A sellout crowd of 40,091 fans attended Bay FC's San Francisco debut at Oracle Park, the largest attendance in U.S. women's professional soccer history. The expansion club lost 3-2 to the Washington Spirit after a 96-minute comeback attempt fell short. Many local fans said San Francisco's location made attending easier than traveling to San Jose, prompting hopes of increased future attendance. The crowd showcased diverse soccer fandom with jerseys from Mexico, El Salvador, Korea, Barcelona, and Washington Spirit neon mixed with Bay FC teal. Children led vocal support as the home team staged a spirited second-half rally.
A sellout crowd of 40,091 fans packed Oracle Park on Saturday to watch Bay FC make its San Francisco debut. The crowd was the largest in U.S. women's professional soccer history, and for 96 minutes it carried the expansion club through a comeback attempt that fell just short in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Spirit. The Spirit spoiled the result, but not quite the whole afternoon.
For Chris Egan and Libby Lee, who brought their nine- and seven-year-old daughters from Berkeley, the difference was simple: geography. "This is way easier to get up to than San Jose," Egan said. "We would definitely go to more games if it was closer." Lee, who admitted she isn't much of a sports fan, was struck by the sight of "so many other little girls here. It felt like something we could actually do."
Where Valkyries basketball games have become queer, purple-soaked parties, Bay FC's Oracle Park debut looked more like global soccer transplanted into the city: Jerseys from Mexico, El Salvador, Korea, Barcelona, and Washington Spirit neon scattered among the home side's teal. Even Oakland's Too $hort turned up at halftime for a too-short cameo, a reminder this was as much Bay party as soccer showcase.
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