaugural USL Super League season.

Depending on the outcome of today’s semifinal match featuring league-leading Carolina Ascent FC vs Ft Lauderdale United FC, Tampa Bay Sun could host the USL Super League Final at its Riverfront Stadium next Saturday, June 14.

Tampa is used to watching its teams play for championships, but after first-round exits by the Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning this season, there’s just one team in the area keeping “Champa Bay” alive—and making sure local sports fans get their fix of championship-level competition.

Ahead of kickoff, USL Super League President Amanda Vandervort told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that she had butterflies in her stomach.

“I feel like the luckiest woman on earth that I can sit here and watch these amazing athletes compete in our championship,” she added.

Vandervort reflected on the way USL Super League has progressed the women’s game in the U.S., not just for the more than 250 players who’ve made rosters, but also the coaches, staff, administrators and executives.

“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,” she said, adding that it’s been fulfilling to watch the Super League gel with the international schedule. “To see where we are now. I couldn’t be more proud of the year that we’ve had and kind of the future ahead.”

For now, after a sweet win under cotton candy-colored skies, Tampa Bay Sun fans have the immediate future to look at.

Tickets for Tampa Bay Sun FC’s potential championship home match on Saturday, June 14 are already on sale and start at $26; if the Sun, who came into the playoffs seeded no. 2, end up having to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, the club will issue an account credit good for any Sun ticketed event.
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This article appears in Jun 5-11, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...