When the 2026 Gainbridge Super League kicks off on Saturday in Washington, D.C. and Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, it will be a fundamentally different league than when Lexington lifted the trophy back in May. This offseason has been one of change and transition for the two year old league. Before the league even crowned a champion, one of the GSL's original teams and its western most franchise, the Spokane Zephyr announced they would cease operations effective immediately, bringing the league back down to eight teams a year after expanding to nine. (The Zephyr saga is worth a read as the owners claim it was due in part the arduous and expensive travel from Spokane to face other GSL teams, but some of the additional reporting suggests many corners were cut operating the team.)
The league's schedule release in early June announced a major change to the league calendar. After two seasons following the European fall to spring schedule, in 2026 the GSL would play a truncated 14 game regular season schedule beginning in August and finishing in November. Following the shortened season, the league will transition to the more familiar North American Spring to Fall schedule beginning in the 2027 season. In late June, the ownership group behind Atlético Dallas, a USL Championship expansion side scheduled to begin play in spring 2027, announced the purchase of the Dallas Trinity. Both teams will play in the Cotton Bowl for the foreseeable future.
In July, the USL and the USLPA announced a ground breaking tentative collective bargaining that would cover players in the GSL, as well as their male counterparts in the USL. Under the proposed deal, players will receive a minimum salary, which will start at $37,200 and increase over the course of the deal, a housing stipend, and health care benefits. Additionally, like their counterparts in NWSL, players have control over transfers as well as their name and likeness. The deal is currently pending player approval.
2026 Teams
Brooklyn FC
Additions: Sophia Lowenberg (Loan - Boston Legacy), Ashlyn Miller (Brisbane Roar), Jackie Richards (Heart of Midlothian), Carlee Giammona (Tampa Bay Sun), Jilly Shimkin (Tampa Bay Sun)
Departures: Alice Barbieri, Hope Breslin, Rylan Childers, Kelsey Daugherty, Mylena Freitas, Kelsey Hill, Sam Kroeger, Ana Markovic, Leah Scarpelli
Following a disappointing campaign that saw the team finish 7th with a 6-14-8 record, Brooklyn dismissed general manager Kevin Tenjo, head coach Tomás Tengarrinha, and assistant coach Francisca Moura. To lead the team, Brooklyn brought in former NWSL and W League player Samantha Johnson to be the General Manager and Alex Smith, formerly coach of Brisbane FC, to manage on the field. Given their significant international histories, Johnson and Smith appear to prioritize similar experience in players they recruit to New York. Ashlynn Miller played for Smith at Brisbane. Richards featured for Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League and won a title during her time there. Before joining the GSL in its inaugural season, Carlee Giammona played for two seasons at CF Monterrey in Mexico and another in Glasgow.
Carolina Ascent
Additions: Hope Hisey (Spokane Zephyr), Reese Tappan (Spokane Zephyr)
Departures: Macey Bader, Charlotte Burge, Giovanna DeMarco, Isa Franco, Briana Martinez, Meagan McClelland, Maria Tapia, Sarah Troccoli
Carolina finished third in table at the end of the 2025/2026 regular season, just two points back of the top two teams, Lexington and Sporting Jax. In the playoffs, Carolina knocked off Sporting Jax 1-0 in the semifinal match. Facing Lexington in the final, Mia Corbin gave the Ascent the lead in first half stoppage time with a blast that beat Lexington keeper Sydney Martinez from the arc at the edge of the 18. Carolina equalized in the 72nd minute and ultimately forced the game to extra time. Ultimately, Lexington pulled away in extra time and won 3-1. To build upon a largely successful 2025/2026 campaign Carolina brought in proven GSL talent. New goalkeeper Hope Hisey is the two time and reigning GSL Goalkeeper of the Year. Reese Tappan earned All-League Second Team honors as a rookie with Spokane in the 2025/2026 season.
Dallas Trinity
Additions: Seven Castain (Loan - Orlando Pride),Sofia Cedeño (Loan - Seattle Reign), Kalea Eichenberger (Utah Royals), Onyeka Gamero (Loan -Bay FC), Felicia Knox (Spokane Zephyr), Heather MacNab (North Carolina Courage), Aria Nagai (Loan - Utah Royals), Neeku Purcell (Loan - Seattle Reign), Jamie Shepherd (Loan - Bay FC), Rajanah Reed (Angel City/ Will Miss Season)
Departures: Bethany Bos, Jenny Danielsson, Samantha Estrada, Hannah Davison, Kiley Dulaney, Samar Guidry, Caroline Kelly, Lauren Lapomarda, Tyler McCamey, Maya McCutcheon, Lexi Missimo (Loan), Allie Thornton, Amber Wisner
It has been an offseason of change for Dallas. At the end of June, the ownership behind Atlético Dallas, a still to debut USL team, announced they had purchased the team from the Neil family. Among their first moves was to bring in former USMNT and MLS player, Lee Nguyen to lead the team. Over the last five years, Lee Nguyen coached at four separate NWSL teams, including the 2021 NWSL title winning Washington Spirit. A significant amount of roster turnover followed. Dallas's offseason player acquisition strategy has largely been to bring in players on loan from NWSL sides or players who have spent short periods of time on NWSL rosters as injury replacements. In total, Dallas has seven players on their roster on loan from NWSL, putting down a clear marker for their ambitions for the 2026 season.
