The Austin FC Unified team’s fourth season is over. The team, which is made up Athletes with mental disabilities and Partners without disabilities, came together this spring with a shared goal of building community through soccer and competing with heart. Led once again by coaches Nicki Huschka and Amy Wiesenhutter, the Unified squad trained weekly, preparing for a season filled with high-level competition and meaningful connection.
The Unified Team kicked off its campaign with a special Signing Day on April 6, where Austin FC President Andy Loughnane officially welcomed players to the squad. With support from first-team players like Ilie Sánchez, Brad Stuver, and Dani Pereira, the moment marked the beginning of another unforgettable year.
On May 14, the team took the pitch at Q2 Stadium following the first team’s match against Atlanta United. Backed by supporters and first-team players alike, Austin FC Unified played to a 2-2 draw in an exciting season opener under the VERDE lights.
In June, the team hosted New York Red Bulls Unified for a second match at Parmer Field, earning a 1-0 win in front of friends, family, and Club Captain Ilie Sánchez. The weekend also included a friendly pickleball competition at The Pitch, where every player came out a winner.
The season concluded on the road in Houston on June 28, where the Unified Team proudly represented Austin FC at Shell Energy Stadium while the first team was away in Seattle.
The Houston competition was the final match with the team for four-year-veterans and athletes Daulton Swenson and Matthew Wells, as well as for college-bound partners Moises Aguirre, Cole Ladner, Kaylee McKinley, Thrace Startzell and Grady Williams.
Tryouts for next year’s Austin FC Unified squad will be held in early 2026.
From the first practice to the final whistle, the 2025 Unified Team showed what’s possible when inclusion leads the way.
