Identical twins Mike and Bob Bryan are the world's top men's doubles pairing and members of the San Diego Aviators, a team tennis concept bringing some major star power to town this summer
This year’s 14-game Mylan World Team Tennis season includes seven home games at Valley View Casino Center. What can tennis fans expect at these matches?
Bob: It has mens’ and womens’ singles and doubles, and mixed doubles sets. It has everything over the course of about two and a half hours.
What’s the biggest difference between a team match and a tournament match?
Bob: It’s fast-paced. Kids get to talk to the players. Teammates sit on the sidelines cheering. There’s music and an announcer. It’s a cross between a basketball game and a party.
The July 7 home opener brings top singles player Andy Roddick of the Austin Aces to San Diego. What’s it like to play that guy?
Bob: Roddick has got the biggest serve maybe in the history of tennis. It’s never easy. But he’s a funny guy, and you’ll see more smiles [than in the regular season] during the match.
You’ve been ranked the number one mens’ doubles team for nine of the past 10 years. Is your edge that one of you is left-handed (Mike) and the other is right-handed (Bob)?
Bob: The lefty/righty combination is definitely an edge on the doubles court. It’s harder for the returner to look at different servers.
Mike and Rob Bryan chest bumping
Fred Mullane/camerawork usa
Does the identical twin thing help?
Bob: Yes. I can read a situation and see the look on his face and I know every shot he can hit and when he’s gonna hit it, and where. The communication we have, there’s nothing like it.
At 36, having won Olympic gold medals and all the Grand Slam events, what goals are left?
Mike: We want to be ranked number one every season. But the next big goal on the horizon is to win 100 titles. We’re at 96 right now.
Tell us about the chest bump.
Bob: We saw the Jensen brothers do it. They won the French Open in 1993. We practiced it when we were playing at Stanford. People seemed to like it. They called it The Bryan Bump. We fine-tuned it, and we took it on the Tour.
You went to high school in Oxnard, so you’re SoCal guys. What’s your impression of SD?
Mike: It’s one of the best cities in the country. Our grandparents and mom lived in San Diego. We came down to La Costa and watched the U.S. tennis team play Mexico when we were 10. We’d come down and play at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
In SD, we love our tacos. Have you found gluten-free fish tacos anywhere?
My 15-year-old daughter tried to steal our car this week, so I’m ready to become a NASCAR dad. It would be appropriate discipline. We just relocated to a nice suburb within walking distance of her high school. The suburbs are like living in a Tesla commercial. I am pretty far from the wealthiest dad in this neighborhood (I am the least wealthy dad in this neighborhood), more than a few engineering degrees short of being in the running.
I’m fairly certain watching NASCAR is a violation of our HOA and a violation of my daughter’s emotional HOA. But NASCAR hits San Diego this weekend and I have a fever I’ve never felt before. I want to watch 111 drivers do dangerous things in cars and trucks on an active military base in the ocean. Since my lifelong exposure to NASCAR is limited to Talladega Nights and every single iteration of the movie Cars, I can only base my plan of attack on oafish stereotypes.
So while other neighbor dads are sizing bubble jackets for their golf simulators, I’m gonna grow a Ricky Bobby, run the extension cord for the TV out into the carport we share with six other condos, fill a cooler with a proper 80-20 split of Hamm’s and Mountain Dew, treat a lawn chair like an ADU, and spend a few hours yelling ohsheeeit as if it’s a single, nine-syllable word.
The quality parents in our neighborhood seem highly attuned to the sound of any vehicle breaching the 6 MPH threshold, so I should gather a crowd pretty fast. They may come over with strongly worded emails in their hearts, but one glimpse of Shane van Gisbergen and hometown hero Jimmy Johnson guzzling the last remaining drops of gasoline on the planet in a dazzling display of carmanship—they’ll join my NASCAR pop-up party.
By the time my daughter brings her friends over, we’ll have a real welcoming committee.
Because, like I said, my daughter tried to steal my car.
She wasn’t going to Mexico. But while Claire and I were off doing businessy stuff to afford my teen’s skincare rituals, she and a friend decided to teach themselves stick shift. She’s never driven a stick before. I’m not saying she has, but if she has driven a vehicle at all—it would have been done in a remote, abandoned parking lot where the only possible thing she could destroy was the concept of driving itself.
