Weekly Wrap Up

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Hi and welcome back to a weekly wrap up of Tormenta news. I keep hoping to get out to practice but it hasn’t worked out yet for me and I feel bad about that. Hopefully I can get out there soon and actually meet some of the guys and talk to the coaches and do some actual reporting and newsgathering. Until that time comes, we’ll do a weekly wrap up of Tormenta news as we continue our slow march to March 8 and the season opener. Where to start?


US Open Cup


Let’s start with the US Open Cup, which announced the first round games for the 2026 edition. Tormenta will be kicking off the whole shebang as they host (takes a deep breath) FC America CFL Spurs on March 17 at 6 p.m. That will be the first game of the opening round, so for at least 30 minutes, the eyes of the US Open Cup world will be on Tormenta Stadium.


The two teams met back in the first round of the 2024 US Open Cup with Tormenta coming away with a 1-0 win on a Nick Akoto early goal. South Georgia advanced to the third round of last year’s tournament before falling to Charleston 4-0. The Battery also knocked out Tormenta in 2024, that time in the fourth round after the Ibises upset Miami FC in the third round.


As is my custom with the Open Cup,  I’ll be missing this one as my son has a soccer game that night and as much as I love getting to watch and cover Tormenta, I won’t miss one of my son’s games if I can help it. Obviously we’ll have more coverage as this game gets closer. 


USL-W League Divisions Announced


We’re still several months away from the USL-W kickoff, but the league announced its divisions for the 2026 campaign and Tormenta is back with some familiar foes in what has to be one of the toughest divisions in USL-W. 


In addition to 2022 USL-W champion Tormenta, their division also features NC Courage U23, who have advanced to the title game each of the last three years, winning it all in 2024 while falling short in the championship games in both 2023 and 2025. (You’ll never be able to convince me that the 2024 Tormenta W-League team wasn’t one of the best 16 teams in the country, but based on how the divisions broke down, they didn’t make the playoffs, but that’s a tale for another day.)


In addition to the Courage, also joining Tormenta in the South Atlantic Division are Carolina Ascent FC, Charlotte Eagles, North Carolina Fusion, South Carolina United FC, Wake FC and newcomers to the division, Port City FC out of Wilmington, NC.


Each team plays 12 matches during the season, so Tormenta will not play a balanced schedule in 2026. The schedule and playoff format will be announced in the coming weeks, but with a 16-team playoff and 16 divisions, it seems probable that each of the 16 division winners will make the playoffs and there will be no wildcards. 


I say it every time I walk about the W-League, but if you aren’t going to their games, you’re missing out. If you’re near Statesboro, come out to a Tormenta game. If you’re reading this from somewhere else, find a team near you and go. 


More Signings Announced


Since we last spoke, Tormenta announced a trio of new signings. Dario Zanatta, a Canadian forward who spent 2024 and 2025 with Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League. There he scored eight goals and had four assists in 56 matches. 


South Georgia also signed Brazilian defender Gustavo Fernandes to its roster. Fernandes is no stranger to USL League One, having played with Forward Madson, North Carolina FC (when they were in League One), Chattanooga and most recently with FC Naples. 


The third signing announced was midfielder Vitor Dias, also from Brazil, who has spent the past two seasons with HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League where he scored four goals across 40 appearances. 

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