Sporting JAX Women Determined to Improve Following Gainbridge Super League Opener
GSL Sporting Club Jacksonville

Sporting JAX Women Determined to Improve Following Gainbridge Super League Opener

Published on August 27, 2025 under Gainbridge Super League (GSL)
Sporting Club Jacksonville News Release


Sporting JAX's debut match in the Gainbridge Super League may have not ended how the team would've liked, but the team is using the loss as motivation moving forward in training. The showdown may have run into the early moments of Sunday morning, but the team was back at the training grounds for their normal operations early this week.

Saturday's final score may not show it, but creating scoring opportunities was not an issue for Sporting JAX. Capitalizing on these, though, is an area where Head Coach Stacey Balaam wants to see improvement headed forward.

"We learned that we have to finish our chances to be able to win the game," Balaam said. "[DC] soaked up a lot of pressure from us, but they caught us on counter attacks, and they finished chances they got."

It's important to remember that Saturday's loss was the first time this group has truly played competitive minutes as a unit. With time, the team will continue to mesh and improve. This sentiment has been echoed by players, who are determined to secure results on the pitch.

"Getting our first live minutes against competition and our first home game brings a lot of nerves, and I think it's given us good direction for what we need to work on this week," forward Maddie Kemp admitted. "We're trying to really hone in on the competitive aspect and making each other better."

It's also important to remember that there were positives from last weekend's affair. Sporting JAX played a very strong half, most of which was spent on the attack. Possession favored the home squad and there were numerous times where their 1-0 lead nearly grew. Taking the positives into consideration is also key, something that defender Julia Lester acknowledged.

"Finishing the first half, we started to learn how to pick each other up," Lester said. "You see what you did well, and you get confidence from that."

Ultimately, Saturday's result was disappointing for the whole squad, but it's nothing to get down over. The beauty of soccer is that you often have a chance to bounce right back, typically not long after your previous match. This is the case for Sporting JAX, who hits the road to face defending champions Tampa Bay Sun FC on Saturday. This is a tough task, but it presents the opportunity for redemption.

"We want a positive response," Balaam shared. "These games come around thick and fast, and you've got to bounce back quickly."

Lessons learned from Saturday and another week of training under their belt will help in their next match, but that will be put to the test in just a matter of days as they look to get their first points of the season.

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