But a couple TikTok videos later, she and her friend felt a certain level of mastery had been achieved, and they gave it a go. They backed our VW Bug out of the garage with a series of stalls and transmission seizures, and managed to get it into the carport, attempting to do “donuts.” That’s when I got a call from a resident, who had taken an active interest in this experiment.
Which got me wondering about the power and might of vehicles. Turns out, even at carport speeds there exists a bit of potential fireworks. A garage door could become not a garage door anymore. At 145 MPH on Naval Base Coronado this weekend (don’t worry, they slow down to 100 MPH for turns), NASCAR drivers are essentially doorbell ditching gods. I didn’t register the temperature after my daughter’s trial run, but the track at NASCAR races usually hits a cool 130-150 degrees, enough to lightly sear some Nikes (the tires themselves hover in the 200 degree range).
And that is at least part of our fascination with NASCAR (the other fascination is the legendary pit parties, which either set humanity back a few evolutionary links, or advance it by the same amount of links). These drivers do something all of us do every day in a very efficient, boring way—drive a car—and take it to its extreme impulse. Grace and precision at the thunderous edge of shit going terribly wrong. Most of us have looked at San Diego home prices and felt a burning desire to see how fast our Honda Pilot could make it to our new home in Vegas. So NASCAR drivers are acting on our own wildest impulse.
Troy Johnson is the magazine’s award-winning food writer and humorist, and a long-standing expert on Food Network. His work has been featured on NatGeo, Travel Channel, NPR, and in Food Matters, a textbook of the best American food writing.
Ray’s Tennis doesn’t look like much from the outside. Never has. It’s just a green box with cloudy windows in Hillcrest, just steps away from a McDonald’s on University Avenue. But for nearly 60 years, this place has been the genesis for three generations of San Diego tennis dreams. Head inside, and you enter one of the tennis world’s great cornucopias.
For years, there was a tennis court behind the store, where owner Bob Ray gave countless lessons. It was like a racket-sport speakeasy; most customers didn’t realize the court existed unless Bob or his wife, Hiroko, guided them through the back door of the shop. Eventually they converted it into a half-court indoors—where a patron might take a racket for a few trial thwacks, trying to avoid rounders of tennis clothes that shared the space.
The shop is an abridged living history. Relics hang from the ceiling: a model of an old metal racket used by fiery lefthander Jimmy Connors in his heyday, and a version of the wooden Donnay that Björn Borg wielded on his way to five consecutive Wimbledon championships from 1976 to 1980.
And just inside the front door is Hiroko eternally stringing new rackets, carefully threading and adjusting the tension of the polyester strings, back and forth, until she has the entire racket head strung.
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
“I worked seven days a week—five days off in the year,” she says. “My hearing is still good. Physically, I’m as good as I was. Working seven days a week, standing all day. I’m mentally healthier than most people.”
The racket stringing is an operation she does up to 20 times a day—and one that, in some ways, resembles the thread work done by her father decades ago, when he ran a tailor’s shop in Japan.
Hiroko, now 81, was born in the city of Yokosuka at the tail end of the WWII. Her family evacuated to the countryside to escape the bombing raids, and she remembers growing up surrounded by rice fields and mountains. It was in Japan that Hiroko met Bob, a third-generation San Diegan, in the late 1960s, when he was stationed there with the Navy.
Among his possessions at the time was a tennis racket. Inherited from his father, who died when Bob was 11, this racket changed the trajectory of his life: He played constantly, filling up his school days, afternoons, and evenings on the tennis court. He was one of the highest-ranked teen players in the state, and he dreamed of joining the international tournament circuit after his stint in the Navy. But—speaking plainly—he acknowledges that he wasn’t quite good enough to compete with the best of the best. So, instead, he modified his dreams. He and Hiroko returned to San Diego in 1968, and he took a job as the club pro at Morley Field. By their mid-20s, in lieu of touring the world on the tennis circuit, the couple was running the club’s tennis store.
