Away to Brooklyn FC Preview
Date: Saturday August 23, 2025
Kickoff Time: 7:00 pm EST at Maimonides Park in Brooklyn, NY
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (0 pts 0W-0D-0L); Brooklyn FC (0 pts 0W-0D-0L)
Standings: This the first game of the season for both sides.
The USL Gainbridge Super League is back after its inaugural season – with an additional team competing. The first two games of the new campaign will include that new team – with Sporting Jax hosting DC Power – and the Tampa Bay Sun. The original team from Florida will be away from home taking on Brooklyn FC. It will be the first chance for fans to see the team with new arrivals during the offseason. Tune into Peacock on Saturday to catch the action!
We’re back already?!
It has been just over two months since the Sun played their last game. In the USL Super League Final, and after extra time, the Blue and Gold secured a win and the first ever title in league history. Although local fans will want to bask in the light of that victory, soccer never stops. Already, players have moved on, new ones have come in, and the next challenge
This upcoming match will represent a few big ticket items. As stated, it’ll be everyone’s first chance to see the new additions. Will manager Denise Schilte-Brown carry on with largely the same formation and tactics? Will different players lead to different ideas? How will all of this play out on the baseball diamond where Brooklyn have to host their games?
Luckily, whatever the outcome, no one will have to worry that the sky is falling. Looking back to 2024-25, the Sun maintained a good pace for the first half of the season. That being said, it was nothing like the second half of the year – once they got over their run of several draws. The Super League appears to be yet another place where staying above the playoff line is key.
The first several matches of that inaugural season allowed the coaching staff to put their ideas to work and test everything out. Some things worked; others didn’t. Some players were capable of doing the job asked of them; others were moved on or phased out. It’s highly likely we’ll see a similar dynamic to start this year. But, we can still expect a few things before it all gets started.
Looking at the Sun roster, many key players have stuck around. From the starting backline, three players return: Dori Haugen, Viv Bessette, and Brooke Hendrix. The other fullback who ended the year, Paige Almendariz, has left to join the aforementioned Power. Someone who could fill in that spot is Charlotte McLean, an Aussie defender in on loan from NC Courage.
This is also similar to last season where Talia Staude was one of the starting fullbacks at the beginning of the campaign. Although she didn’t keep that position – she was recalled at the end of the NWSL season, McLean and her new coaches already have something of a template to follow. With a similar defensive unit, there is already good cohesion on the field.
Behind them, fans should expect Sydney Schneider to start in net. She joined in the middle of last year and could’ve started more often if not for injuries. In front of the defensive line, it also looks interesting. Captain Jordyn Listro has come back and keeps her prior role. She’ll likely play next to her all-action attacker Carlee Giammona again after such good prior results.
Those two would work in tandem previously with Tash Flint, who started to play in a #10 role despite her original position being mostly striker. The width was provided by Sydny Nasello and Cecilie Floe last season. The former is still here, while the latter has moved onto Napoli in Italy. This is a step up for her and a good thing for the reputation of the club – even if it may leave us a tad shorthanded.
The good news is that replacement players also exist to fill in that role. Congolese international Olga Massombo stands out among new recruits, while options for deeper positions include Super League veteran Mackenzie Pluck, Swiss international Sandrine Mauron, and a few rookies out of college. Each starts on something of a clean slate with no other job but to impress their new coaches.
Score Predictions from the RBLR Sun Podcast:
Lizzie:
Tom:
Yurika: 1-1 D
James: 2-2 D
