Bay FC is maximizing its preseason window by fueling the roster with new talent and leadership that will strengthen the club’s competitive edge for its third season. Head Coach Emma Coates is leading the team to their home opener on March 14 against new expansion team Denver Summit FC. Bay Area fans will get their first look at the team’s energized playing style after a demanding preseason camp and series of friendlies.
Coates, who joined Bay FC as new head coach on December 4 after serving as head coach of England’s Women’s Under-23 team, expressed admiration towards the players’ natural chemistry and their tenacity on the field during the early stages of training.
“My first impressions is we’ve got really good people, really good culture here,” said Coates. “The training sessions that we’ve had so far have gone really well. We’re trying to build clarity on how we want to play. It’s been a great start and we’re looking forward to building on it.”
Head Coach Emma Coates
Bay FC boosted its roster with new additions including forward Alex Pfeiffer and defender Heather Gilchrist. These players made a solid first impression during preseason and are contributing both versatility and explosiveness on the field.
“Alex is exciting to watch when she gets the ball,” Coates noted. “She’s brave with some of the decisions she makes and she really wants to impose a personality on the game. That’s the type of players we want here.”
Midfielder Tess Boade, entering her third season with Bay FC, has been pleased with how seamlessly the new players integrated into the team.
“Both of them fit seamlessly into the program,” Boade said. “I think both offer super unique qualities. Alex has such a personality on the ball, super fun to watch. I think she’ll be a great element to our attack.”
The upcoming season will be Gilchrist’s first professional campaign and she is adapting quickly to the professional environment with clear composure.
“If you came in and you didn’t know that Heather had just come from a college environment, you’d think she’d been a pro for years,” Coates said. “She’s confident, she’s held herself along with the players, she’s clean on the ball, she’s asking good questions.”
Boade also highlighted Gilchrist’s mature approach to the game: “Heather plays like a vet. She makes really courageous decisions on the ball, breaking lines with passes, and has an intelligence in the game.”
Bay FC’s returning players are stepping up as well. Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz recently earned a call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team January camp which serves as a career highlight for the rising goalkeeper.
Tess Boade
Alex Pfieffer
Heather Gilchrist
“Jordan should be incredibly proud of her recent selections and call-ups,” Coates said. “I think it’s a testament to herself. It’s a huge credit to her, the progress that she’s made, and the support that the club has given her.”
Boade, who’s played alongside Silkowitz since joining Bay FC, spoke about watching her teammate’s progress over the past years.
“I’m so proud of her,” Boade said. “Just to go from the number two, working her way in, becoming a starter, growing into a leader on the team. The amount of games she kept us in last year — the whole club is just so proud that she got the recognition she deserved. But to be honest, if you know Jordan Silkowitz, you know that this is just the beginning.”
Jordan Silkowitz
Training has been intense throughout Bay FC’s preseason preparation and Coates praised the players’ daily work rate. The club is on track to improve upon its first two seasons and push to the next level in 2026. With the return to PayPal Park, the focus is on fine-tuning their playing style and cohesively meshing new roster additions with returning players.
“Everyone has brought their best and trainings have been competitive,” Coates said. “I’m excited with the players we’ve brought in because they’re so young, you just know there’s significant progress they can make.”
Bay FC is ready for the March 14 home opener. Are you?
Grab single match tickets and catch the fresh faces at PayPal Park. Bring your friends, your energy and your noise to support the club in the 2026 NWSL season.
