When Brooklyn FC stepped onto the pitch at Maimonides Park (formerly known as MCU Park and KeySpan Park) in Coney Island this past Saturday for their season opener against the reigning champion Tampa Bay Sun, the night meant more than just the start of a new campaign. It represented the continuation of something historic: Brooklyn’s first professional women’s soccer team writing its second chapter in the Gainbridge Super League.
The vision for Brooklyn FC has been shaped by Matt Rizzetta, founder and chairman of North Sixth Group, the club’s principal owner, who has made it clear from the start that the team’s mission extends beyond the field. Under his leadership, the club has embraced a dual purpose — building a competitive team on the pitch while also establishing a cultural and community footprint in Brooklyn.
The Gainbridge Super League, launched in 2024 with Division I sanctioning from U.S. Soccer, was designed to create more professional opportunities for women while aligning its fall-to-summer schedule with the global game. Alongside the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), it gives American players new pathways to top-level competition. The league features a diverse slate of clubs nationwide, including Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Fort Lauderdale United, Lexington SC, Spokane Zephyr, and Tampa Bay Sun — the league’s inaugural champions.
Saturday’s opener in Coney Island showed just how far Brooklyn FC has come since their turbulent inaugural season. Manager Tomás Tengarrinha, a Portuguese coach with experience building winning sides in Europe, unveiled a refreshed roster and a disciplined 4-3-3 formation. Newcomer Breanna “Bre” Norris anchored the defense in goal, supported by captain Kelsey Hill and returning leaders Leah Scarpelli, Jessica Garziano, and Samantha Kroeger. The squad was also bolstered by international signings, including Croatian forwards Ana Maria and Kiki Marković, as well as forward Catherine Zimmerman and defender Antoinette “Annie” Williams.
Against Tampa Bay, Brooklyn showed resilience and control. In the 55th minute, Zimmerman scored the club’s first goal of the season, adjusting brilliantly inside the box to give Brooklyn the lead. Substitutions in the second half proved decisive, as Williams made an instant impact, heading home the eventual winner in the 71st minute — just moments after coming on. Tampa Bay clawed one back in stoppage time through Carlee Giammona, but Brooklyn held firm for a 2–1 victory, a statement result against the league’s defending champions.
Yet the match was about more than just points on the table. For the fans in attendance, many from Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods, it was a chance to see women’s professional soccer thrive in their own backyard. Brooklyn FC’s new Front of Kit program, partnering with community institutions like the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, deepens that connection by keeping the borough front and center.