It was never a matter of if. Only when.
And the answer is now….
Bay FC always knew its identity. A club undeniably energized by its community and just as interconnected as its neighbors who live in the Bay Area. From the outset, Bay FC was deliberate in how it introduced itself to the NWSL. They poured the same care and attention into what it stood for as it did into the fans who claimed it as their own.
For two seasons, Bay FC’s kits exhibited its bold and ambitious traditional navy and white colors that spoke to the seriousness and patience of a club still proving its capabilities. But there was always a color missing from the forefront.
The poppy was always there, but Season 3 is officially its moment. 2026 ushers in a new era in Bay FC history where the poppy surfaces as the primary kit color for the first time, and it was worth the wait.
The navy and white kits developed the club’s credibility, but the poppy announces its legacy. The poppy color, which is deep and radiant, conveys the beauty and resilience of the Bay itself. The black accents were chosen to amplify the palette rather than temper it and gives the poppy color the contrast needed to demand attention.
The new kit design tells a story about the region. The body print is constructed from abstract bridge forms drawn from the Bay Area, the same bridges that have long united neighborhoods and lives across one of the most storied regions in the country. The bridges run across the fabric of this jersey and are a testament to what Bay FC believes, which is that a club is only as strong as the diverse people it unites together.
In the bottom right of the jersey sits the poppy flower and one of the most deliberate details on Bay FC’s kit. Poppies are exceptionally resilient by nature, remarkably prolific and known for spreading quickly while dominating the landscapes they touch. Poppies plant themselves confidently into the ground with firm roots while their petals push outward.
Bay FC is no different. It’s a club with a fanbase in constant expansion, reaching greater audiences, inviting more people into the community and showing no signs of slowing down.
What makes season three the right moment for Bay FC to lead with the bold poppy color? Because it spent two seasons establishing its identity, and now it’s time to take it to new heights. The club is stepping into its growth phase with a new head coach leading the way, new players strengthening the roster and the Sports Performance Center on Treasure Island progressing steadily toward its opening ahead of the 2027 season. Bay FC is in full stride, and poppy is the exact color for it.
The new poppy kit was designed in collaboration with Nike. Bay FC inspired the visual direction and storytelling while Nike’s team of designers, color experts and material specialists translated that vision into the final product. Development began in October 2023, a long runway for a kit that, when seen in full, came to fruition right on time.
This NWSL season marks the first in which the kit does not launch alone. Bay FC’s annual Poppy Collection drops in tandem with the jersey and features a new sweatsuit, boxy tee, vest, bomber jacket and hat. Each piece shares the same poppy colorway and poppy flower that distinguishes the kit.
The decision to align the two launches was intentional. Fans can arrive on match day draped in the visual story Bay FC is telling this season.
A sense of unity is what this kit is ultimately about. It belongs not just to the Bay FC players wearing it on the field, but the thousands of fans in an ever-growing community who’ve made the club something far greater than just a football club.
The Poppy Kit makes its on-pitch debut on March 14 against the Denver Summit at PayPal Park. The players will be wearing it. Make sure you are too.
