The Rise of Women’s Sports in the Bay Area

The last year has marked a significant growth in women’s sports, particularly in the Bay Area. This region, renowned for its technological advancements, is now making strides in athletic innovation through its new women’s sports franchises, including the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA and Bay Football Club in the NWSL.

Record-Breaking Attendances

A pivotal moment occurred on August 23, 2025, when Bay FC hosted the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park, smashing the National Women’s Soccer League’s attendance record. With a turnout of 40,091 fans, this event has raised expectations for female athletics, particularly among student-athletes at Menlo-Atherton (M-A) High School.

Growth of Women’s Programs at M-A

In recent years, M-A has expanded its offerings for female athletes. Notable additions include:

• Girls’ flag football teams (varsity and junior varsity) introduced in 2024.
• A freshman girls’ soccer team launched in winter 2022, with three teams currently competing.

Continued Challenges in High School Sports

Despite the expansion of teams, attendance at M-A’s girls’ games remains disproportionately low. Emma Loose, a junior athlete, expressed her disappointment at the lack of support: “Pretty much nobody comes to the games, just our parents.”

Freshman Ella Evans echoed these sentiments, questioning why girls’ games often garner less hype compared to boys’ sports. “I believe that everyone should get to see sports like the WNBA, because it’s really cool and women are very powerful,” she said.

Changing the Narrative in Professional Women’s Sports

Historically, female professional teams faced challenges with attendance and media coverage, leading to a perception that women’s sports were less entertaining than men’s. However, this trend is shifting. Within a short time after their launch, both Bay FC and the Valkyries have established attendance levels that rival long-standing male teams.

Inside the Success of Bay FC and Valkyries

The Valkyries achieved sold-out crowds at Chase Center for their first ten home games, the same venue used by the Golden State Warriors. They also broke the WNBA attendance record for an expansion team. Bay FC has achieved similar success, regularly matching or exceeding the attendance of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Empowering Future Generations

Brandi Chastain, a co-founder of Bay FC and a U.S. soccer icon, emphasized the importance of community support for women’s sports. “There’s a lot of love in my heart for everybody who showed up, because they could do a million other things, and they chose to be here to celebrate women’s soccer,” she stated.

With the rise of these professional teams, there is hope that improved visibility and support for women’s sports will translate into increased attendance at local high school games, inspiring the next generation of female athletes.

A Call to Action

Chastain urged young girls to pursue their ambitions, saying, “Young girls out there should dream about whatever it is that they want and go for things that feel unconventional or uncomfortable.”