Tampa Bay Sun FC
Tampa Bay Sun Football Club is an American professional women's soccer club based in Tampa, Florida, that competes in the Gainbridge Super League. Founded in 2023, the team played its inaugural season in the 2024–25 USLS season. Tampa Bay Sun FC is owned by real estate developer and investor Darryl Shaw, Bern's Steak House owner David Laxer, and former BluePearl executive Jeff Fox.
History
Establishment
The Tampa Bay area was named as one of the initial USL Super League markets on May 16, 2023. On July 15, 2023, South Florida Bulls women's soccer head coach Denise Schilte-Brown was named as Sun's first-ever head coach, and former FIFA referee Christina Unkel was named as club president.Inaugural season
On April 23, 2024. Erika Tymrak was the first player signed to the inaugural roster, followed by Jordyn Listro and Domi Richardson on the same day.On May 23, 2024, the club announced their home opener would be against Dallas Trinity FC on August 18, 2024. The match was the third ever match played for the USL Super League.
On September 8, 2024, Tampa Bay earned their first win, defeating Lexington SC 3–2 on the road. On November 2, 2024, Tampa Bay earned their first home win, defeating Lexington 3–1.
In March 2025, Tampa Bay became the first USLS team to host a National Women's Soccer League team in a friendly, playing NJ/NY Gotham FC to a 1–1 draw.
Tampa Bay Sun FC defeated Fort Lauderdale United FC in the 2025 USL Super League Championship game to win the league title in their inaugural season.
Identity
Club leadership ran a naming selection contest that received 2,500 naming suggestions. On November 4, 2023, the club announced that nine winners had selected Suns as the teams name and after group meetings it was decided that Tampa Bay Suns best represented the essence of the area. The Tampa Bay Sun FC name, logo, and colors were unveiled on November 4, 2023, at a ceremony in Ybor City attended by Tampa mayor Jane Castor.Stadium
Tampa Bay Sun FC play at Riverfront Stadium on the campus of Howard W. Blake High School, near downtown Tampa. Renovations were made to bring the stadium up to division one soccer league standards, namely increasing the capacity of the stadium from 1,800 to 5,000, installing turf, and adding a new scoreboard.The team plans to play at Riverfront Stadium until a new stadium in Ybor City is constructed. Plans for the new stadium were unveiled on June 17, 2025. The stadium, which will have a capacity of 15,000, is to be located on a site once coveted by the Tampa Bay Rays for a new stadium, but was ruled out for baseball use.
Club culture
Supporters
The first official supporters' group established for the Tampa Bay Sun is The Heatwave. The logo was created by IDC Sport Design.Honors
- USL Super League
- * Champions: 2024–25
Players and staff
Former players
''For details of former players, see :Category:Tampa Bay Sun FC players and List of Tampa Bay Sun FC players.''Staff
''As of September 9, 2024*''Records
Year-by-year
1. Top goalscorer includes all goals scored in League, and USL Super Cup Playoffs, and other competitive matches.Head coaching record
Only competitive matches are counted.*| Name | Nationality | From | To | Win% | ||||||
| Denise Schilte-Brown | July 15, 2023 | present | 45 | 15 | 18 | 12 | 60 | 55 | 33.33% |