Sporting Club Jacksonville (women)
Sporting Club Jacksonville, colloquially referred to as Sporting JAX, is a professional soccer club based in Jacksonville, Florida. The club is set to debut in the USL Super League in 2025. HistoryFoundingA USL Championship franchise in Jacksonville was announced on August 30, 2022, led by venture capitalist Ricky Caplin and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow. The group partnered with Florida Elite Soccer Academy, rebranding it as the Sporting JAX Soccer Academy, to form a full development pathway.[1][2][3] In May 2023, the JAXUSL group was awarded a conditional franchise in the USL Super League, pending completion of a soccer-specific stadium project.[4][5] The club expanded its leadership team with the addition of former Florida Gators women's soccer head coach Becky Burleigh as a women’s team advisor in June 2023. Later that year, on November 30—coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the National Football League awarding Jacksonville its franchise—former Jacksonville Jaguars star Fred Taylor joined the ownership group.[6][7][8] Sporting Club Jacksonville, branded as Sporting JAX, was officially unveiled on December 12, 2023, along with its logo and team colors.[9] Super League eraMark Warburton, best known for leading Rangers FC back to the Scottish Premiership in 2016, was named Sporting Director and Head of Soccer on March 20, 2025. He oversees both the men’s and women’s teams.[10] The coaching staff for the women’s team began taking shape in spring 2025. Stacey Balaam, former associate head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's program, was appointed the inaugural head coach in early April, bringing prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level with the West Georgia Wolves.[11] In April, the club also named veteran U.S. Soccer performance coach Steve Fell as Head of Sports Performance, overseeing all athletic performance across the organization, from the USL Super League and USL Championship squads to the 10,000-player youth academy. A St. Augustine resident, Fell brought experience from over 200 professional matches and his tenure with the United States men's national soccer team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, CONCACAF Nations League, Gold Cup, and 2026 World Cup cycle.[12][13] In May, Alan Kirkup was named associate head coach. His résumé includes head coaching roles with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Maryland Terrapins, and SMU Mustangs women's soccer programs. He previously served on advisor Becky Burleigh’s staff at the University of Florida.[14] On June 17, 2025, the club announced the appointment of Mat Cosgriff as goalkeeper coach. Cosgriff previously served as associate head coach of the SMU Mustangs women's soccer team.[15] Player signings began on May 21, 2025, with defender Georgia Brown and midfielder/forward Ashlyn Puerta becoming the first additions to the inaugural roster. The move marked the club’s initial step in shaping a competitive and community-focused team for its debut USL Super League season.[16] Inaugural seasonSporting JAX is set to begin play in the 2025–26 USL Super League season. The team opened its first preseason training camp in July 2025 and will host a series of preseason matches, including international friendlies, in preparation for its competitive debut. The club will play home games at Hodges Stadium during its inaugural campaign, with the season set to kick off on August 23, 2025, against DC Power FC. On July 24, 2025, one month before the season began, Sporting JAX announced that 6,000 season tickets had been sold, representing ~64% of Hodges Stadium's capacity. As a result, the team moved up the release date for single-game ticket sales to the same day.[17] Men's teamSporting JAX will also field a men’s professional team in the USL Championship, slated to debut in 2026. The men’s and women’s programs share the same front office and sporting leadership, under Sporting Director Mark Warburton. Ownership and staff
Ownership Minority Owner  Minority Owner  Head of Soccer, Sporting Director
Technical staff
Stadium Until the completion of their permanent home venue, Sporting JAX will play its home matches at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. The stadium, which seats approximately 9,400 spectators, will serve as the club's temporary home beginning with its inaugural USL Super League season in 2025. The club has announced plans to construct a new soccer-specific stadium in Jacksonville, with a target opening date in 2026 or 2027, subject to final approvals and construction timelines. The new facility is expected to accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators and serve as the long-term home for both the men's and women's teams.[20][21][22] Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Academy playersNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
UniformsSporting JAX unveiled its inaugural home kit for the 2025–26 season during a public launch event and Fan Fest at Friendship Fountain on May 13, 2025. Designed in collaboration with Adidas, the kit features a custom light blue jersey with bold orange three-stripe detailing across the shoulders. The launch marked a major milestone for the club as it enters USL competition and aimed to unify its professional, pre-professional, and academy teams under a single visual identity.
The home kit will be worn across all Sporting JAX teams, including those in USL League Two, USL W League, and the Sporting JAX Soccer Academy. The event also showcased goalkeeper kits, alternate and youth academy kits, as well as training wear and equipment. Players from the club's men's and women’s pre-professional teams modeled the kits, with the event drawing hundreds of fans and featuring appearances from club executives, coaching staff, and adidas representatives.[24] In July 2025, Sporting JAX announced a landmark multi-year partnership with Ascension St. Vincent’s, replacing Caplin Ventures as the front-of-jersey sponsor. The Jacksonville-based healthcare provider became the club’s first Founding Partner, sponsoring the women’s team and its 10,000-player youth academy. The deal includes comprehensive healthcare services for athletes, community outreach initiatives, and prominent branding at Hodges Stadium and across broadcast and digital platforms through the 2025 and 2026 seasons.[25] MediaSporting JAX maintains a growing presence in local media through strategic partnerships with television, radio, and digital platforms in the Jacksonville area. These outlets provide fans with comprehensive coverage of Sporting JAX, the USL Championship, the USL Super League, and global soccer news.
In addition to traditional media coverage, the club produces a podcast titled, The Sporting Pod, hosted by Cole Pepper and featuring regular appearances from team officials and players. It's available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Emerson Burris serves as the club’s official team reporter. On April 25, 2025, Sporting JAX expanded its outreach by partnering with Norsan Media to deliver Spanish-language broadcasts. As the club’s exclusive Spanish-language media partner, Norsan Media offers coverage via La Raza 92.9 FM, Kaliente 94.1 FM, and Hola News, aiming to engage and grow the local Hispanic fan base.[29] Broadcast and StreamingUSL Super League matches, including those of Sporting JAX, are streamed exclusively on Peacock as part of the league’s national media rights agreement with NBCUniversal.[30] In addition to national streaming, Sporting JAX secured a local broadcast deal with First Coast News (WTLV/WJXX) and News4Jax (WJXT), providing regional over-the-air coverage of most home matches. The agreement aims to enhance the club’s visibility and fan engagement across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.[31] References
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