They spent 11 years at Morley Field, which at the time was one of the city’s tennis epicenters, hosting major tournaments for juniors. When the city handed over the store lease to a wealthier applicant, the Rays took over the property on University Avenue and moved in their tennis gear. They have been there ever since—through the McEnroe and Navratilova and Evert eras; the rise of Agassi and Sampras and Graf; the reign of the Williams sisters; the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic rivalry; and into the Alcaraz era. In the near-half century they have sold tennis gear in Hillcrest, the Rays became beloved anchors of the neighborhood’s business community, symbols of stability in an ever-changing environment.
At 84, Bob is still lean and, in his Lacoste tracksuit and Adidas cap, remains every bit the club pro. Like Hiroko, he comes to the store every day—though sometimes, if he is playing tennis in the morning, he might arrive a little later.
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
But time has started to take its toll. His hearing isn’t what it used to be, and the aging process is revealing itself to be true. And much to the disappointment of their loyal clientele, San Diego’s “First Couple of Tennis” is retiring, a milestone that marks the end of an extraordinarily long chapter in the city’s tennis history.
But Ray and Hiroko didn’t sell the building to a developer for condos or to a big-box retailer looking to open a boutique outpost. Determined that Ray’s should remain a tennis temple, they have negotiated a sale to a former employee who wants to continue the Rays’ legacy.
As of this writing, Hiroko and Bob remain in charge, Hiroko stringing rackets, Bob sharing his expertise about new gear. As much as they love what they’ve built, their hope is to move on soon.
For Hiroko, the prospect of retirement is bittersweet. “What am I going to do?” she asks. “Am I going to be ok? I never had a boring life. Always busy. Business first. I’m so involved in the business—because I didn’t want to fail.”
She looks around her store as she continues stringing. For her, the gladiatorial nature of tennis has always been a metaphor for how to succeed in life. “People have to have a drive,” she says. “You can’t just quit because you lose to so-and-so. Tennis players have that mindset.”
She pauses to talk about all the people who have come through the store’s door over the decades, and the relationships she has built with them. “It’s wonderful to have a great customer. That’s probably the reason I lasted this long.”
Sasha Abramsky is the West Coast correspondent for the Nation magazine and the author of nine books. His tenth book, Chaos Comes Calling, will be published by Bold Type Books in September.
Watch theater productions with meta commentary, participate in (or spectate) local sports and take advantage of unique dining options this weekend in San Diego. See a play within a play during The Play That Goes Wrong at Lamb’s Players Theatre and the nostalgic Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone at Coronado Playhouse. Enjoy new and old sports traditions in North County, with the 40th anniversary of the Carlsbad 5000 race and the debut of Oceanside‘s new arena football team, the Bombers. Plus, reserve a spot at scenic eating experiences (if weather permits), such as the Taste of Hillcrest, Estancia La Jolla’s annual Garden Party and Smoke on the Vine at The Flower Fields.
Dine outdoors in The Flower Fields during Smoke on the Vine this Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Patrons will eat four courses arranged by Napatini Wine Bar Executive Chef Joshua Holt, each paired with specialty pours from Rombauer Vineyards. As they feast on ribeye cap steak and smoky Hokkaido scallops with citrus flavors, guests will learn more about the evening’s selections from the chefs and winery partners. Reservations are $150 per person and come with admission to The Flower Fields. Another Smoke on the Vine dinner will take place April 17.
Craving pizza, tacos, ramen AND cookies? Fortunately, you can sample all of those foods and much more during the annual Taste of Hillcrest this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. This all-ages event—with a few 21+ only locations included—is a chance to stroll the neighborhood for an afternoon of diverse bites and sips. After checking in at Next Step Treasures or Crest Taco, attendees can follow the white and orange balloons to explore 38 Hillcrest eateries. Tickets are $51, and come with one sample at each participating location.
Hillcrest
Garden Party at Estancia La Jolla
April 12
Gather in the greenery of Estancia La Jolla during the hotel’s annual Garden Party this Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Dine on earthy cocktails and botanically-inspired fare while taking in the natural ambiance of spring in all its blooming wonder. This sophisticated soiree will include a curated selection of local artisan vendors to peruse and shop from, plus a floral dress theme. Admission is $82 for the Garden Party and comes with a welcome beverage and two cocktails.
