RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS AC ANNOUNCED AS 2026 EXPANSION CLUB

Newport, Rhode Island — September 12, 2025 — Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), the only professional offshore sportfishing league, has announced the formation of the Rhode Island Breakers Angling Club, an expansion team joining the Atlantic Division for the 2026 season. 

The expansion comes at the end of SFC’s regular season, a 12-tournament gauntlet running from April to August. The league’s 14 angling clubs, representing major markets from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, aim to earn enough points to qualify for October’s Zane Grey Championship Playoffs, held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Playoff berths are awarded to the top two angling clubs from each division at the end of the regular season.

“We are thrilled to be expanding the league’s reach to even more fans, particularly here in the Ocean State,” said Mark Neifield, CEO and Commissioner of the Sport Fishing Championship. “Rhode Island’s fishing heritage and strong support for the industry make it a natural home for our league as we continue to grow and introduce this exciting sport to new audiences throughout the country.”

SFC’s professional angling club format has attracted ownership groups across sports and entertainment, including PGA champion Scottie Scheffler, Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert, country music artist Brian Kelley, LIV Golf pros Talor Gooch and Harold Varner III, and NASCAR driver Austin Dillon.

The Rhode Island Breakers AC become just the third official professional sports team in the state, joining the Providence Bruins and Rhode Island FC of the USL. The club is owned by New England native and avid angler Paul Squarcia.

“I am tremendously excited to launch Rhode Island’s newest professional sports team with SFC,” Squarcia said. “Rhode Islanders have always supported their teams with passion, from the old Paw Sox and the Providence Friars to today’s Providence Bruins and Rhode Island FC. We look forward to earning that same support as we compete to bring championships back to our state.”

The Breakers will compete aboard El Bendido, a custom 66-foot Blackwell that just completed an extensive 18-month refit in preparation for the 2026 SFC season. Named after Squarcia’s children, Ella and Ben, El Bendido is fully equipped for tournament fishing and designed for speed and offshore performance, capable of traveling the Eastern Seaboard to compete in major tournaments.

“Sport fishing is unique—it’s thrilling whether you’re a seasoned angler or just learning,” Squarcia added. “With SFC’s international broadcast partnership with ESPN and its distribution partners, and our team’s ability to share compelling content on social media, we’re excited to introduce more fans to the excitement of competitive sportfishing.”

SFC tournament coverage and events can be found streaming on ESPN+, with international distribution in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean on ESPN via Disney+. Exclusive content and preshow coverage is available through SFC+, the league’s own streaming platform and multimedia hub.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Rhode Island Breakers Angling Club
Bryan Morry: bmorry7@gmail.com

About Sport Fishing Championship
Founded in 2021, the Sports Fishing Championship (SFC) is a competitive sports fishing league representing 16 regions across North America. With a focus on growing the sport and engaging fans through innovation, SFC+ offers a direct-to-consumer OTT platform that delivers unparalleled access to live events, fishing content, and its celebrity-driven team format.