Last week, newly-formed Tampa Bay Sun FC announced its first roster signings for the inaugural USL Super League season. Included in that trio of signings was former NWSL Rookie of the Year, two-time league champion, and USMNT call-up, Erika Tymrak. The veteran forward had played almost a decade in the NWSL, with multiple international loans, and will now bring her talents to a brand new league. She sat down with Protagonist Soccer’s editor, Dan Vaughn, to talk about her career, signing with Tampa Bay, and her hopes for the USL Super League.

Protagonist: Congratulations on signing with Tampa Bay! How does it feel to be part of a new club in a new league?

Erika: It’s an honor. It’s really a full circle moment for me. I’ve kind of been everywhere in my career and made it back to Orlando [NWSL] in my home state and played three years there. When I saw Tampa was getting a team, I was over the moon. I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me, not only to come back home to play, but also to help start this new league. I was part of the NWSL from the very first year, so I have a lot of experience with new leagues in general. I’m happy to bring my experience to a new league.

Protagonist: You were a superstar playing for the University of Florida, does being back playing in your homestate feel more special?

Erika: Everywhere I play has a special place in my heart, like another chapter in your book. But as you get older, you begin to value family and getting closer to your community a lot more. While I was so happy to have experiences playing in Australia, Germany, and Salt Lake City, it does feel really good to come home and play every game in front of my friends and family. It’s super special to be able to play where you grew up.

Protagonist: You mentioned playing internationally. What were your experiences like abroad?

Erika: I had two very good experiences. Both times I was with really big clubs. I was at Bayern Munich, which is obviously a massive club, and even though it was earlier on, in 2013, we were taken care of really well. That’s part of being at a huge club, with a lot of money and investment. My experience with Bayern was unbelievable, not only playing in the Bundesliga and being able to play with so many quality international players, but also life outside of soccer - living in a new culture, having to learn a new language - that’s where I really grew up. You’re out of your comfort zone and you have to grow up. It’s such an experience.

Tymrak had a brief loan to Melbourne City of the Australian W-League. *Image courtesy of Tymrak’s social media.*

I also played with Melbourne City in Australia. They’re owned by Manchester City, another big club, and that was an incredible experience. We won the W-League while I was there and our facilities, our training, everything was top notch. I was very fortunate and had amazing overseas experiences.

Protagonist: Jimmy Conrad, who scored a single goal in his playing career for the USMNT, always points out that he scored against Mexico. You also had a single goal playing for the national team, but it was against Brazil and happened to be on Lindsey Horan’s first assist in her first USWNT match. AND you were wearing the Centennial kit. Pretty heady stuff!

Erika: It’s definitely up there in my goals, for sure. Unbelievable experience. I totally agree about the Centennial kit, they were my absolute favorite. I have that jersey framed at my parent’s house.

Protagonist: You had a significant career in the NWSL, won major awards and championships, how do you feel about the health of that league and the quality of the play?

Erika: I think over the last couple of years, it’s made some substantial jumps. You’re looking at players finally getting paid good money. Stadiums are selling out. Unbelievable sponsorships across the board. League sponsorships. I think that league has come such a long way since when I started out.

The competitiveness is like nothing I’ve experienced. Every game is a bloodbath. Every game is the hardest game you’re going to play. Even against a team at the bottom of the table, it’s so close and competitive that you never know what’s going to happen. For example, when I played in the Bundesliga, there’s the top clubs and then there’s a huge gap to the bottom clubs. Matches would be 1-1 or 9-0. While every league has different pros and cons, the competitiveness in the NWSL is like no other.

Protagonist: Pundits usually say that the rise of other leagues are a challenge to the NWSL. How do you see that relationship? Is the American league still the most dominant in the sport?

Erika: It’s definitely a very opinionated conversation, but I think NWSL is up there. There’s a lot of factors in how you judge that, but the competitiveness of the NWSL is definitely up there.

That’s why I think it’s amazing that the Super League is coming. It’s so competitive here and so many players with so little opportunities. In the past, if you couldn’t make it in the NWSL, you went overseas. But now with a second tier one league, I think it will be amazing for women’s soccer in this country.

