“I’ve stood on the grass and looked at the ocean, which is almost like surfing,” says 19-year-old San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw. We’re eating pizza on the lawn at Balboa Park. Next to her is Jake Marshall, 25, the number-six-ranked surfer in the world. They’re shaking hands for the first time today.
When Bryce Wettstein rolls up on her skateboard—her golden locks tied in low pigtails and a pinwheel pen in her pocket—I’m immediately struck by the sheer amount of talent in one place. The 20-year-old Olympic skateboarder hugs Marshall, visibly excited and nervous to be talking with a him.
Nearby, Winyl Club is gearing up for its weekly DJ set, which draws hundreds of San Diegans to a wide expanse of grass overlooked by the park’s iconic tower. Dogs in birthday hats, overflowing picnic baskets, colorful blankets, and plenty of Solo cups checker the lawn. No one is paying attention to us—no one seems to know that the future of San Diego sports is only feet away.
Shaw, Marshall, and Wettstein are three of the city’s youngest talents already on their way to sealing their names in the history books. But today, they’re just young people, playing dress-up for a photo shoot in the center of a city that is helping shape their careers.
A week earlier, I sat down with Jaedyn Shaw over a Zoom call. She was in Orlando for a National Women’s Soccer League game. If you’ve been paying attention at all lately, you’ve likely heard her name in the sports world—whether you’re a soccer fan or not. At the very least, you’ve seen her next to other top athletes—such as Wave captain Alex Morgan—on billboards, buses, and social media promos, repping Wave FC.
A forward, Shaw signed to the Wave in 2022 at just 17. She earned her first US Women’s National Team (USWNT) call-up at the age of 18, making her the second-youngest player to compete on the national team. (Though it wasn’t her first time wearing a US jersey abroad—she also played on the under-17, under-19, and under-20 national teams.)
But on that Zoom call, I didn’t see the seemingly unshakable confidence and sharp-beyond-her-years instincts that earned Shaw the distinction of becoming 2022’s US Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
Instead, Shaw sat quietly in front of me in an oversized sweatshirt, battling a cold after coming off six days of travel, training, and a game, with more coming up. It’d be a lot for anyone, but watching her, I was reminded just how much work must go into being the next big thing at such a young age. The Del Mar resident carries the weight of a city’s hopes on her shoulders.
In 2023, the International Olympics Committee asked, “Can Jaedyn Shaw fill the void left by Megan Rapinoe in the USWNT?” At the time, Shaw was 18 to the retiring Rapinoe’s 38, but the term “prodigy” was already making the rounds in the football world.
During that same season, Shaw began to seal her name in history. At age 19, she became the first teenager to score 10 US national women’s league soccer goals and helped the Wave bring home its first-ever NWSL Shield, the annual award given to the team with the best regular-season record. She’s also the first Vietnamese-American to ever represent the USWNT, a banner that she doesn’t carry lightly.
“I am biracial, so making an impact on both communities through my sport is really cool,” she says. “I’ve gotten a lot of messages on social media [from the Asian community]. They’ve backed me. That’s another side of support that I have now.”
Two years into her contract with the Wave, Shaw shows no signs of slowing down. At time of print, she’s made 19 career goals and will don Team USA’s jersey at this year’s 2024 US Olympics in Paris.
Shaw with her mom, Anne, who has been by her daughter’s side every step of the way.
Shaw’s achieved more career-defining moves in her two years of adulthood than some pro athletes do their whole lives. But the accomplishments have, in some ways, taken as much as they’ve given. Being born with exceptional talent is only half of what it takes to truly become great. The rest requires sacrifice.
“I didn’t go to high school,” Shaw says. “I didn’t go to college, and I grew up very independent and knowing that I don’t really have time to have friends. I knew that my journey was going to be different. Everything that I was doing was to get to the next level. And it cost me a lot.”
We pause as she finds the words to encapsulate what she’s given up to don the Wave’s number-11 jersey.
“There was a point where we moved into a one-bedroom apartment so that we could have extra [money] to fund all of my opportunities,” Shaw says. “We consolidated from a three-bedroom house to a one-bedroom apartment. Me and my brother shared a bed in the living room. My parents were in the room, and we had one bathroom for the four of us.”
But the tight quarters weren’t the only reason she’s so close with her family. “[My mom and I] were together all the time,” she says. “She would take me to all my trainings— whatever I needed, she was there with me. Both of [my parents] have sacrificed a lot for me.”
They had made a promise to themselves when they were younger, she tells me, to always support their children and be at as many practices, games, overnight trips, and international experiences as they could.
