The 2026 season is the second season for Sporting Club Jacksonville and the club's second in the USL Super League (USLS), one of two leagues sanctioned as the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Background In June 2026, the USL Super League abbreviated the 2026 fall season to transition from its previous fall-to-spring calendar to a spring-to-fall schedule beginning in 2027. The shortened season features just eight teams, beginning August 15 and concluding with the championship game on December 12. The compressed schedule is essentially a bridge between the league's first two seasons and its new calendar, which will align the Super League with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and other North American leagues. Although the 2026 season is shorter, the shift creates greater long-term alignment and makes it easier for teams and players to operate within the broader United States women's soccer landscape.
Players Current roster
(captain)
(vice-captain)
Out on loan
Academy players
Ownership
Ownership
Executive
Executive
Technical staff
PositionName Head of Soccer, Sporting Director Mark Warburton Head Coach Stacey Balaam Associate Head Coach Alan Kirkup Goalkeeper Coach Mat Cosgriff Head of Sports Performance Steve Fell
Transfers In PlayerPrevious SquadDateRef. Ginger Fontenot Spokane Zephyr FCJune 25, 2026 AJ Hennessey TCU Horned Frogs Keeley Dockter Seattle Reign FCJuly 1, 2026 Amanda Poorbaugh Penn State Nittany Lions Maci Teater Vanderbilt CommodoresJuly 9, 2026 Mélina Descary South Alabama Jaguars Mya Swinton West Florida ArgonautsJuly 15, 2026 Cat Rapp Spokane Zephyr FCAugust 21, 2026
Out PlayerTransferred ToDateRef. Cristina RoqueFree agentJune 9, 2026 Katie Sullivan Kacey Smekrud Jessie Hunt Abby Boyan Julia Lester Jade Pennock Zara Siassi Maddie Kemp
Preseason Sporting JAX traveled to England and Wales in July 2026 for the first overseas trip in the club's women's team's history. The club played Wrexham A.F.C. Women on July 16 and also scheduled a closed-door scrimmage against Newcastle United W.F.C.. The trip served as the team's primary preseason preparation ahead of its second Gainbridge Super League season. Sporting JAX won 5–0 over Wrexham.
Regular season Sporting JAX opened its season on August 15 with a 1–0 away victory over Fort Lauderdale United FC. Baylee DeSmit scored the winning goal in the 89th minute from a free kick after Andrea Fernández was fouled just outside the penalty area. Sporting JAX narrowly outshot Fort Lauderdale 7–6, while goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg made two saves to record a clean sheet.
Broadcasting In August 2025, Sporting JAX announced a broadcast partnership ahead of its inaugural season. The agreement includes local television coverage of most home matches through partnerships with First Coast News (WTLV NBC 12/WJXX ABC 25) and News4Jax (WJXT 4), making matches accessible to viewers across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Select Saturday home games will air on WJXT Channel 4, while additional matches will be broadcast on WJXX ABC 25, WTLV NBC 12, and QUEST 25.3. The season opener, along with all home and away fixtures, will also stream on Peacock, in line with league broadcasting regulations. The club's leadership emphasized the importance of regional accessibility and community engagement through local media partnerships.
Competitions Friendlies
USL Super League League table
Results summary
Match results
Statistics Appearances
PlayerTotalRegular SeasonPlayoffsAppsStartsAppsStartsAppsStartsGoalkeepers1Jamie Gerstenberg4444TBD1Kaitlyn Parks3333Defenders5Georgia Brown5555TBD20Keeley Dockter101022Parker Roberts111123 Ginger Fontenot747424Grace Phillpotts777732Maggie Illig7777Midfielders3Sophia Boman7777TBD7Meg Hughes77778 Sophie Jones77779Maci Teater414110Ashlyn Puerta767612Caroline Murray212115Cat Rapp303018Mélina Descary727221Mya Swinton404036Coco Thistle2020Forwards4AJ Hennessey4343TBD11Andrea Fernández303017Baylee DeSmit777727Paige Kenton5555
Goalscorers Last updated September 26, 2026 Name Total117Baylee DeSmit7—723Sophia Boman1—14AJ Hennessey1—110Ashlyn Puerta1—127Paige Kenton1—132Maggie Illig1—1 Total12—12
Assists Last updated September 26, 2026 Name Total 18 Sophie Jones2 02 10 Ashlyn Puerta20227 Meg Hughes10115 Cat Rapp10117 Baylee DeSmit10127 Paige Kenton10136 Coco Thistle101 Total 909
Clean sheets Last updated September 26, 2026 Name Total11Jamie Gerstenberg2—2 Total 2—2
Disciplinary record Last updated September 26, 2026 Player Total Name 4AJ Hennessey1—————1——7Meg Hughes1—————1——8Sophie Jones1—————1——9Maci Teater1—————1——17Baylee DeSmit1—————1——32Maggie Illig1—————1——Total 6 — — — — — 6 — —
Awards USL Super League Player of the Month MonthPlayerPositionRefAugust Baylee DeSmit FW
USL Super League Team of the Month Month Player Position Ref August Jamie Gerstenberg GK Sophia Boman MF Baylee DeSmit FW Ashlyn Puerta Bench
USL Super League Coach of the Month Month Coach Ref August Stacey Balaam
References
External links Sporting Club Jacksonville official website USL Super League official website