Protagonist: What are your thoughts on the Super League? Obviously, ya’ll haven’t kicked a ball yet, but where do you see this league starting and where do you see this league in the future?

Erika: I think this league has so much potential. Women’s soccer in this country has grown so much. The NWSL is booming and I think there needs to be more opportunity for professional players here. I think this league has so much potential.

The NWSL has been around for 12 years now. There’s so many mistakes that the league can learn from. I’m hoping that the Super League can see what worked and didn’t work with the NWSL and use that as an advantage. When the NWSL started out, it was sort of ‘let’s see what kind of works’ kind of thing. Granted, it ended up working out amazing and I think the NWSL is great. But I think the Super League has an advantage of seeing exactly what works - what works for the fans, what works for the players - I’m excited for it.

The markets are great. There’s eight teams this year and there’s already five promised for next year. I’m excited that Tampa has a team. Next year Arizona comes into it and there’s no NWSL teams there, so I see that as a big opportunity.

Protagonist: Do you expect growing pains this season?

Erika: Yeah (laughs). I’m a twelve year vet, I’m not naive to this. There’s going to be growing pains. There’s going to be moments when we’re like “WHAT?” But that’s part of building a new league. You have to take the good and the bad. There will be mistakes, but I think the foundation and investment is there. People want to see this league succeed, they’re investing in it. They are all in.

I know, speaking from Tampa, the ownership and staff are so invested in this, that’s so big. We didn’t always get that in the early years of the NWSL. Some people were investing just for the perception of it. ‘Oh, we want a women’s team just to have a women’s team,’ but they didn’t actually believe in the future of women’s sports. I think the foundation is there in the Super League. There will be hiccups, of course, but you’ve got to keep moving forward.

Protagonist: It feels like women’s sports are cresting right now, with the rise of the NCAA tournament, the WNBA, the NWSL, of course, the USWNT has always been great. How do you see the USL Super League fitting into that rise?

Erika: I think the sky’s the limit. Because the ground has been set with the NWSL and the WNBA, I think the Super League will fit in perfectly and give soccer fans even more to watch. My boyfriend and I always have soccer on and, speaking as a fan, it just gives more opportunity to watch the women’s game. I think it’s going to be great.

Protagonist: How do you see this upcoming season with Tampa Bay, career-wise? Is this the punctuation at the end of a long career or is it a chance to lead a new club into a new league?

Erika: It’s a good question and one I’ve been asked a lot. I try not to think too far ahead. You have to take it day by day. Sports, like life, is just so unpredictable and you never know what’s going to happen. Right now, in this moment, I feel amazing. I have really learned to take care of my diet, my lifestyle, and my body. It’s become a passion of mine, living that healthy lifestyle. So from a physicality standpoint, I feel great. I like saying that. I feel great for being 32 and having so many playing years under my belt.

But I am looking forward to using my experience to help younger players and helping the league in general. I can’t think too far ahead, but I’m excited about this season and feel great physically. I’m really excited to be part of this and that, in my playing career, I got to play in TWO professional women’s leagues in our country.

Protagonist: Of all the USL Super League clubs so far, it feels like Tampa Bay Sun FC is the most prepared for the league’s launch. How’s your experience been with the club?

Erika: From the moment that I started talking with them, everything has felt really professional. I think the biggest thing for me is that they made me feel so valued, right off the bat. I know as a player you experience so many different clubs, coaches, and staff, but feeling valued as a person, a player, a leader, is so big for buy-in. You want your athletes to be bought-in and it’s really easy to do that when you believe in them, their careers, and what they can bring to the table.

So aside from all the logistical things, that have been great and blown me out of the water, their investment and attitude towards the league and the players has been phenomenal. I’m so excited to come back here to play [in Tampa] and with an organization that is so dedicated to women’s soccer. It’s big.

Erika will kick off with Tampa Bay Sun FC in the USL Super League in August. Keep an eye on Protagonist Soccer for full coverage of the newest professional women’s soccer league in the country.

- Dan Vaughn