Local women's soccer team Bay FC played its first game at Oracle Park Saturday against Washington Spirit. Despite the team's loss of 2-3, the game drew the most attendees in the history of US professional women's sports, prompting discussions of moving to SF. As the Chronicle reports, the excitement among fans at Saturday's game was palpable. The game drew a record-breaking 40,091 attendees, which the Chronicle notes was triple the size of Bay FC's usual draw of around 13,400 fans.
Bay FC's game against Washington Spirit is more than a novelty with Bay Bridge views. It's a declaration that San Francisco belongs in the National Women's Soccer League , and Bay FC belongs in San Francisco. That hasn't always been the case. Since their launch last year, Bay FC have lived mostly in the South Bay, training at San Jose State and playing at PayPal Park alongside the Earthquakes.
Despite the early injury to defender Jordan Brewster, Bay FC's depth shone through, showcasing the team's resilience and ability to maintain defensive performance throughout the match.