Bay FC W

Bay FC brought top-level women's soccer to the San Francisco Bay Area, beginning play in 2024 as an NWSL expansion team. Founded by four former USWNT legends — Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner, and Leslie Osborne — the club made an immediate impact by qualifying for the NWSL playoffs in its inaugural season, a rare achievement for an expansion franchise. Bay FC drew 40,091 fans to Oracle Park in August 2025, setting what was at the time the NWSL single-match attendance record. The club signed Racheal Kundananji for a then-world-record $860,000 women's transfer fee before their inaugural 2024 campaign, signaling serious ambitions from the start. The Bay FC roster for 2026 includes Cristiana Girelli on loan from Juventus and other international talent competing at the highest level. Bay FC play their home matches at PayPal Park in San Jose, the 18,000-seat stadium also used by MLS club San Jose Earthquakes. The Bay FC schedule brings NWSL action to one of the most affluent and tech-savvy markets in the country. Bay FC standings have shown the club can compete with established teams, and Bay FC games continue to draw strong support from across the Bay Area. Now in their third NWSL season, Bay FC has established a clear identity as an ambitious, well-run club with deep community ties to the Bay Area soccer scene.