9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
Courtesy of the San Marcos Spring Fling Festival
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane at Balboa Theatre
April 9
One hundred years ago, jazz pioneers Miles Davis and John Coltrane were born, and today, their music continues to mesmerize. To celebrate this dual milestone, La Jolla Music Society is hosting a Jazz Mini Festival (April 6-12), including a tribute concert headlined by trumpeter Terence Blanchard and saxophonist John Coltrane. This Thursday (7:30 p.m.) at Balboa Theatre, the two jazz luminaries will be joined by guitarist Charles Altura, pianist Eden Ladin, bassist David Ginyard Jr. and drummer Oscar Seaton. Plus, concertgoers can enjoy a pre-show interview featuring Blanchard and Coltrane at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $71 to $119 for this concert.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
FKA Twigs at The Sound
April 9
FKA Twigs is a pop star operating at the absolute peak of her powers. Her 2025 was seismic, with a pair of exciting new electronic-infused albums: January’s Eusexua and November’s Eusexua Afterglow, each adding to her penchant for world building. Though her international Body High Tour includes stops at sizable venues like Madison Square Garden and The O2 Arena, local listeners can catch Twigs, plus multi-hyphenate artist Izzy Spears, in a more intimate space this Thursday at 8 p.m. at The Sound. Tickets start at $112.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
Boots in the Park
April 11
Nancy Sinatra said these boots are made for walkin’, but at Boots in the Park, these boots are made for rockin’. This Saturday at 1 p.m., the traveling festival will ride back to Waterfront Park with a spirited lineup of country music musicians like Miranda Lambert, Jordan Davis, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dylan Scott. In addition to the tunes, attendees can check out experiences such as themed bars, mechanical bull riding, line dancing lessons and photo-op worthy art installations. Ticket options include general admission ($124), GA+ ($219) and VIP passes ($299).
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Stake Chophouse & Bar isn’t your average steakhouse. Blue Bridge Hospitality’s Coronado outpost is a modern interpretation of a big-city steakhouse nestled in the heart of the small coastal community. The team at Stake has reimagined the whole steakhouse experience. By prioritizing a seasonal farm-to-table sourcing philosophy, a personalized guest experience, and unique service touches, like a formal steak presentation and a bespoke knife selection process, Stake distinguishes itself in a sea of steakhouses.
Exceptional steaks, including Wagyu from Japan, Australia, and the U.S., and fresh seafood flown in daily form the core of Stake’s culinary identity. The menu features a five-course omakase-style steak experience highlighting house favorites, plus an array of cuts, and classic steakhouse staples—think a wedge salad, baked potato, or pasta carbonara—refined for a contemporary palate without losing their traditional appeal. Stake focuses on seasonal sourcing from the region’s best family farms and specialty purveyors, and incorporates intentionally unexpected touches to create something truly unique.
“I challenge our chefs and myself to take it a step further in sourcing,” says Chef Ronnie Schwandt. “It’s important to us to highlight different farms, unique one-off farms—whether it’s cattle, strawberries, a local fisherman or from anywhere in the United States, we’re always trying to find that niche.”
Beyond the menu, Stake emphasizes outstanding service, says Vinny Spatafore, Director of Hospitality Operations. Staff maintains detailed notes, allowing them to remember guests by name, recall previous orders such as a favorite martini (also memorable for the customer since it’s served in an extra tall, distinctly-shaped glass), and celebrate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
“When you have those points of topic that you remember about a guest, they appreciate that,” he says. “Our servers are really good with that—we have a couple servers who have been here since the beginning and they’ll remember somebody from years ago, their name, their kids’ names, where they live. I’m really thankful to have a great front of house staff.”
Award-winning wines, rare whiskeys, special events, and a complementary black car service that provides transportation for guests throughout Coronado add to Stake’s appeal.
Schwandt stresses that Stake offers more than a meal; they aim to give patrons something unforgettable.
“It starts when you walk up the stairs and are greeted by the hostess—that sets the tone for the night. Then you’re greeted by a server, who may know you by name, and can guide you through the menu and curate as they get to know you,” says Schwandt. “Most people leave kind of blown away; they leave feeling like they just had an experience. That’s the goal, right? Whether you’re serving smash burgers or high-end steak, you want somebody to leave thinking, Wow, that was awesome.”
