By Beth Schnitzer—
This month reminds me that sports are about so much more than the final score. From international competition and community races to personal memories and the anticipation of what’s ahead, it’s often the people we meet, the places sports take us, and the connections we make along the way that stay with us longest.
Golden Again—With a Valkyries Connection
While I didn’t make it to Berlin for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, I followed the action as Team USA continued its remarkable international dynasty and offered another glimpse of what we can look forward to when the world gathers in Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Team USA rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat France in the championship game, capturing its fifth consecutive and 12th overall World Cup title. The matchup was a rematch of the thrilling 2024 Paris Olympic gold-medal game, when the U.S. edged France by one point.
It was wonderful to see so many of the WNBA’s stars representing Team USA, including Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese, and Breanna Stewart, who was named tournament MVP. But for me, there was an especially exciting Golden State connection: Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase served as an assistant coach for Team USA.
Defense has become a hallmark of Nakase’s Valkyries, and there was an intriguing familiar face on the other side of the championship matchup: Golden State’s own Gabby Williams, captain of Team France. Williams was named the World Cup’s Best Defensive Player and earned a spot on the tournament’s All-Star Five. Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün also represented France and was named to the All-Second Team, while Valkyries athletic trainer Katelin Knox came home with gold as part of Team USA.
The Bay Area was well represented on the world stage!
And now attention turns back to the WNBA. The first round of the playoffs tips off September 27, followed by the semifinals on October 4 and the best-of-seven WNBA Finals beginning October 17.
Congratulations, Team USA, and Natalie! Let’s go Valkyries!
Running, Strolling & Raising a Glass in San Ramon
From the international stage to a beautiful Saturday morning in the East Bay, I had the chance to experience Beer City Run Bishop Ranch in San Ramon for the second time, although I wasn’t one of the runners!
The event offered something for just about everyone: a half marathon, 10K and 5K, plus a one-mile Beer Stroll, all followed by a craft beer festival featuring local brewers. The weekend even kicked off the night before with a pre-race party.
With courses winding around the lake, local trails, and the Iron Horse Trail, it was a gorgeous setting for a run. I spent much of my time near the finish line and loved watching runners of different ages, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds come through the chute. That diversity, and the energy and encouragement surrounding them, was one of my favorite parts of the day.
I also couldn’t help noticing people wearing race bibs that said “Beer Stroll.” A little intel revealed that this was the one-mile walking option. Now that’s a race I might be able to get behind!
After crossing the finish line, participants collected their commemorative shirts and medals, grabbed bananas, nutrition bars, and plenty of hydration, and then many headed toward the post-race craft beer festival with their custom tasting glasses in hand.
I was there with my client Discover San Ramon, which had an activation at the festival, giving me a perfect vantage point to take it all in. On a gorgeous East Bay Saturday, it was wonderful to see fitness, local businesses, and community come together, another reminder of how sporting experiences can bring people together in so many different ways.
A Hall of Fame Trip Down Memory Lane
And speaking of sports traditions and memories, I found myself glued to the International Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony on TV and Instagram, watching Mary Carillo and Roger Federer reflect on their remarkable careers. Both speeches sent me rewinding through decades of tennis memories, Federer’s extraordinary achievements on the court, and Carillo’s enduring impact as a player, broadcaster, and storyteller.
Mary’s induction was particularly meaningful for me. I met her many years ago with my mom at the WISE (Women in Sports and Events) Women of the Year luncheon in New York, where Mary was being honored by our national organization. When my dear friend Bess Brodsky, a former WISE board colleague, told me she attended the Hall of Fame ceremony, those memories came rushing back.
Listening to Mary and Roger reflect on the people and experiences that shaped their remarkable journeys reminded me that sports are about so much more than wins and losses. They’re also about the connections we make, the memories we carry, and the communities that become part of our own life stories.
World-Class Squash Comes to Silicon Valley
One of the sporting events I’m most excited about this fall is the Silicon Valley Open presented by Oracle NetSuite, returning to Squash Zone in Redwood City October 20–24, and this one is particularly close to my heart.
I’ve been involved with professional squash for more than a decade and have become absolutely addicted to watching the sport. I attend the Tournament of Champions in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal each year and have watched many of these athletes climb the world rankings and win major tournaments.
If you’ve never watched professional squash live, prepare to be amazed. The speed, athleticism, and intensity are incredible. Sometimes my eyes can barely keep up as the players race around the court and somehow return shots that seem impossible to reach. And unlike many major professional sporting events, squash offers an intimate experience where fans can get remarkably close to the action, and the athletes.
This year’s tournament will bring 48 elite players, 24 women and 24 men, representing 14 countries and territories to Redwood City. Even better, they’ll compete for $260,000 in equal prize money for women and men, something I’m particularly thrilled to see.
One of the things I love about squash is its international reach, with competitors coming from across the globe, including the United States, Egypt, England, France, Peru, Malaysia, Japan, India, and Ukraine, which especially caught my attention given my own family roots.
And there’s another reason to get to know some of these names now: come 2028, many could be representing their countries when squash makes its long-awaited Olympic debut in Los Angeles. After following this sport and these athletes for so many years, I can’t tell you how exciting it will be to finally see squash on the Olympic stage.
For Bay Area fans who want a taste of the action, tournament week will begin on Tuesday, October 20, with a free Fan Fest from 4:30–6:30 pm, where kids and families can meet professional players and enjoy activities before opening-round matches that evening.
The semifinals will take place Friday, October 23, followed by the women’s and men’s finals on Saturday, October 24.
I’ll be there throughout the tournament, and I hope some of you will join me in Redwood City. If you’ve never experienced professional squash up close, this may be the perfect time to discover why I became hooked. More info is at https://siliconvalleyopen.com/
Signing off from the Bay, where passion meets the play.
Beth Schnitzer is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz and the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events).
Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat
Published on September 24, 2026
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