By Beth Schnitzer –
If there was ever a moment to declare the Bay Area the epicenter of women’s sports in America, this is it. From sold-out stadiums and record-breaking attendance to new teams, new leagues, new investments, and even new women’s sports bars, the momentum isn’t just visible; it’s undeniable. Women’s sports aren’t having a moment here; they’re building a movement. And now, there’s data to back it up.
In a recent national evaluation by The Athletic, the Bay Area was named the number one women’s sports city in the United States, outranking powerhouse markets across the country. As someone who has been in the stands, at championship events, and at community celebrations all year long, the ranking didn’t surprise me.
The Bay Area Runs Supreme
According to The Athletic, the Bay Area “ran supreme” in its analysis of the top women’s sports cities in the country, finishing ahead of Minneapolis (number two), followed by Seattle, Portland, the New York City metro area, Los Angeles, Boston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and a tie between Chicago and Washington, D.C., rounding out the top ten.
What stood out most in the ranking wasn’t just success on the field; it was choice. Fans here aren’t limited to one team or one league. Our Bay Area offers a deep, diverse, and growing ecosystem of women’s sports, and that variety reflects real demand.
Bay FC had a record-breaking crowd at Oracle Park, a match I attended and won’t soon forget. The Golden State Valkyries led the league in average attendance, with more than 18,000 fans showing up game after game. Every Valkyries home game felt like an event, with so much energy, fan engagement, and fun! The Bay Area also benefits from a deep women’s sports legacy with icons like Brandi Chastain and Kristi Yamaguchi, who call this region home.
We also welcomed our first Bay Area women’s sports bar, Rikki’s, which opened in the Castro this past summer.
As I shared in last month’s column, San Francisco was named one of the first four franchise cities for the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL).
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic
Hosting the NWSL Championship and Investing in What’s Next
The Bay Area didn’t just top a national ranking this year—we hosted history. For the first time, Northern California welcomed the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship, featuring Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC. Not only was there energy inside the stadium but also outside it, with skills challenges, fan activations, and community celebrations transforming PayPal Park into a true festival of women’s soccer.
Shortly after the championship, Bay FC announced Emma Coates as its new head coach, bringing one of the most respected international development leaders in the women’s game to the Bay Area. Coates previously led England’s Women’s Under-23 National Team and arrived with her assistant coach, reinforcing Bay FC’s commitment to elite player development and long-term growth.
Natalie Nakase: A San Franciscan of the Year
One of the most meaningful moments of my year came at the San Francisco Examiner’s San Franciscans of the Year Awards Dinner, an intimate and prestigious gathering of leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping our city’s future. Among the twelve honorees, I was thrilled to see Golden State Valkyries Head Coach Natalie Nakase recognized. Because I covered the Valkyries from preseason through their inaugural playoff run, the moment felt full-circle.
In the printed program, each honoree responded to a short Q&A, and Natalie’s answers were as thoughtful and genuine as her leadership on the court. When asked how it felt to be named a San Franciscan of the Year, Natalie admitted her first reaction was disbelief. She shared that she wondered how she could receive such an honor when she hadn’t lived in San Francisco for very long—joking that it felt like something reserved for people who had been here “10-plus years.” Still, she wrote, she was deeply honored and humbled by the recognition.
What stood out most was her reflection on how quickly the city embraced her. Natalie wrote that San Francisco welcomed her with open arms from the moment she arrived and described the city as uniquely inclusive—a place where race and gender don’t define belonging, and where people are genuinely excited to connect.
She acknowledged that it might sound cliché, but emphasized how powerful it has been to spread joy and bring people together, especially in a world that’s constantly moving and evolving. That sense of connection, she wrote, has been one of the most meaningful parts of her experience in the city so far.
Her words perfectly captured what the Valkyries have experienced during their inaugural season, and why the team connected so instantly with the Bay Area. Under Natalie’s leadership, the Valkyries didn’t just build a fan base; they became part of San Francisco’s cultural fabric.
I was fortunate to be introduced to Natalie that evening and was struck by how humble, warm, and genuinely engaging she was. It was also meaningful to see San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie personally stop by to congratulate her. It reminded me of how sports, leadership, and community intersect in our city. I even watched Natalie sign a Valkyries mug for an attendee with a smile, a telling moment that captured her authenticity. It was an honor to witness her recognition alongside so many extraordinary San Franciscans and to share the moment in this column.
