Next Stop: Jacksonville
Tampa Bay Sun FC continues its 2026 Fall Season on Saturday night, traveling north to face in-state opponent Sporting JAX at Hodges Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET as the Sun play the second of three consecutive road matches to open the fall campaign.
Saturday marks the first Florida Derby of the 2026 Fall Season, with Tampa Bay and Jacksonville set to meet twice during the 14-match campaign. The Sun will close out the regular season against Sporting JAX on November 28 at Suncoast Credit Union Field.
When & Where
Matchup: Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Sporting JAX
Where: Hodges Stadium | Jacksonville, Florida
When: Saturday, August 22 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Watch: Peacock
A Positive Start in Dallas
The Sun opened the 2026 Fall Season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Dallas Trinity FC at the Cotton Bowl.
After Dallas took the lead early in the second half, Tampa Bay continued to push for an equalizer before newcomer Tori Zierenberg found the back of the net in the third minute of stoppage time to secure a point for the Sun.
The result provided an important foundation for a new-look Tampa Bay side, which outshot Dallas 17-10 and created several dangerous opportunities throughout the match. The Sun also made an impact defensively, winning possession six times in the attacking third.
Tampa Bay will look to carry that momentum into Saturday’s Florida Derby.
Sunshine State Showdown
Saturday’s matchup marks the first meeting between Tampa Bay and Sporting JAX since the two clubs met four times during the 2025/26 campaign.
Sporting JAX holds the historical edge in the series, but the Sun will be looking to change that narrative as they enter Saturday’s matchup with a new-look roster and another opportunity to earn points on the road.
The two clubs will meet again on November 28, when Sporting JAX travels to Tampa for the final match of the regular season.
With both Florida clubs opening the fall campaign with positive results, Saturday’s derby provides an early opportunity to establish momentum in the Sunshine State.
Two Teams, Two Late Results
Both sides enter Saturday’s matchup coming off dramatic results in their respective season openers.
Tampa Bay earned a point against Dallas thanks to Zierenberg’s stoppage-time equalizer, while Sporting JAX secured all three points against Fort Lauderdale United FC when Baylee DeSmit scored in the 89th minute.
The result marked a strong start to Sporting JAX’s fall campaign and set the stage for its home opener against the Sun.
New Faces Making an Impact
The Sun’s revamped roster made an immediate impact in the season opener, with several newcomers seeing significant minutes in Dallas.
Zierenberg provided the game’s defining moment with her late equalizer, while Darya Rajaee and Leah Scarpelli also made their Tampa Bay debuts and contributed to a strong opening performance.
With another road test ahead, Tampa Bay will look to continue building chemistry as its new additions become increasingly integrated into the lineup.
The Road Continues
Saturday marks the second stop on Tampa Bay’s three-match season-opening road swing.
Following Jacksonville, the Sun will travel to Charlotte next weekend to face Carolina Ascent FC on August 29 before finally returning to Tampa for the 2026 Fall Season home opener on September 12.
The Sun’s first home match of the fall will feature another Florida opponent, as Fort Lauderdale United FC comes to Suncoast Credit Union Field for the first Florida Derby of the season in Tampa.
Player Availability Report
Tampa Bay Sun FC
OUT:
- Alexis Theoret (Knee)
- Dasia Torbert ( Knee)
- Emory Wegener (Hand)
- Eleanor Dale (Unavailable)
QUESTIONABLE:
- Sabrina McNeill (Quad)
Sporting JAX
OUT:
- Parker Roberts (lower body)
- Paige Kenton (illness)
QUESTIONABLE:
- Ashlyn Puerta (illness)
Follow Along
Follow @tampabaysunfc across all social media platforms for live match updates, behind-the-scenes content and everything happening from Jacksonville.
The Sun return home on September 12 for their 2026 Fall Season home opener against Fort Lauderdale United FC at Suncoast Credit Union Field.
Get your tickets and be there as the Sun return to Tampa!
