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Bay FC is the Bay Area's team in the National Women's Soccer League, the top professional women's league in the United States. It plays at PayPal Park in San Jose, about 15 miles from downtown Palo Alto, in the same stadium as the MLS Earthquakes. For a Palo Alto family with kids in youth soccer, a Bay FC match is one of the best value nights in big-league sport around here. The players are some of the best in the world and the seats are close to the field.
This guide covers the club: how the 2026 season ended, what is known about 2027, getting to matches, tickets, families and history. For the stadium itself, see our page on PayPal Park. For the men's club that shares it, see our San Jose Earthquakes guide.
How the 2026 season ended
Bay FC's third season was a tough one. The club closed 2026 on Sunday, November 1, with a 1 to 0 loss to San Diego Wave FC at PayPal Park on the NWSL's Decision Day. The match was also the club's Fan Appreciation Match and drew 15,927 fans, according to the club's recap. The final record was 7 wins, 17 losses and 6 draws, which kept Bay FC out of the playoffs.
It was Emma Coates's first year as head coach. She described a thin squad late in the season and said the club had built habits it can carry into 2027. There were bright spots. Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz earned a call-up to the U.S. women's national team and won two NWSL Save of the Week awards this season. The home wins included a 3 to 0 result over the North Carolina Courage in July and a 2 to 0 win over Racing Louisville in September.
What we know about 2027
The club says the 2027 NWSL regular season starts with games on February 11, 12 and 13, 2027. Bay FC's own 2027 schedule, theme matches and promotional calendar will be announced over the winter on the club's schedule page. In 2026 the first home match was in mid-March and the last on November 1, so expect a similar spread.
A big off-field change comes first. Bay FC plans to open its new performance center on Treasure Island in January 2027, giving the team a permanent training home in the middle of the bay. The NWSL also keeps expanding. Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC joined in 2026, which added new trips and new home visitors to the calendar.
Getting there from Palo Alto
Bay FC's Know Before You Go page lists three ways to arrive without a car:
- Caltrain. Ride to Santa Clara station, one stop before San Jose Diridon. PayPal Park is a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short ride on VTA Route 60. Caltrain's own directions put the walk at about 22 minutes via Brokaw Road, Wondo Way and Earthquakes Way.
- BART. For fans coming from the East Bay, take the Orange or Green line to Berryessa/North San Jose. A free shuttle runs between the station and the stadium before and after each match.
- Rideshare. Lyft is the club's official rideshare partner. Drop-off and pickup are at the south end of Aviation Avenue.
If you have time before kickoff, the Santa Clara station area and Coleman Avenue have places to eat. Our Santa Clara food guide covers options a short ride from the stadium. Plan to reach the gates early on a big match day, since security lines build in the last half hour.
Driving from Palo Alto takes about 20 minutes outside rush hour via US 101. Weekend afternoon matches avoid commute traffic. See our Caltrain guide for fares and stations.
Tickets and cheaper seats
Bay FC sells single match tickets, season tickets, group tickets and premium seating through its ticket pages. Season ticket memberships for 2027 are on sale now. Single match tickets for 2027 will follow once the schedule is out. Prices vary by opponent and seat, so treat any number as a snapshot.
- Big opponents cost more. Matches against title contenders and teams with star players draw bigger crowds.
- Supporters' sections are for standing and singing. Bay FC lists its supporter groups on its ticket pages.
- Groups such as youth soccer teams can buy group tickets. Ask the club what extras come with a group order.
- Tickets are mobile. Load them in the club's app or account before you leave home.
For visiting family who want to stay near the stadium, you can compare hotels near San Jose airport, just across Coleman Avenue from PayPal Park.
Tips for families
Bay FC pitches itself to young players and their families. It shows on match day. Kids' teams often fill whole sections. PayPal Park is compact, so even the back rows feel close to the field. A few tips:
- Bring water the right way. Bay FC allows one factory-sealed plastic bottle of still water up to 1 liter, or one clear empty reusable bottle, per person. Glass and metal are not allowed.
- Free Wi-Fi is available in the stadium on the GoQuakes network.
- Afternoon matches can be sunny. Bring hats and sunscreen.
- Bay FC runs a youth affiliate program for local clubs. Ask your child's club whether it takes part.
Our youth sports guide lists soccer clubs in and around Palo Alto.
Where to watch in and near Palo Alto
Bay FC's match pages list how to watch each game. The Decision Day match, for example, streamed on ESPN+. For a crowd, St. Stephen's Green at 223 Castro Street in Mountain View calls itself an all-sports bar. In Palo Alto, The Pro at 541 Ramona Street posts a TV schedule and The Patio at 412 Emerson Street has 21 flat-screen TVs. Ask staff ahead of time, since streaming-only matches need the right account on the bar's screens.
A short club history
Professional women's soccer has come and gone in the Bay Area. The San Jose CyberRays played in the WUSA from 2001 to 2003. FC Gold Pride played at Santa Clara and Hayward in Women's Professional Soccer in 2009 and 2010. Both leagues folded.
Bay FC changed that. Four former U.S. women's national team players, Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner and Leslie Osborne, led the effort with investment firm Sixth Street as the lead backer. The NWSL awarded the franchise in 2023. Bay FC played its first season in 2024 and reached the playoffs in that debut year. Chastain is also a link to Peninsula soccer history: she played college soccer at Santa Clara. Her World Cup winning penalty in 1999 remains one of the most famous moments in the sport.
Stanford is the other place to see top women's soccer near Palo Alto. See our Stanford soccer guide for the Cardinal's fall season at Cagan Stadium.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Bay FC play?
Bay FC plays its home matches at PayPal Park in San Jose, the stadium it shares with the San Jose Earthquakes. Its final 2026 match, against San Diego Wave FC on November 1, drew 15,927 fans there, according to the club.
How did Bay FC do in 2026?
It was a hard year. Bay FC finished 7 wins, 17 losses and 6 draws and did not reach the playoffs. The season ended with a 1 to 0 home loss to San Diego Wave FC on November 1, 2026, the club's Fan Appreciation Match.
When does Bay FC's 2027 season start?
The club says the 2027 NWSL regular season kicks off with games on February 11, 12 and 13, 2027. Bay FC's own 2027 schedule had not been released in early November 2026. The club also plans to open a new performance center on Treasure Island in January.
How do I get to a Bay FC match from Palo Alto?
Take Caltrain to Santa Clara station. Bay FC says PayPal Park is a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short ride on VTA Route 60. From the BART side, Bay FC lists a free shuttle from Berryessa/North San Jose station before and after each match.
Who founded Bay FC?
Bay FC was founded by four former U.S. women's national team players, Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner and Leslie Osborne, with investment firm Sixth Street as the lead backer. The NWSL awarded the franchise in 2023 and the club played its first season in 2024.