The 2025 NWSL season was a campaign characterized by growth on and off the pitch for Bay FC. While the club finished short of the NWSL Playoffs, Bay FC’s incredible fans filled the stands and made every moment count. Finishing in 13th place (4W-8D-14L, 20 pts) doesn’t tell the whole story; this season featured career milestones, international player representation, a single-match attendance record and more foundational achievements for the club, plus continued impact on the Bay Area community.
The fan’s passion and belief in the club made all of that possible. Thank you for being part of the journey.
Player Accolades and International Impact
Many of Bay FC’s players set records, personal milestones and earned league honors while several more saw international recognition with roster selections and training call-ups for their national teams.
NWSL Recognition and Career Milestones
Defender Caprice Dydasco was a model of consistency on the backline by playing every minute of every match this season. She was selected to the NWSL Best XI of the Month in both June and September after being one of the league’s top defenders. Dydasco was also recognized for surpassing 15,000 career regular season minutes, and she’s now in the top-10 all-time. Dydasco is the first player to make 50 appearances for Bay FC and holds club records across all competitions for Games Started (51) and Minutes Played (4,658). She is officially the first player to achieve Ironwoman status at Bay FC.
Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, who made her debut this season, made an immediate impact and took home the NWSL Save of the Week award three times (Weeks 4, Week 19 and Week 20) and was a league-leading 13-time nominee. Meanwhile, midfielder Kiki Pickett gave one of the season’s most memorable moments with her match-winning goal against North Carolina that earned her NWSL Goal of the Week for Week 5.
Beyond the backline, the club saw record-setting achievements on the attack. Forward Racheal Kundananji set the club record as the all-time leading scorer with nine total goals, while forward Penelope Hocking finished as the top scorer for the 2025 season with six goals. Midfielder Alyssa Malonson was a critical playmaker for the team in 2025, recording five assists this season. This impressive total tied her for second-most in the league, just one shy of the six assists held by the first place League Leaders. Finally, rookie forward Caroline Conti showed impressive composure and reliability from the penalty spot, maintaining a perfect record by going 3-for-3 on penalty kicks.
Several players reached major career achievements: Midfielder Dorian Bailey (March 15 at Utah) and defender Kelli Hubly (June 13 vs Orlando) both hit 100 regular season career appearances, and forward Rachel Hill (Aug. 10 at Chicago) and defender Abby Dahlkemper (May 24 at Houston) surpassed 150 career appearances. Rookie talent also thrived with Taylor Huff starting every match and contributing four goals.
International Duty
Bay FC was a major contributor to international competition.
Kundananji Lead Zambian Attack
- Forward Racheal Kundananji was selected for her national team squad for the 2025 WAFCON tournament. During her time, she scored three goals in four appearances. She was repeatedly selected for the Zambia Women’s National Team roster, including in May and October. She was in excellent form during her latest appearances for Zambia, netting four goals across two matches, including a hat-trick in one and one additional goal in the other.
Collins Makes Return to Canadian National Team
- Defender Sydney Collins received a call-up to the Canada Women’s National Team in October. This marked her first call to her nation’s team since suffering an injury just before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Huff, Silkowitz, Lema and Freeman Featured on USWNT U-23 Squads
- Taylor Huff was called up to USWNT U-23 training camps and rosters in October, June and March.
- Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz was named to the USWNT U-23 roster in May.
- Leah Freeman and Karlie Lema participated in the October USWNT U-23 camp.
Bay FC’s Key Events
The 2025 season featured organizational and community achievements.
Match Highlights
The season kicked off in March with a Home Opener victory at PayPal Park against Racing Louisville. Midfielder Joelle Anderson and forward Karlie Lema scored the first two goals of the home campaign, which also marked Lema’s first career goal as a rookie in the NWSL.
Bay FC also hosted international competition during their Summer Series with a match played against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. Bay FC played the match to a 2-2 draw with goals from forward Penelope Hocking and midfielder Caroline Conti.
Bay FC also demonstrated its immense appeal by making history with a sellout crowd at Oracle Park on August 23. The attendance of 40,091 fans set a new record for any NWSL match, surpassing the previous record of 35,038 fans in attendance for Bay FC vs. Chicago Stars FC match at Wrigley Field June 8, 2024. The sellout also represented the highest-attended game in any U.S. professional women’s league, across all sports.
Player Acquisitions
- July 15: Acquired forward Onyeka Gamero via transfer from FC Barcelona.
- July 18: Signed Bay Area Native Goalkeeper Leah Freeman.
- August 22: Traded for Canadian International Defender Sydney Collins.
- August 28: Acquired defender Brooklyn Courtnall on loan from North Carolina Courage.
Community
Engagement with the Bay Area community was a priority for the club, and the area’s diversity was celebrated with a variety of themed matches including Women’s Empowerment Night, Pride Night, AANHPI Heritage Night, Juneteenth and Latino Heritage Night.
Off the pitch, forward Racheal Kundananji’s commitment to service was recognized with a nomination for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award.
Bay FC hosted the debut of Unwell FC, a NWSL fan initiative created by Alex Cooper, the host of Spotify’s Call Her Daddy podcast. Cooper built one of the most listened-to podcasts on Spotify and is channeling her energy into the NWSL. Unwell FC was a season-long initiative designed to build real connection and community among NWSL fans, and it came for the very first time to the Bay Area at PayPal Park. Moreover, WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu came for Bay FC’s final home match at PayPal Park, engaging with fans and showing her support for professional women’s soccer in the Bay Area.
The club also teamed up with Trader Joe’s to give away exclusive Trader Joe’s x Bay FC Mini Tote as part of the club’s multiyear-partnership with the national chain of neighborhood grocery stores. This mini tote was a fan favorite and new Bay FC collectable.
Most importantly, Bay FC ensured its future stability by officially breaking ground on the state-of-the-art Sports Performance Center on Treasure Island. The groundbreaking marked a significant progression in the club’s ongoing commitment to be a global sports franchise and innovative leader across women’s sports.
The 2025 NWSL season was a period of organizational progress that saw the club set new attendance benchmarks and create community impact throughout the Bay Area. Bay FC’s competitive nature was on full display throughout the season, even if it wasn’t reflected in their final regular season record (4W-8D-14L; 20 pts). While navigating their second season on the pitch, the players consistently delivered performances that raised the bar for individual and collective excellence across the club.