As the clock wound down on August 23, 2025, San Diego FC had one thing on their mind: clinching the postseason for their new hometown. It wasn’t a night of dramatic late goals or last-second strikes—it was a steady, controlled run against the Portland Timbers. Snapdragon Stadium roared with the hopes of 35,000 locals, who’d spent years waiting for a championship team to call their own.
When the referee blew the whistle at the end of the game, the scoreboard remained at a draw, 0-0. But history had been made nonetheless—SDFC became the first team in the league to lock up a 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth, securing their place with six matches still to play in their inaugural season.
A month later, after nabbing a Wild Card spot, the Padres punched their ticket to the postseason with catcher Freddy Fermin delivering an RBI single in the 11th inning. The 5–4 walk-off win over the Milwaukee Brewers marked the team’s fourth postseason appearance in six seasons (and the second straight season that San Diego reached October baseball). This was a new team, the kind the franchise hadn’t seen in decades.
Finally, in October, the Wave FC reminded us why it only took them a matter of months to build a record-breaking NSWL fanbase. In the first 18 minutes of the game, the team struck three goals (the fastest trio of goals in club history) and continued the momentum throughout the game against the Chicago Stars. Their 6–1 victory that night landed them in the postseason.
If last year’s playoffs run didn’t convince you that San Diego is a sports town once again, you weren’t paying close enough attention. Now, with the 2026 baseball and soccer seasons kicking off, we break down what to expect from the Padres, San Diego FC, and the Wave FC this year and ask their coaches to give us an insider’s sneak peek.
Courtesy of San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
Freddy Fermin nearly did it. Down to the last out of the wildcard playoff series—the last chance for the Padres’ 2025 season—he put a charge into a fly ball that made all of Wrigley Field hold its breath. Of course, the potential game winner fell into the glove of the Cubs’ center fielder. Season over. So close. Less than two weeks later, manager Mike Shildt announced the stress was getting to him and retired.
To many fans, Fermin’s flyball felt like a metaphor. The late Peter Seidler had put a charge into the franchise, investing in the team like no Padres owner ever had. The Padres’ lease agreement with Petco Park runs through 2033. But every season, the team falls just short. With a 2027 lockout looming, was 2025 the final year of the Padres’ window to finally bring a World Series championship to the city? Or does it remain open for 2026?
There’s still massive, all-star talent on the team—Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatís Jr., Mason Miller, Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Adrian Morejon, Nick Pivetta (who surprised everyone by becoming a legitimate ace last year). After a few down years, Xander Bogaerts showed flashes of the elite talent that inspired his hefty contract.
Courtesy of San Diego Padres
Everyone knows general manager AJ Preller is a maverick who loves to make blockbuster moves. But to fill the managerial role, he only had to make a call down to the bullpen to Craig Stammen—a former Padres relief pitcher who’d been working as a special assistant, mentoring players.
“If I said it was going to be easy, I’d be lying to myself,” Stammen admits. “My whole life there have been different things that prepared me for what I’m about to do. Obviously playing gave me a lot of experience, and the special assistant role gave me a lot of knowledge of what it’s like behind the curtain—what the front office is thinking about, what the coaches are all trying to accomplish during the season. I feel like I got a taste of a little bit of everything.”
As manager, Stammen is going to be leading guys who used to be his teammates. Much like when a colleague gets promoted above you at work, there’s uncertainty around how team dynamics will shift. But Stammen believes it’s going to be a positive.
“At this point, I haven’t had to make very many tough decisions with those guys, but there may come a time during the season where that may happen,” he says. “If it does, I just have to be very up front and honest and be the same person I’ve always been. We’ll do our best to keep our friendship [what it is] and use that to our advantage as much as we can.”
Courtesy of San Diego Padres
Stammen has a reputation as a calm, supportive leader who can connect with players. And the move for an internal hire makes sense with such a turbulent offseason (they lost headlining players Dylan Cease, Luis Arráez, and Robert Suárez, and retirement rumors swirl around Yu Darvish). Bringing continuity, he’s somebody the Padres think can keep the clubhouse steady and focused. “There’s a trust level between AJ Preller, [Assistant General Manager] Josh Stein, and me,” he says. “They’ve seen my leadership qualities up close and personal.”
