This is Champa Bay: The Tampa Bay Sun are the Newest Champs in the Bay

Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC

If you haven’t heard, the Tampa Bay Sun FC were crowned champions of the inaugural USL Super League championship. The Sun defeated Fort Lauderdale United FC 1-0 in extra time. This is a huge win for the Sun, as they not only won the final but are also the first ever to win the USL Super League Championship. For those who don't know, the USL Super League is a professional women’s soccer league in the United States, comprising eight clubs. It takes place from August to June and has just wrapped up its first season.

Courtesy of Visit St.Pete-Clearwater

So why is this such a big deal, and what is Champa Bay? Champa Bay is a nickname for Tampa Bay, a city in Florida. But it’s more than just a nickname and boat parades; it's a symbol of excellence. Tampa is home to three major sports teams: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL, the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL, and the Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB. The Champa Bay name stems from all of Tampa’s successes throughout the years, most notably in 2020 and 2021. During that time, Tampa sports were on top. Why? Because all three teams were unstoppable. The Rays made it to the World Series, the Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the Bucs won Super Bowl LV. Even Tampa’s professional men’s soccer team, the Rowdies, made it to the final and were named co-champions due to COVID-19. That’s amazing, isn’t it? And it proves that Tampa has always been and continues to be the center of American sports.

Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC

Now, the Tampa Bay Sun has added to Tampa’s success and is keeping Champa Bay alive. The Sun is the first professional women’s sports team to bring a title to the Bay. They had a great season with a 12-6-10 record. They were also crowned champions on their home field, which they only lost on twice. Tampa fans showed up and showed out, and the Sun played in front of a sold-out stadium. A couple of days after their win, the Sun celebrated in Tampa fashion with an exciting boat parade along the Hillsborough River. Yes, the same river Tom Brady threw the Lombardi trophy over. Fans all over cheered for the Sun and enjoyed seeing their team lift the trophy. The Sun’s run was remarkable and something all Tampa fans will remember.  

Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC

With high hopes of a repeat, the Sun will return in August when the 2025/2026 season begins, but that’s not all. The Sun has its own waterfront stadium in the works, seating 15,000 people. This is big news, and it shows that Tampa and its fans truly believe in the Sun and want to be a part of this new era of women’s soccer. This is not only a significant move for Tampa, but also a stepping stone for women’s sports as a whole. 

Tampa has proven time and time again that it’s a major sports hub and the city of champions. Home of the Rays, Bucs, Lightning, Rowdies, and now the Sun. This is Champa Bay.