DC Power
Additions: Hallie Augustyn (Baylor), Abby Boyan (Sporting Jax), Katie Cappelletti (Kansas City Current), Kayla Colbert (University of Southern California), Sam Cary Angel (Loan - Chicago Stars), Emma Jaskaniec (Spokane Zephyr), Tyler Lussi (Carolina Ascent), Sarah McCoy (Spokane Zephyr), Tatum Thomason (Arizona State). Mak Whitman (Loan - Gotham FC)
Departures: Morgan Aquino, Chinyelu Asher, Jaydah Bedoya, Lexi Fraley, Carleigh Frilles, Katrina Guillou, Hannah Harney, Kiki Maki, Madison Murnin, Alexis Theoret, Dasia Torbert, Grace Yango.
After missing out on the playoffs for the second straight year, DC Power turned over a significant portion of its roster, including some core contributors. Aquino, Bedoya, Murnin, Theoret, and Torbert all played more than 1,000 minutes for the DC over the course of the season. Power offset these departures with a mixture of youth and experience. Cappelletti, Cary Angel, Lussi, and Whitman all have experience in NWSL or abroad. Sarah McCoy served as Spokane's captain during the 2025-2026 campaign. DC hopes these new additions combined with its their returning players can push the team into the playoffs for the first time.
Fort Lauderdale United
Additions: Jules Cagle (Fort Lauderdale United Academy), Grace Cutler (ŽNK Međimurje Čakovec), Maggy Henschler (Piteå IF), Heather Hinz (Houston Dash), Shea Moyer (Lexington SC), Kelsey Oyler (Spokane Zephyr), Haley Thomas (Spokane Zephyr), Nicole Vernis (Loan - Lexington SC), Farrah Walters (Tampa Bay Sun)
Departures: Kate Colvin, Kat González, Sophie Harding, Bella Hara, Allie Long, Lilly McCarthy, Laveni Vaka
The 2025/2026 season was rough for Fort Lauderdale as the team finished last among the nine GSL teams, 17 points behind Dallas who finished in the last playoff spot. In hopes of a more successful 2026 campaign, the team brought in players with a mixture of GSL, NWSL, and international experience. Several of the "additions" had experience with Fort Lauderdale last season in the form of loans or academy contracts. Fort Lauderdale will hope that familiarity results in a more successful season.
Lexington SC
Additions: Ryan Campbell (Loan - Gotham FC), Marz Josephson (University of Kentucky), Mac Midgley (University of Tennessee), Katie Murray (Spokane Zephyr), Ally Perry (Juventus)
Departures: Kat Asman, Sarah Cox Shea Moyer, Maddy Perez, Darya Rajaee (Loan), Hannah Sharts, Nicole Vernis (Loan)
Lexington completed the Gainbridge Super League version of the double in the 2025/2026 season, winning the Player's Shield as the best regular season team and then defeating Carolina in extra time to win the league title. After a successful campaign, Lexington added a mix of experience and youth for the upcoming season. With Campbell, Murray, and Perry, Lexington added a mix of NWSL, GSL, and international experience. Coming from Southeastern Conference, Josephson and Midgley give the team potential players to develop for the future.
Sporting Jax
Additions: Melina Descary (University of South Alabama), Keeley Dockter (University of Portland), Ginger Fontenot (Spokane Zephyr), AJ Hennessey (Texas Christian University), Amanda Poorbaugh (Penn State University), Mya Swinton (University of West Florida), Maci Teater (Grindavik/Njardvik W)
Departures: Abby Boyan, Jessie Hunt, Julia Lester, Maddie Kemp, Jade Pennock, Cristina Roque, Zara Siassi, Kacey Smekurd, Katie Sullivan
Sporting Jax enjoyed a highly successful debut season in 2025/2026. Jax finished second in the GSL table, but tied on points with Players' Shield winner and eventual champions Lexington SC. In addition to their success on the field, Sporting Jax was far and away the most attended GSL team over the course of the season, finishing with over 60,000 more attendees than Carolina who had the second highest attendance. Sporting Jax's high point and attendance totals can be tied to the team's highly potent offense. Three of the league's top four scores (Baylee DeSmit, Ashlyn Puerta, and Paige Kenton) all lined up for Sporting Jax. This trio will try and replicate this success in their sophomore season.
Tampa Bay Sun
Additions: Liz Beardsley (Loan - Houston Dash), Sam Kroeger (Brooklyn FC), Darya Rajaee (Loan - Lexington SC), Cristina Roque (Loan - Racing Louisville), Leah Scarpelli (Brooklyn FC), Alexis Theoret (DC Power), Dasia Torbert (DC Power),
Departures: Natasha Flint, Jordan Fusco, Sandrine Gaillard, Carlee Giammona, Victoria Haugen, Anna Heilferty, Hannah Keane, Isabella Kresche, Madi Parsons, Peyton Parsons, Maddie Pokorny, Gabby Provenzano, Jilly Shimkin, Yuki Watari, Faith Webber
After finishing second in the table and winning the inaugural GSL championship, Tampa Bay found themselves at the opposite end of the table in their sophomore campaign. The Sun finished in eighth place, just one place above Fort Lauderdale. In order to avoid a repeat performance Tampa Bay brought in players with significant experience in NWSL and the GSL.
