Tampa Bay Sun FC Away vs. Spokane Zephyr Preview
Written by James Knowles
Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Kickoff Time: 5:00 pm EST at Audi Field in Washington, DC
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (36 pts 9W-9D-5L); Spokane Zephyr FC (31 pts 8W-7D-8L)
Standings: The Sun are 3rd in the Super League and the Zephyr are 6th.
An incredible run for the Sun is on the line as they travel out west in search of three points. Their opposition will be desperate to win so they can boost their own playoff hopes. Suffice it to say, a lot is on the line in Washington state. Tune into Peacock this Saturday to cheer the team on from afar as they start their final push for the best possible spot in the table!
How do we make it four for four?
While the Sun may be the best club on form in the league right now, the team they’ll be facing this weekend is not far behind. Since returning from the winter break, Spokane have only lost two games, once at the beginning of March and again last week. That match was a 3-0 loss away to league leaders Carolina, so it shouldn’t take much away from their recent record.
Up until that loss to the Ascent, the Zephyr have been generally sticking with the same lineup. Two experienced center backs in Sarah Clark and Guyana international Sydney Cummings have had Alyssa Bourgeois and Haley Thomas on their flanks. Along with keeper Hope Hisey, they had managed four shutouts in a row until last Saturday.
Their midfield has been changed at times; but, the most frequent alignment includes Taylor Aylmer and Emma Jaskaniec with another more attacking player in the middle. The former of those was missing for the Carolina game, suggesting they were at least partly shorthanded. Neither the Zephyr’s website nor social media listed why she was out or for how long.
Their attacking unit has been extremely consistent of late. Emina Ekic has started on the left side, opposite McKenzie Weinert. Ally Cook is the go to striker for Spokane. Between them, they have eleven goals and six assists. This is a potent threat to say the least. All of them have NWSL experience, while Ekic also stands out for her international play with Bosnia.
The good news for the Sun is that they, too, have an incredibly potent attack. Tash Flint’s current role as anything and everything on the field is paying real dividends, opening up room for Cecilie Floe - when she’s not putting them in herself, that is. Sydny Nasello’s attacking verve has turned into more shots and even goals recently, and Hannah Keane’s return from injury provides yet another option up top.
The bad news is that the last time Tampa Bay lost a game, it was at home vs. Spokane. The influential Aylmer scored first. In their attempt to come back and at least draw, Flint found the back of the net right before stoppage time. Somehow, that would not be enough, as Cook scored three minutes into that period. Wouldn’t it be nice to have gotten that one point?
The first goal the Sun conceded came from an Ashley Orkus mistake. She has told RBLR already she’s getting used to playing out of the back as she goes. That being said, the goal they scored off her bad pass is still unlikely to occur again. The second was a more replicable attempt. But, Tampa Bay have been a lot more dialed in at the back recently.
If they can keep that up against the Zephyr, the Sun have a real chance of leaving the west coast with three more points. Ultimately, this is neither a game against a pushover, nor one that is completely out of the ladies’ hands. Following their away win vs. cellar dweller DC, it is the perfect test on the road for a newly high-functioning Blue and Gold side.