One of the biggest strengths of the team remains the pitching. “Great pitchers make a manager look really good,” Stammen says.
Then, there’s the fans. The Padres sold out 72 of 81 games last season, making them number-two in attendance behind only the Dodgers. Petco Park is a layer of hell for opposing teams. “When the fans show up to the ballpark,” Stammen says, “they’re helping our ball club win a baseball game. Without our homefield advantage, it would be very difficult to get to the playoffs and accomplish our goals.”
Those team goals? “To reach our potential,” Stammen confirms. “We obviously have a team we think can compete for a division championship and compete in the National League and have a chance to bring something to San Diego that’s never happened before. But you can’t think about that stuff right now. Right now, we’ve just got to be able to focus on reaching our potential.
Courtesy of SDFC
San Diego Fútbol Club
It’s hard to imagine a dreamier kickoff to the MLS era in San Diego. In their debut year, San Diego FC broke multiple league records for an expansion team—most points (63), most wins (19), fastest to clinch a playoff berth. They won the Western Conference and came one victory away from the MLS Cup.
Near perfection. Now, can they follow it up?
The biggest headline entering year two is the end of “Chuckymania.” Mexican national star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was supposed to be the face of the franchise, but it didn’t pan out. After he experienced some injuries and well-documented internal conflicts with the coach and team, SDFC decided to part ways with their original headliner.
Courtesy of SDFC
Instead, the team invested in the vision of coach Mikey Varas, extending his contract by multiple years.
“They could see that the project was moving in the right direction,” Varas says. “When I was signed [last year], there had to be some question marks. I hadn’t been in this role before. Fortunately, everyone saw the alignment was 100 percent in sync. Our visions and values align. It’s where I’m supposed to be.” Any questions were answered when the franchise burst out of the gates winning.
In 2026, “it’s about asking ourselves individually and collectively: Now what?” Varas says. The answer shapes this year’s vision.
With their superstar departing and forward Marcus Ingvartsen coming off an injury-plagued season, the club wants people who have a point to prove—and, just as important, players and staff who push team chemistry. “We really do believe our collective is our superpower,” Varas adds. “That means having people who care about understanding how to play better with and for their teammates.”
Building off last year’s roster, the team snatched up versatile forward/ winger Lewis Morgan off waivers in December. The move will add front-line depth to supplement their other star forward Anders Dreyer, who was given a guaranteed contract extension through the 2028–2029 season—deservedly so, since he scored 19 goals and was named 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year. On a planet without Lionel Messi, Anders Dreyer would arguably be the reigning league MVP.
Courtesy of SDFC
“We’re also really excited about [developing] guys that started with us at ground zero and seeing what kind of steps they take,” Varas says. “The Luca Bombino who was playing for us last year can’t be the Luca Bombino who shows up this season. He’s got to be a better version of himself. There’s freshness coming from all different angles.” Bombino was also awarded a contract extension through the 2028–2029 season.
And now that the team isn’t surprising anybody with their pressing style of play, being overlooked by other clubs will no longer be an advantage going into this season. “That’s okay,” Varas says. “We like that kind of challenge.”
There’s already a resounding buzz coming from fans, supporters, staff, and players for 2026. When a team gets within striking distance of the MLS Cup (they lost 3-1 to Vancouver in the Western Conference final), the audience only gets hungrier to smell more Snapdragon fireworks.
Courtesy of Wave FC
Wave FC
In the final game of last year’s regular season, the San Diego Wave held their fate in their own hands: win or watch the playoffs from home. They responded, blowing away Chicago FC 6-0 and setting a club record for goals in a single game.
The offensive hangover came quick—they lost 1-0 in the first round to Portland. But our rose-tinted glasses are squarely on, so, as far as we’re concerned, just being back in the playoffs after missing out in 2024 was a good sign for a team that has been one of the country’s biggest stories in women’s sports since its inception four years ago.
“I think there were a lot of learnings during the season,” says head coach Jonas Eidevall, who is beginning his second year leading the Wave. “There were parts of last season that were really successful. I think we established an identity and a way of playing that was clear and a good fit for the club and the players: [We’re] creative. We want to express that on the pitch.”
