All eight clubs back in action as quest for playoff spots continue | News & Notes Week 28

REWIND: WEEK 27 NOTES

DAL 1 – 0 DC

• GOALS:
  • Chioma Ubogagu (DAL) 24’ 
• STORYLINES:
  • FREE KICK GOALS: Ubogagu’s strike from a set piece was Dallas’ first direct free kick goal and just the third in league history. It was also her fourth goal of the season. 
  • CLEAN SHEET: Goalkeeper Madison White recorded her league-leading eighth shutout of the season. It was also the first time DC was shut out this spring. 
  • FIRST WINNER: Dallas’ win over DC was the first time either team won in their series thus far. Their first two meetings ended 1-1 and 0-0. 
• QUOTES:
  • Dallas Head Coach Pauline MacDonald:  
    • On the importance of the win… “I think tonight was hugely important to bounce back after a disappointing performance. I think tonight we were really, really good.” 
  • Dallas goal scorer Chioma Ubogagu: 
    • On the team’s camraderie… “As a team we just knew it was gonna take everyone. We have had a lot of games in a short amount of time, so we knew we were going to use everyone. Everyone was just staying ready and doing their job when their number was called to get three points.” 
  • DC Interim Head Coach Phil Nana:  
    • On what went well defensively against Dallas… “We were organized defensively. We prepared well and knew exactly what they were going to come out in. They made a few adjustments and some positional rotations, but we were able to sort that out quickly. A goal from set piece and that seems to be our Achillies heel, these set pieces. However, I knew we were going to come in and need to defend for 90 minutes, and they did that very well.” 
  • DC defender Susanna Fitch:  
    • On the team’s growth from the start of the season… “The staff is putting in so much work for us and there’s a lot more trust within the team. That translates onto the field. We’ve already matched the number of goals scored from the first half of the season. I believe in this team 100% and we’re almost there, it’s just that final piece of getting those wins. I know it’s coming, and the growth shows on and off the field.” 

SPK 1 – 0 BKN

• GOALS:
  • McKenzie Weinert (SPK) 51’ 
• STORYLINES:
  • FIRST: Weinert scored her first goal of the season. She ranks second in the league in shots (38). 
  • CLEAN SHEET: Goalkeeper Hope Hisey recorded her sixth clean sheet of the season, tying her for second in the league. 
  • SHUTOUTS: Thursday’s match was the fifth time Brooklyn was shut out in the eight matches of this spring. The team was only shut out three times during the entire Fall Schedule. 
• QUOTES:
  • Spokane Head Coach Jo Johnson:  
    • On the team’s recent good form… “We’ve known that we can compete with anybody in the league. It’s just getting everybody else to see that, too.” 
  • Spokane goal scorer McKenzie Weinert: 
    • On the team’s newfound confidence… “I think the entire Spring season, our team has shown up for every game, and we are getting results. I think we’re just showing people we’re not someone you can just walk all over.” 
  • Brooklyn Head Coach Jess Silva:  
    • On the team’s recent struggles… “Today, we were not good enough, and we know that. Consistency is key in pro sports, and this is our learning curve right now. We will get some much-needed rest, regroup and prepare for Carolina.” 
  • Brooklyn forward Luana Grabias:  
    • On what went wrong… “Our game against Spokane wasn’t our best, we made too many mistakes and didn’t take advantage when it mattered. Now, we need to focus, learn from it, and be better in the next match.” 

TB 2 – 0 FTL

• GOALS:
  • Jordan Listro (TB) 31’ 
  • Ava Tankersley (TB) 80’ 
• STORYLINES:
  • FLORIDA DERBY WINNER: Tampa Bay became the first winner of the Florida Derby after the first three meetings ended in draws. 
  • FIRSTS: Listro and Tankersley both recorded their first goals of the season. 
  • SHUTOUTS: FTL UTD was shut out in back-to-back matches for the first time this season. The loss also ended the team’s nine-match unbeaten streak. 
  • CLEAN SHEET: Goalkeeper Ashley Orkus recorded her fourth clean sheet of the season. 
  • PLAYOFF PUSH: The win moved Tampa Bay just two points behind FTL in the fourth and final spot above the playoff line. 
• QUOTES:
  • Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Tyrone Mears:  
    • On the team’s performance and moving forward… “Tonight was not good enough, and we have to be honest about that. But every match presents an opportunity to learn and grow. Our focus now is fully on preparing for DC — we’ll take the lessons from tonight, make the necessary adjustments, and ensure we’re ready to respond with the mentality and quality we expect from ourselves.” 

