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...

  ARLINGTON, Texas (www.thefloridasportsday.com) Dallas Renegades tight end Baylor Cupp and Orlando Storm running back Tre Stewart have signed with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, the team announced today. The signings bring the total number of 2026 UFL players who have earned NFL contracts to 51.  Since August 1, 47 UFL players have signed with or worked out for NFL teams, participating in a combined 57 NFL workouts during that span. Overall, 83 UFL alumni are currently under contract with NFL teams and participating in NFL training camps, continuing the league's role as a development pathway for professional football players. Cupp (6-6, 243, Texas Tech) appeared in nine games for the Renegades in 2026, recording eight receptions for 73 yards, including a 20-yard reception. He joins the Cardinals following his first season in the UFL. Cupp entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 after completing his collegiate car...

By Don Coble, Florida Sports Wire (www.jaxsportsday.com) There were so many player swaps, especially on the offensive line, during Thursday’s joint practice with the New Orleans Saints that head coach Lian Coen said he couldn’t keep up with the changes. He also said to expect that to continue when Jacksonville opens its preseason schedule against the Saints Saturday, August 15, at the Mercedes Superdome. Kickoff is scheduled at 4 p.m. on ESPN Unlimited. “I couldn’t even tell you who was in at the end, honestly,” Coen said after Thursday’s workout. “It was just a lot of rotating in there, whether it's because of trying to get guys work at different spots in these settings or because we had some guys cramping and had to mix it up.” Coen also plans to step back and observe the entire operation from the sidelines. Coen normally calls the offensive plays, but he will give that headset to Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinksi. That way, the second-year coach can also pay attention to the d...

  By Jeff Moeller, Jax Sports News Welcome to the Big Easy. The Jaguars will be in New Orleans Saturday to officially open the season. These are two teams that don’t have much of a history between them, as there have only been eight regular-season meetings, the last with the Jaguars pulling out a 31-24 victory in a pretty interesting game. In a joint practice Thursday, the Jaguars apparently made it look relatively easy. For Lawrence, the city’s “Big Easy” moniker could be his for the season. He has to make it look easy.  They started slowly, but eventually Trevor Lawrence looked good, tossing a pair of touchdown passes to Jakobi Meyers - looking like his new favorite target- song with Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. This was after Lawrence was picked off on his first pass. It was another untimely throw that Lawrence will need to correct.  Saturday night, the two teams will tee it up for real, but the regulars will likely be done before halftime.  Lawrence’s f...

Special to Florida SportsTicker LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (www,jaxsportsday.com) – Jace Beck tossed a no-hitter on Sunday in the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s 4-0 rain-shortened, five-inning victory over the Gwinnett Stripers from Gwinnett Field. The only base runner Beck (1-1) yielded came on an error to begin the bottom of the first before he retired the next 15 batters, five via strikeout. The contest was halted with Jacksonville (57-55, 15-23) leading 4-0 following the fifth inning due to inclement weather.  Beck’s no-hitter was the second of the season for Jacksonville, following Braxton Garrett’s 8.0-inning no-hitter in a 2-0 loss on April 21, also at Gwinnett. Beck was one of two players traded by the Chicago Cubs for Garrett on August 3 to the Marlins. The no-hitter is also the 15th in Jacksonville history (1970-present) and the first rain-shortened no-no since Elih Villanueva’s 5.0-inning no-hitter on August 15, 2010 against Carolina. Deyvison De Los Santos got the scoring started ...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com) - When he took over as offensive coordinator last season, Grant Udinski had plenty of pressure on him. Udinski was part of the new regime under GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen. He had the challenge to take the team to the next level after predecessor Press Taylor failed in his attempt the previous three seasons. But this was a new beginning for Udinski. He previously had served  as assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach  for Minnesota during the  previous three seasons, and was an assistant coach for four previous seasons.  There were plenty of questions surrounding the 29-year-old on whether he was ready for the job.  He certainly had the deck stacked against him.   Udinski inherited an offense that was derailed due to Trevor Lawrence’s early season-ending injury, and the Jags never got on track with a 4-13 overall slate. Prior to that seaso...