“Jaedyn has always had a spotlight on her. I think her mom, Anne, was instrumental here and was always the rock for her,” says Derek Missimo, who coached Shaw from age five to eight at Solar soccer club in Allen, Texas. “This is the crux of being great. You’ve got these expectations, and I think her mom balanced her. You got to eventually play for yourself. You can’t play for other people’s expectations.”
He calls Shaw a “pro’s pro,” noticing that even at a young age, she seemed to find her purpose and passion in the game. She was supportive and encouraging of her teammates, he remembers, but with an intensity that was more dialed in.
“She has integrity; she has high character. All the things she learned from the game of soccer and athletics have played well for her in the game of life,” Missimo says. “Soccer is what she does and what she does well, but it epitomizes everything about who she is.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman | Custom Wave FC Jacket: Sew Loka
It was her time on FC Dallas’ youth team, though, that really began to shape her career and attract attention. Whispers of her talent began to circulate.
“She always put her own spin on everything. It was never like, ‘I’m going to copy someone. I’m going to do exactly what they do,’” says FC Dallas coach Matt Grubbs, who mentored Shaw from age 12 to 16. “That’s where I just think she’s such a unique player. And honestly, I think she’s one of the top five players in the world.”
When Shaw got the call that she’d be joining San Diego’s new women’s soccer team, she and her family had already begun the process of moving to Washington DC so that she could pursue an education. Within days, they packed up and made their way to the West Coast.
But things didn’t truly sink in, she says, until two-time World Cup-winner and gold-medal Olympian Alex Morgan said hello to her as a teammate.
“I was like, ‘What is this right now? I don’t understand what’s happening,’” Shaw says. “It was so crazy.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
But it didn’t take long for the now-record-breaking athlete to get comfortable in her new home. “Once I played at Snapdragon, it was a whole different thing,” Shaw says. “Snapdragon just felt like home.” Finally, the hours of training, missing out on proms, saving every penny to travel for games—all of it began to feel worth it.
“What San Diego has created for us as players—especially as pros playing at a brand-new stadium in this league that’s still growing—it’s such a cool opportunity for young players,” Shaw says. “Averaging 20,000 fans a game last year, that’s not normal. It’s just raising the bar. So it’s so cool being able to play.”
Back in San Diego today, as we snap photos of her on a sunny afternoon, Shaw is once again the athlete you see on your screens. Funny, personable, confident. Kicking around a soccer ball, she commands attention, draws people in.
For the 30,000 or so fans that sell out Snapdragon at Wave games—and, beyond them, a city of more than a million residents—Shaw could be a critical part of the antidote to the curse that’s kept SD sports from a championship for more than 60 years. Under such pressure, even older, wiser players might buckle. But Shaw, her gaze steady as she lobs a soccer ball at our camera, keeps her head high.
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Jake Marshall, 25
WSL Pro Surfer
I meet Jake Marshall over the phone just as he’s waking up on the other side of the world. Though he’s currently down under for the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, his Southern California roots show through his slow, drawn-out words, punctuated with a hint of vocal fry. It’s Endless Summeron the other end of the receiver.
In 2021, at age 23, Marshall began his rookie season on the World Surf League Championship Tour, ranking 18th in 2022 and dropping down to 30th last year. But this year, Marshall is putting San Diego back on the map with his sixth-place ranking as he follows in the footsteps of locals like Rob Machado and Taylor Knox.
“When I was maybe 8, Kelly [Slater] signed my backpack at an event and I was like, ‘Oh my God, Kelly!’” Marshall says. “For that kind of stuff to have come full circle, and [for me to] get to compete with him, it’s been super special.”
Though he was born in Encinitas, Marshall and his family moved to Naples, Florida from 2004 to 2006. Traveling to Newport, Rhode Island in the summers, Marshall caught his first wave in the East Coast city at the age of 7. The next year, he placed second in the 14-and-under division in his first contest, an event hosted by Volcom.
In 2006, the family moved back to San Diego, and, while Marshall loved playing all sports, it was surfing that really stuck. His dad and two younger brothers joined him in the water daily.
“The four of us would head down to the beach super early and surf. [The boys would] go to school, and then, after school, I’d pick them up and we’d go back to the beach,” says his father John Marshall. “He was in kindergarten and first grade and going to school with his hair all wet and the teacher would be like, ‘What have you been doing? You’re surfing before school?’”
At 10, he secured a Hurley sponsorship. By 12, he’d already set his sights on going pro.
“Being in the ocean and reading [it] and dissecting the lineup and figuring out where waves come in—that was really natural for me,” Marshall says. “I had a good connection with lineups no matter where I was in the world.”
He began traveling internationally, switching to homeschool to accommodate his many trips. He’ll graduate from college next year in between global jaunts.
Like Shaw, Marshall had to trade quintessential teenage experiences for the trappings of a pro athlete’s life: long stints on the road, days between heats, sometimes-unglamorous destinations, and lots of alone time. But if he finds the lifestyle hard, he doesn’t show it.