During the offseason, December was a volatile month for the Wave. They started it off by capturing gold at the World Sevens tournament. On the tournament’s reduced-size pitch, they outscored the other teams 14-3. With midfielders playing forward early and burners playing wide, speed was the attacking tool that overwhelmed their opponents’ defenses.
Courtesy of Wave FC
More importantly, it allowed the team to step into an unknown together. Instead of 11 players per side, there were just seven. The format encourages a high-tempo style of play where every possession is threatening. “It helped us understand what we need to learn, change, and adapt [for regular-season play],” Eidevall says. “We did that well in the Sevens tournament, and that’s a mindset we can keep on going with in the season.”
Shortly following the team’s victory in Sevens, offseason moves started. Roster shakeups always cause some broken hearts—but fans were particularly shocked when the team abruptly announced in late December that goalkeeper and captain Kailen Sheridan’s contract would be terminated. (Along with Kristen McNabb, Sheridan was one of just two remaining players from the franchise’s original team.) As of press time, the Wave hasn’t announced who will take the captain’s reins from Sheridan.
Courtesy of Wave FC
With the team’s esteemed back-line leader out, the Wave signed goalkeeper Leah Freeman to a one-year contract. Last year, Freeman spent her rookie season with Bay FC after a decorated collegiate career playing for both University of Oregon and Duke. While at Oregon, she earned Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2022. At Duke, she nabbed the same Atlantic Coast Conference honor in 2024.
Among returning members, “one player who was making a good impact for us already with limited time with the team was Dudinha,” Eidevall says. “I’m really excited to see what she can do in the league here with a full preseason.” The Brazilian forward netted five goals in just 12 games. In rare company with former Wave legends Alex Morgan and Jaedyn Shaw, Dudinha matched a club record by scoring in three consecutive games last fall.
Even with the loss of a face of the franchise like Sheridan, “going into the season, both expectations and the know-how of what it takes to achieve what we want to achieve is much clearer,” Eidevall says. “We laid the foundation last season, which we now need to build upon. Players we’re bringing in can be picked to fit into that [creative] identity.”
Jake Peterson is a San Diego-based journalist and culture writer. His work explores the city’s music scene, sports, local characters, and the offbeat corners of San Diego’s subcultures.
Sports Illustrated Debuts First-Ever Women’s Games in San Diego
Taking place October 28 to November 2 at Frontwave Arena, the event spotlights elite female athletes and celebrates the rapid rise of women’s sports nationally
Women’s sports are having a moment across the nation. Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese are dominating the WNBA, the US women’s Olympic gymnastics team earned 10 medals at last year’s Paris Games, and American swimmer Katie Ledecky continues to smash records—and that momentum is coming to San Diego this fall with the first-ever Sports Illustrated Women’s Games.
The event, taking place from Tuesday, October 28 to Sunday, November 2, 2025, marks the publication’s debut women’s sporting event, spotlighting elite female athletes and celebrating the rapid rise of women’s sports across the nation. Held at Oceanside’s Frontwave Arena, the inaugural affair will feature more than 120 athletes competing in events ranging from judo to basketball and tennis.
Courtesy of Sports Illustrated
“I’m so excited to be a part of this special initiative and see how the inaugural Sports Illustrated Women’s Games will bring together some of the most talented female athletes in the world,” said Grand Slam Champion, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Sloane Stephens in a press release.
Stephens has made her mark on and off the court, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in 2018 and recently receiving the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for the impact she’s made through her foundation. She joins hundreds of other accomplished athletes, including Dearica Hamby (two-time WNBA All-Star), Jordyn Poulter (two-time Olympic medalist), Jade Carey (Paris Olympics bronze medalist), Helen Maroulis (three-time Olympic medalist), and many others.
The six-day event showcases women’s sports that fans have long craved but rarely experienced on such a large stage. Following a Ryder Cup-style format, athletes will compete for “Team Americas” and “Team World.” Prize money will be awarded based on competition results, adding an extra layer of excitement to the week’s lineup of team and individual contests.
