Florida Sports Wires

Special to Jax Sports News FORT LAUDERDALE (www.thefloridasportswire.com) - The Sporting JAX women’s team made a season-opener statement against Fort Lauderdale United FC with a 1-0 win, taking the lead in the 89th minute after a scoreless first half. The late game-winning goal came from Baylee DeSmit, one of Sporting JAX’ stars in their inaugural season. “It feels great,” said DeSmit. “I hope it’s just the beginning, but obviously it feels great to get that win under our belt to start off, and be able to provide for the team like that.” DeSmit had a strong start to her professional career in the 2025/26 season, where she made 25 appearances with 12 goals and two assists. Her 12 goals brought her even with teammate Ashlyn Puerta, the 2025/26 Player of the Year recipient, for the most goals on the team. The women will head back to Hodges Stadium for their home opener against another familiar in-state rival, Tampa Bay Sun FC.  Sporting JAX has gone 7-0-2 against their Sunshine State...

Special to Jax Sports News JACKSONVILLE (www.thefloridasportswire.com) The Sporting JAX men’s team put up a strong fight against Eastern Conference rival Indy Eleven on Saturday, but ultimately fell, 1-0, after the visitors took the lead in the closing minutes. Jackosonville h ead coach Liam Fox after the match: “We probably weren’t as ruthless as I would like us to be in the final third. We probably didn’t create enough chances, but some of the football was really, really good. And it’s difficult for me to say that at the moment, say that was positive because we’ve come away with a cheap goal at the end from a team that we know are very dangerous at set pieces, and ultimately that cost us tonight.” “Every week we’ve got an opportunity to bounce back. As has been the message all throughout the season, we’ll get back in to work and we’ll look forward to the next one.” Saturday’s match served as Sporting JAX’s first home match in nearly a month, with fans returning to Hodges Stadium to c...

JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com) – Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX) today announced the signing of midfielder Jean Mota to its USL Championship roster, pending league and federation approval. Mota, 32, serves as another veteran addition to the Sporting JAX squad during its inaugural season. The São Paulo native has spent time most notably with Brazilian giant Santos FC and Inter Miami CF, where he played alongside Lionel Messi and new Sporting JAX teammate Harvey Neville.  Most recently, he took the pitch for Persija Jakarta in Indonesia. Mota’s time at Santos, where soccer icon Pelé became a household name, stands out. Across 255 appearances for the club, he netted 19 goals and 26 assists, contributing to multiple podium finishes in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Brazil’s top professional league. Following Santos, Mota joined Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer for the 2022 season. In his first season with the club, Mota made 36 appearances across all competitions,...

JACKSONVILLE (SportsDay) - Sporting Club Jacksonville announced today the signing of Keeley Dockter, a defender from the University of Portland, and Amanda Poorbaugh, a goalkeeper from Penn State University, pending league and federation approval. The additions come ahead of the second season for the Sporting JAX Women’s team following a record breaking inaugural season for the first Gainbridge Super League expansion team in the 2025/26 season. Before kicking off her professional career with the Reign, Dockter acted as a crucial member of the University of Portland’s back line with 64 starts in 69 appearances and 5,411 minutes logged. Her collegiate career resulted in three goals and two assists for the Pilots, including two game-winning goals. During her redshirt senior year, she led a defense that conceded just 12 goals, the second fewest in the West Coast Conference and the 17th fewest in the nation during the 2025 season. Her achievements that season earned her All-WCC First Team, ...

JACKSONVILLE (SportsTicker Jax) – Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX) today announced the signing of midfielder Raheem Somersall to its USL Championship roster, pending league and federation approval. Somersall, a 28-year-old midfielder, joins Sporting JAX in the midst of the 2026 USL Championship season. He brings more experience to the midfield, having spent eight seasons in the USL Championship and USL League One. The last three came in the USL Championship, recording 68 appearances across all competitions with North Carolina FC and most recently with FC Tulsa. During the ongoing season, Somersall made 11 appearances in Tulsa. “I’m excited for this opportunity with Sporting JAX,” said Somersall. “I look forward to jumping in and being a contributor for the club.” The bulk of Somersall’s USL experience was with North Carolina FC, playing four seasons with the club. During this time, Somersall logged nearly 7,000 minutes, recording three goals and seven assists. The midfielder ...

Special to Florida Sports Wire The Sporting JAX women’s team delivered a statement result on Wednesday night, defeating DC Power FC 1-0 on the road in the second-to-last match of their inaugural season, clinching a home playoff match in the process.  DeSmit Delivers Again  Sporting JAX found its breakthrough in the 33rd minute, continuing a season-long trend of timely attacking moments. Sophia Boman worked the ball into a dangerous area, setting up Baylee DeSmit, who made no mistake in front of goal.  DeSmit’s strike marked her 12th of the season, further cementing her role as one of the league’s most consistent offensive threats. The early lead gave Sporting JAX control, allowing them to dictate the pace and remain composed in a high-stakes environment against a DC side pushing to keep its playoff hopes alive.  Defensive Focus Pays Off   With everything on the line, Sporting JAX leaned into a disciplined defensive performance to protect the lead. Head Coach Sta...

JACKSONVILLE – Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX) announced the promotion of Mark Warburton to President of Soccer, reinforcing the club’s commitment to sustained growth, competitive excellence and global connectivity as it builds toward a landmark year for professional soccer on the First Coast. Warburton, who has played a key role in shaping Sporting JAX’s soccer operations, will now lead all sporting initiatives, including player development, recruitment and international partnerships, as the club continues to expand its presence both domestically and abroad. “Mark has been an integral part of building our soccer identity and vision from the ground up,” said Ricky Caplin, Majority Owner and Chairman, Sporting JAX. “His global experience, leadership and relationships across the game will be instrumental as we continue to establish Sporting JAX as a destination club and deepen our connections with international and strategic partners.” Under Warburton’s leadership, Sporting JA...