One of the dominant narratives about sports in the Bay Area, recently, is that all our teams inevitably fail us or leave. We no longer have an NFL team, the A's are going to Vegas (eventually), the Warriors left us spiritually by moving from Oakland to SF and charging $876 for tickets.
But I'm here with good news: There are actually still good sports in the Bay Area. In fact, this spring, there are loads of teams you can get into — whether you like building something from the ground up, rooting for a team pushing through an awkward transition, or hey, maybe you're just in it for the merch.
No matter what, there’s a team or league for you. I'm here to help you figure out which one it is without breaking the bank. Because there is nothing better than getting outside (or, in some cases, going to a different inside) and seeing some sports.
Buckle up, Bay Area, we're finding you your spring sports fixation.
Last season, BayFC broke the NWSL attendance record by hosting a game at Oracle Park. (Photo by Reo Eveleth/COYOTE Media Collective)
Bay FC
Opening day March 14 at Paypal Park in San Jose,tickets here (~$55+)
Perhaps this year BayFC will figure out its identity as a team? We've got a new coach (finally) in Emma Coates, and some new faces on the roster (hello Claire Hutton) plus some absolute superstars returning (I demand you watchthis Racheal Kundananji highlight reel this instant). Will it all come together this season? I'm excited to find out! PayPal Park is a lovely soccer- watching experience, at the very least. Plus, this is an extra cool opening game because it's against Denver Summit FC, a brand new team in the National Women’s Soccer League this year. Expansion vs. expansion, baby!
Oakland Roots
Opening day March 14 at the Oakland Coliseum,tickets here ($42+)
Sigh, OK, listen. The Roots have been disappointing for the last few years. But after last season, the club shook things up: They hired a new coach who has brought in a few new, well-established players who could be "difference makers" in sports parlance (aka they are good). They're playing at the Coliseum again, which is way cool even if the actual venue and concessions can be a bit... let's say scrappy at times. If you want to hop into a team that's struggling, but that could turn things around this season, this is your best bet. And no one can deny that the Roots have some of thebest merch in the Bay.
(Photo by Ron Sellers, courtesy of Bay Area Falcons.)
Bay Area Falcons
Opening day March 28 at Tiger Stadium at Fremont High School,tickets here (~$18)
Does the idea of shouting "HUCK IT" appeal to you? I've got great news. The Falcons are back! Come watch the Bay's ultimate frisbee team in action. Don't know the rules of ultimate frisbee? Don't worry! Often at games, the announcer walks people through how things work as the game progresses. Is this annoying for people who do know the rules to ultimate? Probably a little, but hey, getting more people into your niche sport is always going to involve some pain and suffering. (Trust me, I know, I'm a volleyball guy.)
Opening day March 28 at Laney Field in Oakland,tickets here (~$25 in advance/$30 at the door)
<Airhorn noise> Brand new team alert! This is the first year for the Golden Gate Storm, a women's professional tackle football team that will be playing in the Women's National Football Conference (WNFC). Before this year, the closest team in the WNFC was down in Los Angeles, but now Bay Area football fans can rock up to Laney Field in Oakland to see women juke, tackle, pass, and more. Will they tush push? Only time will tell. If you want to study up before the game, theteam's Instagram has profiles of some of their key players. If you like watching hella strong women, the Storm is for you.
I debated putting this one on the quiz, because there's only one weekend you can go see the team play, but you know what, fuck it — it's professional table tennis time, baby!!!
Yes, professional table tennis. And yes, the Bay Area has a team called the Bay Area Blasters. Last year we finished first in the Major League Table Tennis West Division so we have a good chance (I think?) of making the finals that are being hosted in Fremont this year. Even if they don't, I suspect that the finals of professional table tennis will be fun to watch. How do they do that with the ball? I truly do not know, but I am ready to be impressed.
Oakland Spiders
Opening day April 26 at Tiger Stadium at Fremont High School,tickets here (~$25)
This team is like the Falcons, but men (booo). Just kidding, the Spiders are very fun to watch and also very good at ultimate frisbee. Ultimate has a reputation for being a little bit goofy and fun-loving (traditionally games are un-refereed, and the players have to sort out fouls themselves). That is not the case in theUltimate Frisbee Association, and the games can get intense and exciting. Plus, they recently collaborated with Oaklandish, so all their merch isextremely good. And they'reon the right side of history, unlike many sports teams. But perhaps my favorite thing about the Spiders is their motto: "eight legs, one heart." LFGx8.
