TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Even though the Tallahassee Reckoning have wrapped up their third season, behind the scenes, the real work is just getting started.
Last week, the team teased a “landmark announcement” coming this Thursday, which could signal a new era.
The details of the announcement are under wraps, but recent buzz around the team has been growing.
Case in point, at the Reckoning’s season finale at the end of June, soccer legend Crystal Dunn was on the sideline.
“How many opportunities do you literally get to engage with a living legend, and not from afar, but talk to her and have those conversations and get that feedback and information,” said Reckoning head coach Izzy Cotto.
Beyond the star power, the excitement for this team is real. Players have begun to see more support in the stands.
“The girls put so much into it,” said team founder Ashlee Fontes. “For people to show up, it’s the intangibles of ‘we care, we appreciate what you’re doing, we see you.’ It’s huge.”
Shining a spotlight on local talent is exactly why the Reckoning were founded.
“There’s talent here in Tallahassee,” said Fontes. “The girls need some love and support with those development resources and this is what can be done. So I’m proud.”
It’s that local focus that reconnected Dunn with the Fontes. The two crossed paths years ago with the Washington Spirit. Fontes drafted Dunn to the team.
“Her belief in me back then is what really forged this relationship,” said Dunn. “She’s somebody that’s like ‘hey Crystal, I’ve got a project for you.’ And I was like ‘you know what? Let me learn a little more about Tallahassee.’ And I’m really happy I did.”
She continued, “[For the] Tallahassee Reckoning, it’s really only the beginning. I’m happy the girls are enjoying it but there’s still so much work that has to be done.”
Dunn, who retired in January, finally has the time to give back to the sport that’s given her everything.
“Crystal’s been finishing tying up her career and has been following along through the process. Timing is just now right,” said Dunn.
“She doesn’t have to do this,” said Cotto. “There’s a million other things she could be doing. But she thinks to grow the women’s game, it’s important that she’s in the grassroots and doing those things. We applaud her for that and we thank her.”
Whether Thursday’s announcement is tied to Dunn or a separate step forward, the mission for the Reckoning remains the same.
“We’ll keep plugging away one game at a time. There’s no limits to what we can actually do,” said Fontes.
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