LEX 0 – 3 DAL

• GOALS:
  • Amber Brooks (DAL) 36’, Penalty 
  • Cyera Hintzen (DAL) 63’, Allie Thornton assist. 
  • Gracie Brian (DAL) 83’, Chioma Ubogagu assist. 
• STORYLINES:
  • 10 WINS: Dallas’ win over Lexington marked its tenth win of the season, becoming the first team to accomplish that feat. 
  • FIRST PLACE: The win also moved Dallas to first place in the league standings. 
  • GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Thornton is the new league leader in goal contributions (12) after earning her third assist to go along with nine goals. 
  • ASSISTS LEADER: Ubogagu recorded her fifth assist of the season, tying her for first in the league. 
  • PENALTIES: Dallas was the last team to have attempted and scored a goal from the penalty spot. 
  • THREE IN A ROW: Dallas defeated Lexington for the third straight match in a row and scored at least three goals in every meeting. No other team has a 3-0-0 record against another team in the league. 
• QUOTES:
  • Lexington Interim Head Coach Sam Stockley:  
    • On the team’s performance and positive takeaways… “We just spoke about it after the game, obviously really disappointing. Just the way we conceded goals, some individual mistakes, which we’ll own collectively, but actually thought the performance (was not bad). As I said to them at halftime, I felt that we probably wore them down. Felt that as good as we played in the first half, since I’ve been in charge. So, I see the growth. I see what they’re trying to do. They’re implementing what we’re trying to do.” 
  • Lexington forward Madi Parsons: 
    • On the team’s misfortune and how to improve… “This is a cruel game. Sometimes we’re on, sometimes we’re off. We had multiple chances tonight that just were, unfortunately, a little to the right, little to the left, but our attack is still there. It’s just about making that final pass and getting it to the back of the net.” 
  • Dallas Head Coach Pauline MacDonald:  
    • On her pride in the team… “I’m absolutely delighted for the players and their efforts. Three matches in nine days is very difficult, especially having two of them on the road. I think that we had some really good moments. Overall, we scored three really good goals and potentially could’ve had more. The players worked tirelessly for each other, and we knew that there was going to be fatigue in the legs. They gave it their best effort and got the job done.” 
  • Dallas goal scorer Cyera Hintzen:  
    • On the teams focus moving forward… “I think we just need to remember that in this league, everything can change so fast. We can’t be caught up on that, and we just have to be confident to play as one team and one unit. We have to stay positive and pick each other up because we know it’s going to be a battle down the stretch.” 

WEEK 28 SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 8th 
DC Power FC v Carolina Ascent FC, 7:30 p.m. ET 

Saturday, April 12th 
Carolina Ascent FC v Brooklyn FC, 7:00 p.m. ET 
Tampa Bay Sun FC v Lexington FC, 7:00 p.m. ET 
Fort Lauderdale United FC v DC Power FC, 7:30 p.m. ET 
Spokane Zephyr FC v Dallas Trinity FC, 9:00 p.m. ET 

WEEK 28 STORYLINES

TOP OF THE TABLE 
Four different teams have held the No. 1 spot in the league table over the last month. Just six points separates 1-5 in the standings, with sixth-place Spokane Zephyr just seven points behind fourth place, and at least one game in hand over the top three. 

GOLDEN BOOT RACE CONTINUES 
Carolina’s Mia Corbin, Fort Lauderdale’s Addie McCain and Dallas’ Allie Thornton are all tied for first place in the Golden Boot race with nine goals each. 

2024/25 USL SUPER LEAGUE PLAYOFF DATES ANNOUNCED 
The USL Super League announced the official dates for its inaugural postseason, marking an exciting milestone in the league’s first campaign. The 2024/25 USL Super League Playoffs will kick off the weekend of June 7, with the highly anticipated 2025 USL Super League Final scheduled for the weekend of June 14.   

Read the full release with playoff structure and end of year awards here.  

WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE 
2025/26 expansion side Sporting JAX announced Stacey Balaam as the first head coach of the team for its inaugural season. Balaam most recently served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt University, helping to lead the NCAA Top 20 program to historic achievements since 2023. 
Read the full announcement here. 

INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS 
17 players have been called up to their national teams for the most recent FIFA international window: 

• CAR – Eli Hutchinson, Israel  
• DAL – Sealy Strawn, USYNT U-18 
• DAL – Gaby Gullen, Costa Rica 
• DC – Claire Constant, Haiti   
• DC – Katrina Guillou, Philippines 
• DC – Carleigh Frilles, Philippines 
• DC – Charlie Estcourt, Wales 
• DC – Jennifer Cudjoe, Ghana 
• LEX – Nayeong Shin, South Korea  
• LEX – Emma Johnson, USYNT U-18 
• LEX – Yunaira Lopez, Colombia   
• LEX – Grace Wisnewski, New Zealand  
• SPK – Riley Tanner, Panama  
• SPK – Sophia Bruan, Argentina 
• TB – Cecilie Fløe, Denmark U-23 
• TB – Andrea Hauksdottir, Iceland  
• TB – Sydney Schneider, Jamaica  

SUPER CONNECTIONS 
Teammates from college to national teams to the USL W League will face off against each other this week: 

• Carolina’s Jill Aguilera played alongside DC’s Amber DiOrio with the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team. 
• Carolina’s Sydney Studer played alongside Brooklyn’s Allison Pantuso in 2018 at Oregon State University. Carolina’s Ashlynn Serepca and Riley Parker were also teammates with Brooklyn’s Sasha Pickard at the University of Alabama. 
• Tampa Bay’s Ava Tankersley and Lexington’s Kate Doyle both joined the league over Winter Break after playing last season with the Arkansas Razorbacks. 
• FTL’s Darya Rajaee was teammates with DC’s Madison Murnin and Anna Henderson at the University of Central Florida in 2021. 
• Spokane’s Wayny Balata was teammates with Dallas’ Sam Estrada and Allie Thornton at Southern Methodist University (SMU) from 2019-2023.  
• Spokane’s Alyssa Bourgeois and Dallas’ Camryn Lancaster were teammates last season for USL W League club California Storm, taking the team to the playoffs. 

DISCIPLINE REPORT – WEEK 28

TAMPA, Fla. – There are no new suspensions to report. 

LEAGUE LEADERS – WEEK 28

GOALS:

• Addie McCain (FTL) – 9 goals 
• Allie Thornton (DAL) – 9 goals  
• Mia Corbin (CAR) – 9 goals 
• Natasha Flint (TB) – 8 goals 
• Jasmine Hamid (FTL) – 7 goals  
• Carlee Giammona (TB) – 6 goals 
• Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (TB) – 6 goals 
• Madison Parsons (LEX) – 5 goals  
• Emina Ekić (SPK) – 5 goals 

ASSISTS:

• Madison Perez (LEX) – 5 assists  
• Madi Parsons (LEX) – 5 assists 
• Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 5 assists  
• Chioma Ubogagu (DAL) – 5 assists 
• Mackenzie Pluck (BKN) – 4 assists 
• Emina Ekić (SPK) – 4 assists 
• Shea Moyer (LEX) – 4 assists 
• Mackenzie George (BKN) – 4 assists 
• Audrey Harding (CAR) – 4 assists 
• Kiara Locklear (FTL) – 3 assists 
• Rylee Baisden (CAR) – 3 assists 
• Sydny Nasello (TB) – 3 assists 
• Lucy Shepherd (DAL) – 3 assists 
• Allie Thornton (DAL) – 3 assists 

CLEAN SHEETS:

• Madison White (DAL) – 9 clean sheets  
• Meagan McClelland (CAR) – 6 clean sheets 
• Hope Hisey (SPK) – 6 clean sheets 
• Cosette Morche (FTL) – 5 clean sheets  
• Sydney Martinez (BKN) – 4 clean sheets 
• Morgan Aquino (DC) – 4 clean sheets 
• Neeku Purcell (BKN) – 4 clean sheets 
• Ashley Orkus (TB) – 4 clean sheets 

MILESTONES

HAT TRICKS:

• DAL – Allie Thornton (09.13.24): 61 minutes 
• FTL – Addie McCain (09.22.24): 68 minutes 
• BKN – Luana Grabias (11.13.24): 13 minutes 

BRACES:

• DAL – Chioma Ubogagu (09.13.24) 
• DC – Madison Wolfbauer (09.29.24) 
• TB – Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (10.02.24) 
• CAR – Ashlynn Serepca (10.19.24) 
• LEX – Madison Parsons (10.19.24) 
• DC – Allie Flanagan (10.25.24) 
• TB – Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (11.02.24) 
• LEX – Hannah Richardson (12.14.24) 
• TB – Natasha Flint (12.14.24) 
• FTL – Kiara Locklear (12.14.24) 
• DAL – Allie Thornton (03.09.25) 
• SPK – Emina Ekić (03.15.25) 
• FTL – Sh’Nia Gordon (03.15.25) 
• CAR – Audrey Harding (03.23.25) 
• TB – Natasha Flint (03.29.25) 
• CAR – Mia Corbin (03.29.25)