Tampa Bay Sun Weekly: W at DAL, CAR Up Next
Date: Tuesday March 31, 2026
Result: Dallas 1-2 Tampa Bay
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (21 pts 4W-9D-8L); Dallas Trinity FC (29 pts 8W-5D-8L)
Standings: The Sun sit 8th in the USL Super League and Trinity are 4th.
Somehow, despite so much heartache, the Sun are not down and out. The likelihood Tampa Bay make the playoffs at the end of the season is still low. However, the players are giving themselves the best possible chance to defend their title. After an abysmal result at home, they have won two on the road on the bounce. They sit only eight points behind the last playoff place and, with seven games left, might just have a shot at the postseason.
Why are we such road warriors?
Two games on the road and Tampa Bay fans are feeling okay. In the locker room, it’s anyone’s guess. But, the players have a lot to look back on with pride. Not only has the team traveled and earned three points twice now, but they even did so on weird nights, first playing on a Thursday and then a Tuesday. Perhaps it’s the games at weird hours that fuel their fire.
A couple of personnel changes have also fueled this recent run. Dori Haugen has stepped in on the backline with Brooke Hendrix recently making way. Manager Denise Schilte-Brown hasn’t shied away from pointing out defensive mistakes, so it shouldn’t be surprising that she decided someone had to make way. This follows the recent trust DSB has placed in keeper Emory Wegener.
Up top, other changes have helped out. Maddie Pokorny has started the last two games on the opposite side of Sydny Nasello – at least nominally. Syd has played a different role at times, stepping into the middle of the park frequently against Dallas where she could help dictate play. Sandrine Gaillard, Jordyn Listro, and Gabby Provenzano have contributed behind them.
Another player who has really stepped up is Faith Webber. The rookie, on loan from NWSL side Denver Summit, has earned a goal and an assist in the last two games, which gives her two of the former so far since joining in January. Her ability to keep defenses busy has allowed the players behind her more room to operate, which has in turn led to her receiving more chances.
The goals against Dallas offer an interesting look into the Sun’s very recent form. The first one was very well worked, while the second was extremely lucky. Of course, they both counted in the end. Sabrina McNeill notched that initial goal against Trinity, starting with the ball in her own half before rounding an opposition attacker who was providing the first line of defense.
She found Pokorny, who carried it further into Dallas’s box and then crossed it toward Webber. Whether or not the latter was shooting, only she would know. The shot-cum-pass fell to McNeill, who had continued her run into the box. It was an easy enough tap in from there; but, the whole play looked fantastic. McNeill started with very little help and essentially did it on her own.
The Sun have seen plenty of that recently, just more often coming from Nasello. The team’s top scorer, she was also involved in some good chances that didn’t go their way. Fans watching from Florida probably thought their luck had run out when Dallas leveled things from the spot. A soft penalty was still more than enough for the ref to call, and it looked for all the world like a draw on the road.
However, after a season with no luck in big moments, the Blue and Gold finally got a lucky bounce. A horrible back pass fell for Carlee Giammona, who duly put it past the opposition keeper. You create your own luck in sports, to be sure. Tampa Bay hasn’t done much of that. But, with these two most recent displays, the team may feel better in the creation department.
Player of the Game:
Liz: Emory Wegener
JD: Sabrina McNeill
Date: Sunday April 5 at 5:00 pm
Upcoming Game: Tampa Bay vs. Carolina
How do we bring this momentum back home?
Let’s start this preview with a strong statement, but one root in fact: the Sun have had a rough 2025-26. This is not breaking new ground by any means. To drive it home, Tuesday night’s victory against Dallas was the team’s fourth of the season. There appears to be some level of parity in the USL Super League, though, because they aren’t that far away from their prior
This week, Tampa Bay will host the team in 3rd, the Carolina Ascent. The visitors sit on 33 points after playing one more game. They also have a positive goal differential, one of only three teams in the league with that, and their recent form is very good. They haven’t lost a game since February 14th, winning four in a row before drawing at home vs. Fort Lauderdale.
Carolina seem like a squad ready to handle the Sun. They largely have set lineup, especially in defense, with players who are used to certain roles and taking on the challenges presented: they earned shutouts in each of those four wins until their most recent drawn game. Outside of players being away for international duty, the backline has stayed the same.
Faith Webber will need to continue her rise in the professional ranks and dial in for this one. That being said, it can’t be all on her to make the difference. The goals scored against Dallas, for instance, will not be replicable here. Sabrina McNeill had very little help around her when the play started for the first goal. The Ascent are largely more organized than that.
Additionally, their midfield is hardened and more apt to filling in those open spaces. It’s part of why they’re higher in the table, even if it’s only by a few points. There was less turnover between seasons for the Ascent. Players have a better understanding of each other on the field. They can make up for others’ deficiencies and step up to be the stop gap.
If Tampa Bay want to continue this small streak they’re on and push for a playoff position, they’ll have to do a lot more this weekend to make that happen. Certain areas have been improved by the coaching staff: defensively, they’ve only conceded once in two games (a miracle by recent standards!) and they’ve brought in several new players from the college ranks.
More competition means more effort to keep your spot. The weird gaps in training due to the abnormal schedule for the last two games may or may not throw things off. Regardless, there seems to be something of a plan. Nasello takes up the position most advantageous to her and, finally, there are other options to make runs like the ones she would.
McNeill and Pokorny combining without Syd’s help is somewhat shocking on its own. Jordan Zade has also offered a late attacking threat with several recent appearances as a late sub. DSB would do well to keep other teams on their toes by mixing up Nasello’s attacking patterns and giving the opposition more to think about than just her. Do that and another three points could be theirs.
RBLR Score Predictions:
Liz: 2-1 W
JD: 2-0 W
Yurika: 1-1 D
James: 1-1 D
RBLR Score Predictions Standings:
Liz: 7
JD: 3
Yurika: 3
James: 11