The Tree of Hope: Sports, Humanity, and Peace
One of the most moving moments of my year had nothing to do with a scoreboard.
The Tree of Hope, presented by Rainbow World Fund, an all-volunteer LGBTQ+ humanitarian organization and Spritz client, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. Standing 22 feet tall and adorned with 20,000 hand-folded origami cranes, it is the largest origami-decorated holiday tree in the world and a global symbol of peace, compassion, and unity. Each crane carries a wish from children, refugees, community leaders, and world figures including Barack Obama, Jane Goodall, and the Dalai Lama.
I attended the tree lighting ceremony at Grace Cathedral and was deeply moved. The evening was emceed by our own Donna Sachet and former KGO-TV anchor Dion Lim, with performances by the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Conspiracy of Beards, and vocalist Leberta Lorá with pianist Tammy L. Hall. Jeff Cotter, Executive Director and CEO of Rainbow World Fund, delivered powerful remarks reinforcing the organization’s humanitarian mission.
A particularly moving moment commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Japan, when a descendant of a Hiroshima survivor offered a wish for peace. There was also a symbolic exchange of cranes between Malcolm Young, Dean of Grace Cathedral, and the Consul General of Japan.
I was honored to invite Coach Natalie Nakase, who is of Japanese heritage, to share her wish for the Tree of Hope: “I hope that we can continue to bring people together through sport. Sports see no race, gender, or ZIP code—only the shared joy of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.”
Her wish now hangs on the Tree of Hope, alongside that of Kristi Yamaguchi, another reminder that sport and humanity are deeply connected here in San Francisco.
You are invited to add a wish and become part of this living monument to peace and unity by submitting on the Tree of Hope website.
https://rainbowfund.org/tree-of-hope
World Cup Draw: The Global Stage Returns
The World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was a two-hour spectacle involving heads of state and celebrities. The U.S. Men’s National Team will open against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles, competing in Group D alongside Australia and the winner of a European playoff.
This will be the largest World Cup in history, expanding beyond the 32 teams that have competed since 1998. There will be 104 games from June 11–July 19 at 16 venues throughout North America. Six matches will be played in Santa Clara, and I’m already looking forward to watching, and hopefully covering, the action next summer. (The final is in my home state of New Jersey at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.)
Olympic Momentum: Milano Cortina and LA28
Momentum is building for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, with the torch relay officially underway after launching in Rome. Milano Cortina also unveiled unbranded medal ceremony uniforms, selected through a design competition among Italian fashion schools, ensuring the spotlight remains on athletes and achievement.
Meanwhile, Ralph Lauren revealed its Team USA Opening and Closing Ceremony uniforms, marking its 10th consecutive Olympic Games outfitting American athletes. Closer to home, LA28 made headlines by signing Intuit as a top-tier domestic sponsor. In a historic shift from Olympic tradition, Intuit will retain naming rights to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
https://milanocortina2026.olympics.com
Bay Times & GGBA Holiday Party: Community at Its Best
The San Francisco Bay Times and Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) holiday party, held at the San Francisco LGBT Center on December 12, 2025, was a
festive, joyful celebration of community. It was wonderful to see both the Golden State Valkyries and the Golden State Warriors among the event’s sponsors.
A signed Golden State Valkyries basketball was auctioned off during the live auction. I placed an early bid, then happily congratulated the winner, Sharon Boggs, wife of entertainer Leanne Borghesi. Proceeds benefited the GGBA and the Use the News Foundation.
Closing Reflection
From being named the nation’s top women’s sports city to hosting championships, welcoming the world for the World Cup, preparing for the Olympics—and with the Super Bowl returning to Levi’s Stadium this February—the Bay Area’s place on the global sports stage has never felt more assured.
And, as winter sports take center stage, I’ll be continuing the Olympic conversation in January with a special interview featuring former professional figure skater and prominent luxury real estate agent Joel Goodrich, sharing his unique perspective on the road to the Winter Games.
Signing off from the Bay—where passion meets the play.
Beth Schnitzer, the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events), is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz: https://spritzsf.com/
Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat
Published December 18, 2025
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