By Beth Schnitzer—
Historic Mother’s Day at Chase Center
There are sports moments when you realize you are witnessing something much bigger than a game.
Mother’s Day in San Francisco felt exactly like that as I arrived early at Chase Center for the Golden State Valkyries home opener with my sister. Hours before tipoff, the energy outside the arena was electric. Fans filled Thrive City dressed in lavender and violet, lining up for activations and Mother’s Day photo opportunities celebrating women’s sports fans of every generation.
My sister and I joined the excitement, buying Valkyries gear, while soaking in a historic Bay Area sports moment. Another friend joined us traveling from Burlingame specifically for her first Valkyries game. By the end of the afternoon, both she and my sister were completely hooked.
The atmosphere inside the arena was unforgettable. The crowd noise was deafening, the energy relentless, and the sense of community unmistakable. Bay Area Olympic star Eileen Gu energized the crowd by pounding the Valkyries drum before tipoff.
The Valkyries delivered an impressive home-opening victory led by standout performances from Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün. The crowd stayed engaged until the final buzzer, roaring through standing ovations.
What stayed with me most, however, was the incredible diversity in the stands and the overwhelming feeling of visibility and belonging throughout the afternoon. Watching women’s basketball command this level of passion and excitement felt genuinely emotional. I found myself wishing my mom could see how far the women’s game has come.
In many ways, that feeling will stay with me as I head back to New Jersey soon to help present a scholarship in my mother Bette “S” Schnitzer’s honor at Union Catholic High School to a deserving student pursuing a future in sports, whether through athletics, coaching, or sports business.
From women’s basketball to global soccer, the Bay Area is experiencing an extraordinary moment in sports culture, community, and connection.
The Bay Area and the World Cup Countdown
That same feeling of anticipation is now building across the Bay Area as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies.
I am incredibly excited that the United States will co-host the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, with matches taking place across 11 U.S. venues, including Levi’s Stadium, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and Seattle. Other host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, and New York/New Jersey, where the final will be played.
The New York/New Jersey connection feels personal to me. Back in 1994, I attended the opening World Cup match between Ireland and Italy at Giants Stadium with my mom. I will never forget the singing, chanting, cheering, and pure electricity inside that stadium. It remains one of the most unforgettable sporting experiences of my life.
Now, more than three decades later, it is incredibly moving to see the Bay Area preparing to welcome the world. What excites me most is that this tournament will extend far beyond the stadiums. Whether fans have tickets or not, there will be watch parties, fan zones, festivals, and community celebrations stretching from Santa Cruz and San Jose to San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Alameda, and beyond.
I’m excited to attend the Pride House Fan Zone at The Crossing at East Cut on June 19 for the USA vs. Australia match, hosted by Pride House San Francisco and Street Soccer USA. Another Pride House fan zone at Yerba Buena Lane will take place June 25 during the USA-Türkiye match. The Bay Area’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and community celebration feels perfectly aligned with the spirit of global soccer.
There is also a chance the U.S. team could play in Santa Clara on July 1 if it wins its group—something many fans, myself included, are hoping to see happen.
That possibility felt especially meaningful after attending the America SCORES World Cup Legacy Gala. During the evening, I spoke with former 1994 U.S. National Team stars Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas, who shared that they will be covering the World Cup matches in Los Angeles and would travel to Santa Clara should the U.S. advance.
Reconnecting with former colleagues from the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee in Los Angeles, seeing members of the legendary 1994 team reunite, and hearing from Brandi Chastain made for a deeply emotional evening. Equally moving were the young America SCORES participants who shared poetry and stories in front of more than 650 attendees, a powerful reminder of how the World Cup legacy continues to inspire lives far beyond the pitch.
The evening celebrated the 25th anniversary of America SCORES, which grew from the momentum surrounding the 1994 World Cup. The grassroots San Francisco Bay Host Committee helped establish a $1 million endowment that continues supporting free soccer, poetry, and service-learning programs for thousands of children throughout the Bay Area. Today, America SCORES has expanded across the United States and Canada, continuing to transform lives through sport and self-expression.
The evening brought back a flood of memories including digging out my original 1994 World Cup pins and cap for the occasion.
Thirty-two years later, the emotion, connection, and magic of that tournament still feel very real, and now the Bay Area is preparing to create an entirely new generation of World Cup memories.
Family, Finish Lines, and the Spirit of Boston
While global sports stories continue to unfold, some of the most meaningful moments remain deeply personal.
At times, I felt like I was running the Boston Marathon right alongside my niece, Lexi Westley, as our family enthusiastically cheered her through her first Boston Marathon. Some of us drove from New Jersey to Boston together, carefully planning our marathon-day strategy so we could catch Lexi at both Mile 5 and again near Mile 25. Thanks to some quick train maneuvering across the city, we made it just in time for the final stretch.
The energy throughout Boston was extraordinary. One of the city’s great traditions is the annual morning Boston Red Sox game on Marathon Monday, allowing fans in Fenway Park to pour into the streets afterward to cheer on runners approaching the finish line.
Our family came fully prepared with pink pom-poms, signs, and plenty of team spirit as we watched thousands of athletes push themselves through one of the world’s most iconic races. Seeing para-athletes, wheelchair competitors, and exhausted runners helping one another through the final miles was especially moving and a powerful reminder of the resilience and humanity that sports can bring out in people. Along the course and aboard packed trains, we met people from around the world, all connected by the shared experience of marathon day.
Most importantly, Lexi exceeded her goal with a personal-best finish time of 2 hours, 55 minutes, quite an accomplishment!
Now, with June approaching, I’m looking forward to more unforgettable sports moments ahead, including Pride Night with the Golden State Valkyries and the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup festivities here in the Bay Area.
The summer ahead promises pride, passion, connection, and the kind of global sports energy that reminds us why these moments matter. Signing off from the Bay, where passion meets the play.
Beth Schnitzer is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz and is the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events).
Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat
Published on May 21, 2026
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