Pre-professional women’s and men’s soccer teams to debut in May for the 2025 season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 5, 2025) – Sporting JAX, the United Soccer League (USL) franchise group bringing women’s and men’s professional soccer to Northeast Florida, is proud to announce that it will field two additional pre-professional teams set to play this spring, competing in both the USL W League and USL League Two throughout Florida. Following the club’s recent merger with Florida Elite Soccer Academy and upcoming name change to Sporting JAX Soccer Academy, the USL W League and USL League Two teams will be the first to take the pitch wearing the Sporting JAX crest, marking a major milestone for the club.
These pre-pro teams will play as part of Sporting JAX, along with a planned women’s pro team (USL Super League), men’s pro team (USL Championship), and a USL Youth Academy. Sporting JAX will also continue its participation in the nation’s largest youth soccer league, Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), while developing a top-tier pro soccer academy as part of Sporting JAX Soccer Academy.
"We are thrilled to officially introduce Sporting JAX to the pitch this spring through our women’s and men’s pre-professional teams," said Sporting JAX President and CEO Steve Livingstone. "Competing in the USL W League and USL League Two allows us to develop future soccer stars, strengthens soccer culture throughout the region and brings an elevated level of competition to our passionate fans. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey for Sporting JAX this year.”
Sporting JAX’s inclusion in the rapidly expanding USL W League and League Two highlights the club’s commitment to fostering top-tier talent and providing local players with more opportunities to compete at higher levels against talented teams across the state and the Southeast. The USL W League is one of the nation’s premier pre-professional women’s leagues, dedicated to advancing women’s soccer through elite competition and player development. The W League includes nearly 100 teams across four divisions and Sporting JAX will call the Southeast Division home.
On the men’s side, USL League Two serves as a proven pathway for top men’s talent aspiring to play at a professional level, with many current Major League Soccer (MLS) and United Soccer League (USL) players having competed in the league. The league boasts nearly 150 teams across four conferences, with Sporting JAX joining five additional Florida-based clubs in the Southern Conference’s Southeast Division. Many of today’s top soccer players have risen through the ranks of League Two to compete in MLS and USL, making this an invaluable opportunity for soccer’s rising talent.
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Both teams will compete in a regional schedule against top clubs across the state and at their home field at Mandarin High School, delivering free, high-caliber experiences for soccer fans. The full 2025 season schedule for the USL W League and USL League Two was recently announced league-wide and is now available on Sporting JAX’s official website: www.sportingjax.com/schedule.
For the latest Sporting JAX news and club updates, follow @Sporting_JAX across all social media channels.
About Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX)
Sporting Club Jacksonville, or “Sporting JAX,” was established in 2020 by a passionate group of Jacksonville-based owners and is driven by a bold vision to elevate the area’s soccer scene. Renamed in collaboration with the First Coast community in 2023, the club is committed to launching a women’s professional USL Super League club, a men’s professional USL Championship club and USL Youth Academy in Northeast Florida.
Through work with city and county officials, Sporting JAX will spearhead the development of a 15,000-capacity community stadium and training facilities, positioning the First Coast as a premier destination for soccer excellence. Sporting JAX recently announced a game-changing merger with Florida Elite Soccer Academy, the largest youth soccer academy in Florida with over 10,000 players to create the Sporting JAX Soccer Academy and one of the largest youth-to-college-to-pro pathways in the United States. The Sporting JAX ownership group is led by prominent entrepreneur Ricky Caplin, alongside sporting legends Tim Tebow and Fred Taylor, seasoned pro soccer executive Steve Livingstone and local community innovator Tony Allegretti. Additionally, renowned UF women’s soccer coach Becky Burleigh leads Sporting JAX’s efforts as a consultant to the women’s pro team. For more information, visit www.sportingjax.com.
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Media Contact: Tiffany Hutto l (904) 571-5659 l tiffanyhutto@sjp.com