UF Hall of Famer Erika Tymrak retires after over a decade in professional soccer, her last year here in Tampa with the Tampa Bay Sun. Retirement ceremony for her last night after the final regular season game although we have a playoff game. Erika Tymrak on Instagram: "Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from professional soccer. It’s a moment filled with emotion, reflection, and immense gratitude. This game has given me everything — joy, heartbreak, purpose, and identity — and I’ve poured my heart, soul, and thousands of hours into giving it everything I had in return. Being a professional athlete is a life of extremes — the highest of highs and the lowest of lows — but I wouldn’t trade a single moment. I walk away with a full heart, endless memories, and a deep hope that I’ve left the game better than I found it — that I’ve inspired, uplifted, and contributed in ways that will live on beyond my time on the pitch. There’s something incredibly meaningful about closing this chapter where it all began. Being able to spend my final season in Tampa Bay — the community I grew up in — has been a gift I’ll never forget. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey — my teammates, coaches, supporters, friends and especially my family. You believed in me, pushed me, and carried me through it all. This may be the end of my playing days, but football will always be a part of me. Here’s to what’s next. With love and gratitude, E"
Women’s soccer ‘trailblazer’ Erika Tymrak calls it a career. Tymrak, who grew up in Bradenton, was a three-time MVP during her prep days at IMG Academy and was on the under-17 national team. Her star power only grew at the University of Florida, where she was the first Gator to win SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2012.