For the merch fanatics: SFCity FC has some of the slickest kits in the game. (Left, photo by Killian Page; right, photo by Gian Icatar, courtesy of SFCity FC)
USL2 Northern California
Opening day May 3 at Cox Stadium, SF State,tickets here (~$5-10)
Are you the kind of person who wants to be able to go to ALL the games? Like, literally all of them? Well in that case, it's time to pick a USL2 NorCal team. The men's wing of the USL subdivision has eight teams scattered across Northern California: SF, Oakland, Marin, Davis, San Jose, and more. Opening day features San Francisco City FC (who has far and away the bestmerch in the division) against San Juan SC. If you're a Roots fan, this year their development team (Project 510) is playing in this league, so you can see younger players the team has their eye on and is developing. Plus, games are downright affordable!
Bay Breakers
Opening day is May 3 in Sacramento,tickets here ($30-50)
Is Sacramento the Bay Area? No, not really. But listen, last year the Breakers played in Lodi. So they're getting closer? And I'm really excited about this team and it's my quiz, so you're just going to have to be okay with it! Women's rugby had a breakout moment in 2024 after the Paris Olympics (thank you Ilona Maher) and is absolutely incredible to watch, along with being queer as hell (54 out queer players competed in last year's Women's Rugby World Cup). Unfortunately, the sport has also been struggling with internal transphobia for years.Just last week, USA Rugby officially banned trans women from competing in the women's division. Thankfully, Women's Elite Rugby, the league that the Breakers play in, was created explicitly as a more inclusive option that welcomes players of all gender expressions and identities. To which we say: Let's fucking gooooo. See you in Sacramento, friends!
USLW Northern California
Opening day May 9 at Cardinale Stadium @ CSUMB,tickets here (not on sale yet but will be soon, I'm told) (~$15-40)
The USLW is the women's side of the USL, and the NorCal division is stacked with talent across seven teams in the region — from Oakland to SF to Monterey Bay. (Full disclosure: I'm a season ticket holder for theOakland Soul, who have an incredibly fun game day experience and a great supporters group.) One cool thing about the USLW is that it's a league that college players can participate in during the offseason, so you get to see (and root for) players early in their careers and watch them develop. Pick the team closest to you and get a front row seat to some really cool, young talent, so that later when they hit the major leagues you can be like, “Oh yeah, I’ve followed her for years.”
Left, the Valkyries entrance video during a game. (Photo by Reo Eveleth/COYOTE Media Collective) Right, Valqueeries organizer Megan Doherty-Baker wears a “V’s up” tee-shirt during a Golden State Valkyries watch party. (Estefany Gonzalez/COYOTE Media Collective)
Golden State Valkyries
Opening day is May 10 at Chase Center in SF,tickets here ($100)
You already probably know about the Valkyries, but leaving them off this list would be a Bay Area sports crime. (One I would commit if I knew Tiffany Hughes would be conducting the arrest.) I confess that I was a skeptic of the whole "Ballhalla" thing, but I have been converted. Tickets are expensive as hell, but the game day experience is legit. Last season, they had Angela Davis bang the opening drum for a game. They have a great (furry-approved) mascot. Every time they ask the entire audience to "put your V's up" I cackle with gay delight. Now the WNBA needs to stop being greedy and pay the players what they're worth, so we can fully enjoy this season.
Members of Bay Area Derby practice their moves. (Photos by Reo Eveleth, COYOTE Media Collective)
Roller Derby playoffs!
May 15-17 at Richmond Memorial Auditorium in Richmond,tickets here ($40-$150)
I've already writtena whole article about why you should get into roller derby! It's fast, intense, and yes, perhaps a little bit confusing but in a fun way. The community cannot be beat, the vibes are impeccable, and the sport is one of the most inclusive you'll ever find. And beyond the colorful makeup and wacky derby names, there is a lot of genuine athleticism on hand — technical skating, strategic thinking, intense strength. It's not easy to watch roller derby in person regularly, since the schedules are a bit all over the place, but this May there is a great opportunity to get spoiled for derby greatness: TheWFTDA 2026 North America Playoffs are coming to the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, hosted by Bay Area Derby. Come see 12 of the best roller derby leagues in the entire nation square off for a chance to go to the Global Championships in Sweden!
Reo Eveleth is an award-winning reporter and writer who has covered everything from fake tumbleweed farms to million-dollar baccarat heists. Their work has been nominated for a Peabody, an Emmy, and an Eisner Award.