San Diego—with its rich sports heritage and passionate fan base—is the perfect stage for this momentous occasion. Against the backdrop of the city’s thriving sports culture—San Diego FC’s inaugural season, the San Diego Wave in the hunt for the NWSL championship, and the Padres topping their division—the SI Women’s Games arrive at the right time.
Courtesy of Sports Illustrated Nancy Nguyen
SI Women’s Games 2025 Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. PST — Flag football: Three-game series between Team Americas and Team World.
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m. PST — Combat sports: 12 matches total, including six judo matches and six wrestling matches by weight class.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. PST — Volleyball: One best-of-five sets match, Team Americas vs. Team World.
Friday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. PST — Gymnastics: Artistic (floor, beam, uneven bars), rhythmic (team and individual), and trampoline (individual and synchronized) events.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m. PST — Basketball: One full-length game with 20-minute halves, Team Americas vs. Team World.
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m. PST — Tennis and awards ceremony: Three matches, each an eight-game pro set—Americas 1 vs. World 1 (singles), Americas 2 vs. World 2 (singles), and Americas vs. World (doubles).
Courtesy of Pink Media Productions
Where to Buy SI Women’s Games Tickets
Tickets are available at Axs.com starting August 17. Discounts apply to kids under 12 (50 percent off), seniors (10 percent off), and military members (25 percent off).
Where to Watch the SI Women’s Games
Fans can catch the Sports Illustrated Women’s Games on ION and the Ion Fast channel. The events will also be streamed live via Amazon Fire TV and Prime Video in the US.
Cole Novak is an award-winning writer with a passion for highlighting local figures, small businesses, and nonprofits. Born and raised in San Diego, Cole is passionate about photography, surfing, art, the local food scene, and the great outdoors.
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs San Diego Padres
By Joyce A. Glazer
Sarah Farnsworth
Barney & Barney G.R.O.W. logo
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How did you make the leap from Washington, D.C., to the Padres in San Diego? Tom Garfinkel, CEO of the Padres, asked me if I would consider working for a baseball team. I thought it was a joke. I didn’t know anything about baseball. After 19 years in D.C. I wanted the opportunity to become a part of a community, and that is what I saw in San Diego. It’s an opportunity for me to give back.
You are engaged to marry a retired Marine, and you have a young daughter. What role did they play in your decision to join the Padres? It was a family decision. We decided together. I was working in a job that really wasn’t a career. With the Padres I have a career where I can be challenged, and I am part of a civic asset. Since my fiancé is retired, he plays a big role in my daughter’s care when I have work demands.
How did you get involved in politics? I was living in New York when the Democratic National Convention was held there; 22 years old and just out of college, I volunteered at the convention. From there I was assigned to do advance for Hillary Clinton during Bill’s first run for president. That was 1992. When Bill won the presidency, I was asked to work on the inauguration in 1993. From there I went to work on the First Lady’s staff in the East Wing. I was responsible for planning all events in the Rose Garden, the South Lawn, and basically anything in the White House. And the Clintons were very active, with many events going on!
Tell me about your time in the White House. I worked seven and a half years and left to marry, but returned for the last six months at the end of the Clinton term. I celebrated my 30th birthday at the second Clinton inauguration.
Where did you work when you left the White House? I was chief of staff at the USO and traveled frequently to Afghanistan and Iraq. I was working in the world headquarters for then-General Jim Jones, who later became President Obama’s national security advisor. President Obama asked me to become senior advisor to the national security advisor, so that put me working in the West Wing of the White House. When General Jones resigned in 2010, I was asked to work in the Pentagon.
You spent so much time working for presidents in both wings of the White House. How did you keep your feet on the ground? I never thought of it as politics, but as being part of an historical institution. There was a plaque on the wall in the White House that I passed by every day. The bottom line was “one day you will be on the other side of the iron gate.” That puts it in perspective.
What challenges have you faced? After being to Iraq and Afghanistan, challenges take on a different meaning. As long as my family is healthy, I don’t have any bad days.
What adjustments did you have to make when you joined the Padres? I have had to earn trust and credibility in a whole new profession, I had to learn baseball, and I have had to earn trust in the community.
What is in your future? I’m here with the San Diego Padres as long as they will keep me.
