SAN JOSE, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2026) – After back-to-back home contests, Bay FC heads to the heartland for a Saturday matchup against the Kansas City Current. The club visits CPKC Stadium Saturday, Oct. 3, looking to play spoiler to a Current team just above the playoff line in a crowded playoff picture. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. PT, and the match will broadcast live on ION.
Bay FC takes its final trip outside its home state with the contest, as just four matches remain in the 2026 season. A return to the win column is the goal after a tough defeat vs. Orlando last week at PayPal Park that saw the club control the tempo throughout and keep the Floridian club’s top threats largely quiet.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji: Kundananji has surged back into form the last two weeks and been an engine to two of her club’s best attacking performances of the season. Last week, she scored in diving-header fashion to equalize after an early Orlando goal, netting a nomination for Goal of the Week. Since Sept. 20, she’s third league-wide in total shots (10) and sixth in expected goals (1.63)
Kansas City Current forward Haley Hopkins: Hopkins netted a hat trick last week vs. Denver, fueling her club’s 4-1 win and earning Player of the Week honors as a result. The performance marked her third game this season with two or more scoring contributions, all of which came in Current victories. She’s up to eight goals on the season.
Racheal Kundananji, Bay FC
Haley Hopkins, Kansas City Current
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
The Current picked up a big 4-1 win at Denver last week behind Hopkins’s hat trick. Things didn’t start smoothly however, as the club conceded first in the 13th minute before staging its roaring comeback. Hopkins leveled the contest six minutes ahead of halftime, before putting in two more before the hour mark. Forward Temwa Chawinga netted her 11th on the season later in the second half to put a cap on the day, and the performance also marked the club’s league-leading seventh game this season with three or more scores.
Kansas City sits right in the middle of a crowded bunch fighting for the final playoff spots ahead of the end of the season. Results are paramount for the club the rest of the way to avoid going from a record-setting Shield season to missing the postseason in the following year. Entering this week, the club sits just one point ahead of eighth place Seattle and two ahead of ninth-place North Carolina. Bay FC has a golden opportunity to play spoiler this week as any points dropped by Kansas City could jeopardize their playoff chances
PUT IT ON A PLATTER
The NWSL announced Tuesday that Bay FC midfielder Claire Hutton’s 11th minute assist of forward Racheal Kundananji’s diving header goal Sept. 27 vs. the Orlando Pride was voted the NWSL Assist of the Week. Hutton earns her first win of a weekly league honor this season, also the second by a Bay FC player in 2026. After an early Orlando score, Bay FC responded with a heavy spell of pressure on the attacking end. Following a corner kick that was cleared away, play recycled to Hutton atop the right of the penalty box, who served a perfectly weighted cross to the back post for Kundananji to head it through for the equalizing score. The assist was Hutton’s second of the season, and Kundananji’s score from the cross also earned a nomination for Goal of the Week.
INTERNATIONAL DUTY AHEAD
Starting next week, 10 Bay FC players are set to join their respective national teams during the October international window. Defender Sydney Collins will join Canada for a pair of friendlies vs. Denmark, midfielder Claire Hutton and goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz will join the United States for training and friendlies vs. Spain, and forward Karlie Lema and defender Heather Gilchrist will join the U.S. U-23’s for training and friendlies vs. Dominican Republic.
Overseas, forward Keira Barry will join the England U-23 squad as it takes on Norway, defender Aldana Cometti and forward Agostina Holzheier will join Argentina for a doubleheader vs. Brazil, forward Racheal Kundananji will join Zambia as it kicks off 2028 Olympic Qualifying, and forward Cristiana Girelli will join Italy as it opens the UEFA World Cup qualifying playoffs. The October international window runs from Oct. 5-13, after which Bay FC will return to action vs. Portland Oct. 18.
ROSTER MOVE
With an eye towards full recovery for the 2027 season, Bay FC has placed defender Anouk Denton on the Season Ending Injury (SEI) list for the remainder of 2026. The English defender has been out of action since May after sustaining an injury in her right leg. Denton last appeared for Bay FC May 20 at Portland Thorns FC and recorded six starts across eight appearances and 527 minutes for the club after coming over via transfer from West Ham United FC.
Match Broadcasts
- United States: ION
- Australia: Stan Sports
- Brazil: Canal Goat
- Mexico: TV Azteca
- Canada: One Soccer
- Africa: ESPN SSA
- All other regions can watch the match live on NWSL+
WHERE TO WATCH
Bay FC fans looking to cheer on the club across the region this weekend can catch all the action from viewing locations in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Napa, Walnut Creek and Santa Clara. Locations include:
- Rikki’s: 2223 Market St., San Francisco
- Xingones Cantina / Hysteria Sports Bar: 190 4th St, Oakland
- Jack’s: 167 East Taylor Street, San Jose
- Midtown Lounge: 1111 24th St, Sacramento
- Armistice Brewing Company: 1040 Clinton St, Napa
- Pinky’s Pizza & Pub: 2085 N Broadway, Walnut Creek
- Taplands: 1171 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
Doors will open to all events 30 minutes prior to kickoff. More information is available at BayFC.com.
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