By Mauricio Segura June 30, 2025
Photo: GBT Graphics
Bay FC is building more than just a soccer team. In a recent series of moves that highlight both smart roster strategy and deep community connection, the Bay Area’s NWSL club is sending a message loud and clear: culture and commitment matter.
As the league enters the second half of the 2025 season and the free agency period opens, Bay FC has opted for continuity. The club announced that five key players have signed new contracts, keeping the core intact while leaving space to grow. Goalkeeper Emmie Allen, defenders Joelle Anderson and Maddie Moreau, midfielder Jamie Shepherd, and forward Catherine Paulson have all inked new deals. Allen, Anderson, Moreau, and Shepherd are now signed through 2027. Paulson will stay through the end of this year.
Anderson stands out as one of Bay FC’s original leaders. Since the club’s inaugural season in 2024, she has been a vocal presence on the back line, even contributing a goal and two assists so far this season. Moreau has proven equally reliable in defense, and Allen has grown into her role in net. Shepherd brings stability to the midfield with her composed play, and Paulson has earned her spot through hustle and consistency. For a team still shaping its identity, keeping this group together shows belief in long-term potential over short-term flash.
Coach Albertin Montoya emphasized that these players are not just professionals, but ambassadors for the club’s values. Their work ethic and character reflect what Bay FC is trying to build in the locker room and on the field. While the team currently sits in 10th place with 15 points, the season is far from over. With a renewed sense of unity, Bay FC still has time to make a playoff push.
While the roster updates were big news, they came on the heels of an equally powerful story off the field. Bay FC’s Pride Month celebration was not just about rainbows and hashtags. It was a genuine effort to embrace and uplift the local LGBTQ+ community through events, partnerships, and creative expression.
Bay FC collaborated with local queer artist Orlie K. to design a limited-edition Pride collection. Ten percent of the proceeds supported the San Francisco Spikes, the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ adult soccer club. The campaign merged fashion, support, and awareness in a way that felt authentic to both the artist and the fans.
The club also turned their June 7 match at PayPal Park into a celebration of identity and belonging. The first 3,000 fans received a Pride-themed bandana designed by Orlie K. The matchday experience included drag performances, traditional dance from In Lak’ech Dance Academy, and a moving rendition of the national anthem by Fog City Harmonia. These elements transformed a standard league match into a night of pride, passion, and community connection.
Bay FC's message throughout the month was simple but powerful: Pride does not end when June does. Inclusion is a year-round commitment. The team’s choices backed that up not only with programming, but with intention. In an era when many organizations post a flag and call it a day, Bay FC took the extra steps that show true investment.
The club’s midseason headlines may look like routine business updates on paper, but together they tell a bigger story. Bay FC is shaping a franchise that reflects the Bay Area itself—diverse, forward-thinking, and proud. They are not chasing shiny signings or relying on short-term hype. They are building from the inside out, with players who represent the values of the city and fans who see themselves in the crest.
This is a club that wants to win, yes, but also wants to stand for something. And if their recent moves are any indication, Bay FC is not just finding its footing. It is finding its soul.
