Meanwhile, expansion side Sporting Jacksonville emerged as one of the biggest success stories in North American women's football. With the campaign now complete, attention is also turning to significant structural changes after the league confirmed it will move to a spring-fall calendar beginning in 2027.
D.C. Power show progress
D.C. Power finished sixth with 33 points and were competitive for much of the season before falling away late in the playoff race. Three consecutive defeats during the run-in proved costly, leaving them seven points short of the postseason.
Gianna Gourley led the attack with eight goals, while Alyssa Walker and Ethiopian international Loza Abera each contributed seven. Rookie midfielder Emily Cotton enjoyed an impressive debut professional campaign, leading the team in assists and later earning All-League First Team honours after creating a league-best 51 chances.
Football Presse's pre-season prediction that D.C. would be more competitive than in year one proved accurate, even if a playoff place remained out of reach.
Brooklyn still searching for stability
Brooklyn FC finished seventh after another frustrating season. The club struggled for consistency and ended with 31 goals scored and 44 conceded.
The brightest spot was Republic of Ireland youth international Rebecca Cooke, who scored nine goals and added three assists in an impressive rookie campaign. Australian returnee Catherine Zimmerman also contributed six goals.
Off the field, Brooklyn moved quickly after the season ended, dismissing general manager Kevin Tenjo, head coach Tomás Tengarrinha and assistant coach Francisca Ferreira. The club then appointed former NWSL defender Samantha Johnson as general manager, a move that could provide much-needed stability. Johnson enjoyed a lengthy professional career in both the United States and Australia and arrives with a strong reputation in the women's game.
Tampa Bay's title defence collapses
After winning the inaugural championship in 2024-25, Tampa Bay Sun endured a dramatic decline, finishing eighth and missing the playoffs by 16 points.
Sydney Nasello again proved the team's standout performer with six goals and three assists, earning another All-League First Team selection. Carlee Giammona added five goals, while Canadian midfielder Sabrina McNeill contributed four assists.
A revolving door in goal and an inability to replicate last season's consistency ultimately left Tampa Bay well adrift of the playoff places.
Fort Lauderdale fall to the bottom
Fort Lauderdale reached the championship match in the league's inaugural season but endured a miserable second campaign, finishing last after losing their final six matches.
The club generated headlines by signing 2019 Women's World Cup winner Allie Long, making her the first World Cup champion to join the Super League. However, Long arrived too late to influence the playoff race and made only three appearances.
Kiara Locklear and Ella Simpson shared the team scoring lead with six goals, while rookie defender Kelli Van Treeck emerged as one of the season's few positives and later earned All-League Second Team recognition.
Lexington complete the double
Lexington's fairytale season culminated in both the Players' Shield and championship title. After finishing bottom of the table in 2024-25, they completed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent American women's football history.
The playoffs began with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Dallas Trinity before Carolina Ascent upset Sporting Jacksonville in the other semifinal.
In the final, Lexington recovered from a halftime deficit to defeat Carolina 3-1 after extra time before a crowd of 7,715. McKenzie Weinert equalised before defender Regan Steigleder scored the decisive goal. Addie McCain added a late third as Lexington sealed a historic championship.
Awards and Team of the Season
Sporting Jacksonville's remarkable expansion campaign dominated the individual awards.
Nineteen-year-old Ashlyn Puerta was named both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year after scoring 12 goals and registering seven assists. Jacksonville head coach Stacey Balaam deservedly collected Coach of the Year honours after guiding the expansion club to a share of first place and a league-record 16 victories.
Lexington striker Catherine Barry won the Golden Boot with a league-record 16 goals, while Spokane goalkeeper Hope Hisey was named Goalkeeper of the Year after recording 10 clean sheets and 86 saves. Lexington defender Ally Pantuso collected Defender of the Year honours.
The All-League teams reflected the season's leading performers, with Jacksonville and Lexington supplying the largest number of selections.
A New Calendar for the Super League
Perhaps the biggest news of the offseason is the league's decision to abandon its European-style fall-spring schedule and move to a spring-fall calendar beginning in 2027. A shortened transition season will run from August to December 2026.
League president Amanda Vandervort said the move will better align the Super League with the NWSL and the broader North American football landscape ahead of the 2031 Women's World Cup. The switch should also make player loans, transfers and potential future inter-league competitions significantly easier to manage.
After two seasons, the Super League continues to evolve. Lexington's rise, Jacksonville's instant success and the upcoming calendar change suggest momentum remains strong, even as clubs such as Brooklyn and Fort Lauderdale search for answers and the league adjusts following Spokane's departure.
- Read the full version at Tim Grainey's Substack. His latest book is Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women’s football. Get your copy today. Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey