- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,225,710
- Reaction score
- 59
After losing 2-0 to Asheville City SC on June 23, One Knoxville SC Women's coach Ryan Radcliffe couldn't help but smile.
The home match at Maryville College marked the end of a 2-5-3 season for One Knox, the team's second year competing in the USL W League. But reflecting on the season − and all the struggles it takes to field a pre-professional women's team − Radcliffe walked away with a positive mindset, focused on the future.
"My hope," he told Knox News, "is the majority of these girls continue coming back to us and we can build on what we started this summer."
The pair of One Knox victories came against a league-worst Chattanooga team that finished winless this season in 10 attempts. Knoxville's games shifted among three venues after spending the inaugural season at Covenant Health Park, and the team wasn't able to pull together a full roster until early May.
But even then, Radcliffe said, "We really showed our worth and played some great soccer."
Asheville City, founded in 2017, has competed in the USL W League since 2022 and has established itself as a successful summer club powered by continuity.
Asheville City has qualified for the playoffs each of the last three seasons, which included a 2025 national semifinals appearance as one of the final four in a 93-team USL W League. The ladies finished their 2026 season atop the South Central Division with a 7-1-1 record and a +19 goal differential, including two shutouts against One Knox.
"If I'm fortunate enough to continue doing this, that's our goal to get to," Radcliffe said. "They're a group where girls come back every summer ready for that, and they're a group that know each other and believe in each other. ... You see that in some of the fine things of the game."
Dana Dalrymple, who returned to One Knox after the inaugural season, was fully immersed in the transition to the club's sophomore year. She sees One Knox taking the same linear path to stability that Asheville followed to success.
"I think we're still in the building phase," Dalrymple told Knox News. "I mean, you see Asheville and they're a great team. They've been around a while. They have girls that have been playing together for years consecutively. And I think that's kind of what we would aspire to be. They just kind of have that chemistry, and I think we're building on that."
Radcliffe laid out the plan simply: consistency. Roster retention, he said, is key to a sustainable pre-professional club.
Dalrymple said roughly half of last year's team returned, sticking together through feelings of uncertainty and moments of change, including a new head coach.
"I think we've got a good foundation here, and now it's about building around that and getting consistency year in, year out and over summer," Radcliffe said. "That's what I told the girls: I want to continue following you. I want to continue helping you and bring a core nucleus back together each year."
Familiarity between players and coaches also is important, said Radcliffe, who − by that standard − was perfect for the job. He has coached since 2014 at Bearden − where he's won four TSSAA state titles in the past five years − and nine of his former Knoxville high school players joined One Knox this summer.
"And I think the more you know each other ... and the more understanding you have of our style as coaches," Radcliffe said, "the better you're going to be."
Those involved with the Knoxville club believe it can sustain.
"I'm confident," Radcliffe said. "I'm always confident in myself."
Building a program also involves investing in the youth side of the sport, which is part of how Radcliffe structured his roster this summer. He brought in two 16-year-olds who have yet to touch a college pitch and has players such as Jayla Blue, a University of Tennessee at Knoxville freshman who broke the Bearden all-time scoring record.
"I think maturity and growth develops over time, and part of that is intriguing them to come back every year," Radcliffe said. "I think One Knox does a great job of setting up environments to do that. That's my goal."
Players have a similar view on continuity, including Dalrymple, part of a small group of post-college players who found One Knox as a path to keep playing. After joining the team before its inaugural 2025 season, Dalrymple opted to return for another year.
"Being out of college, you really search for that kind of team atmosphere, that competitive play and the camaraderie of just being with a team," Dalrymple said. "I graduated in 2012. You're constantly searching for that feeling. So, it's just so fun to be part of a team atmosphere again and make friendships, play competitively. Kind of just fuels that competitive fire that's within me."
One Knox has fostered an environment that's made that possible, Dalrymple said, and it's a "special feeling to represent Knoxville."
"You're playing for this thing that's bigger," she said. "It's different than your college or your club. It's like you're playing for your city, and that's a unique experience."
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox SC women's team is eyeing model of consistency to build on
Continue reading...
The home match at Maryville College marked the end of a 2-5-3 season for One Knox, the team's second year competing in the USL W League. But reflecting on the season − and all the struggles it takes to field a pre-professional women's team − Radcliffe walked away with a positive mindset, focused on the future.
"My hope," he told Knox News, "is the majority of these girls continue coming back to us and we can build on what we started this summer."
The pair of One Knox victories came against a league-worst Chattanooga team that finished winless this season in 10 attempts. Knoxville's games shifted among three venues after spending the inaugural season at Covenant Health Park, and the team wasn't able to pull together a full roster until early May.
But even then, Radcliffe said, "We really showed our worth and played some great soccer."
What is the goal? Modeled after Asheville City SC
Asheville City, founded in 2017, has competed in the USL W League since 2022 and has established itself as a successful summer club powered by continuity.
Asheville City has qualified for the playoffs each of the last three seasons, which included a 2025 national semifinals appearance as one of the final four in a 93-team USL W League. The ladies finished their 2026 season atop the South Central Division with a 7-1-1 record and a +19 goal differential, including two shutouts against One Knox.
"If I'm fortunate enough to continue doing this, that's our goal to get to," Radcliffe said. "They're a group where girls come back every summer ready for that, and they're a group that know each other and believe in each other. ... You see that in some of the fine things of the game."
Dana Dalrymple, who returned to One Knox after the inaugural season, was fully immersed in the transition to the club's sophomore year. She sees One Knox taking the same linear path to stability that Asheville followed to success.
"I think we're still in the building phase," Dalrymple told Knox News. "I mean, you see Asheville and they're a great team. They've been around a while. They have girls that have been playing together for years consecutively. And I think that's kind of what we would aspire to be. They just kind of have that chemistry, and I think we're building on that."
How One Knox can get there
Radcliffe laid out the plan simply: consistency. Roster retention, he said, is key to a sustainable pre-professional club.
Dalrymple said roughly half of last year's team returned, sticking together through feelings of uncertainty and moments of change, including a new head coach.
You must be registered for see images attach
"I think we've got a good foundation here, and now it's about building around that and getting consistency year in, year out and over summer," Radcliffe said. "That's what I told the girls: I want to continue following you. I want to continue helping you and bring a core nucleus back together each year."
Familiarity between players and coaches also is important, said Radcliffe, who − by that standard − was perfect for the job. He has coached since 2014 at Bearden − where he's won four TSSAA state titles in the past five years − and nine of his former Knoxville high school players joined One Knox this summer.
"And I think the more you know each other ... and the more understanding you have of our style as coaches," Radcliffe said, "the better you're going to be."
Is the One Knox women's team a sustainable product?
Those involved with the Knoxville club believe it can sustain.
You must be registered for see images attach
"I'm confident," Radcliffe said. "I'm always confident in myself."
Building a program also involves investing in the youth side of the sport, which is part of how Radcliffe structured his roster this summer. He brought in two 16-year-olds who have yet to touch a college pitch and has players such as Jayla Blue, a University of Tennessee at Knoxville freshman who broke the Bearden all-time scoring record.
"I think maturity and growth develops over time, and part of that is intriguing them to come back every year," Radcliffe said. "I think One Knox does a great job of setting up environments to do that. That's my goal."
Players have a similar view on continuity, including Dalrymple, part of a small group of post-college players who found One Knox as a path to keep playing. After joining the team before its inaugural 2025 season, Dalrymple opted to return for another year.
"Being out of college, you really search for that kind of team atmosphere, that competitive play and the camaraderie of just being with a team," Dalrymple said. "I graduated in 2012. You're constantly searching for that feeling. So, it's just so fun to be part of a team atmosphere again and make friendships, play competitively. Kind of just fuels that competitive fire that's within me."
One Knox has fostered an environment that's made that possible, Dalrymple said, and it's a "special feeling to represent Knoxville."
"You're playing for this thing that's bigger," she said. "It's different than your college or your club. It's like you're playing for your city, and that's a unique experience."
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox SC women's team is eyeing model of consistency to build on
Continue reading...