Photo Credit: Ryan Miller Marshall surfs The Box, a fast right-hand reef break, during the 2023 Margaret River Pro in western Australia
“He has an amazing style. I think that’s why so many people like to watch him,” says his younger brother, Nick Marshall. “He’s so relaxed and everything he does looks so easy and effortless, so it’s really fun to watch.”
This year, the athlete has consistently placed in the top 10 in major events around the globe— especially impressive considering that the number of pro surfers globally hovers around 720,000. But he still radiates that notorious California chill.
“I definitely think, growing up in a place like Encinitas, it’s pretty easy to stay humble and kind of true to where you came from,” Marshall says. “All the older guys who I grew up surfing with at my home break, they always keep you in check and make sure to remind you to not get too full of yourself.”
By the time of print, if Marshall remains healthy, he’ll have competed in the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, Surf City El Salvador Pro, and VIVO Rio Pro. Next month, he’ll surf in the Corona Fiji Pro.
Will he keep up his winning streak? Who knows—but maybe it doesn’t matter. “Just being relaxed and accepting of whatever happens is the mental state that I’ve been trying to find this year,” he says.“I’ve really just been trying to have a lot of fun and not be too worried about the results that I’m getting.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Bryce Wettstein, 20
U.S. Olympian & Pro Skateboarder
Bryce Wettstein’s phone goes straight to voicemail the first few times I call. It’s a Tuesday afternoon. I text her with no response.
“Hi Nicolle… are you on with Bryce right now?” reads a message on my phone. The texter doesn’t introduce themselves. I ask who I’m speaking with. “This is her mom,” comes the reply. “She is charging her phone.”
When Wettstein finally jumps on the line, she’s scattered, sitting in her car in the parking lot of a gym in North County. “I just got done skateboarding,” she says, in a kind of laissez-faire voice that suggests schedules have no business being in her calendar.
She speaks in a soft, whimsical, sing-songy way. It’s only been five minutes, and the 20-year-old has already given me a snapshot into her life as a young athlete.
Unburdened and carefree, she’s still very much learning how to navigate the world—her mom at her side ensuring she keeps her appointments. Watch Wettstein skate, though, and you see a fierce competitor able to hold her own among the top skateboarders in the world.
“[Her skating style is] really poetic,” says 34-year-old Amelia Brodka, an Olympian and pro skateboarder who has known the athlete since Wettstein was 7. “You can tell that she’s skating from the heart, you know? She’s doing these things that typically you’d associate with aggression, but it looks really effortless.”
At the age of 15, Wettstein was named to the first-ever USA Olympic Skateboarding team. In 2019 and 2022, she won the women’s park national championships. She finished sixth in the women’s park finals in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics (the first time the sport was introduced into the Olympics), was a member of the 2023 USA Skateboarding team, and will make an appearance at this year’s Paris Olympics in July.
An amateur surfer, volleyball player, gymnast, singer, ukulele player, and future ballerina (she’s taking classes at her local YMCA), Wettstein is the picture of a true SoCal native. Like many kids from Encinitas, she was paddling out on a surfboard and clambering onto a skateboard at just 5 years old. By seven—the same year she secured her first sponsorship—she decided to focus on skating, allowing the water to become a place of respite instead. But the two remain interconnected for her.
“Skateboarding and surfing meet each other,” she says. “They still hold hands with each other.”
She speaks constantly in romantic phrases and vivid metaphors like this. The city, she says, reminds her of poetry. “I just know that if I didn’t live here, I’d feel like a different person— changed a little bit,” she adds. “And I think the most amazing part is [that you feel a sort of] otherworldliness in skateboarding already, but when you’re at a park in San Diego, you feel this warm kind of haze over you.”
Being with her, you sense the same warm haze.
Even the grueling grind of developing Olympic-level skills—practicing two to three hours a day on a ramp in her family’s backyard—sounds like a fun hobby through her rosy lens.
“I feel like sometimes I have this part of me that comes out and I feel competitive,” she says. “It’s almost like fire in the ocean. You only see it for a second.”
Ranked number nine in the world, the regular-footed skateboarder makes her success seem like an afterthought. She’d much rather talk about her music-writing and ukulele-playing. Or ask you what makes you happy in life.
“Getting to skate with her in a contest is really kind of nourishing,” Brodka says. “She kind of calms everybody down. You know, it doesn’t feel competitive.”
This is the beauty of Wettstein. There’s no ego here. No reminding you that you’re talking with an Olympian. She skates like a kid having fun doing the sport they love. Medals, titles, rankings—nothing seems to phase her, and maybe that’s the key to her accomplishments.
“Her skateboarding is something else. She’s weaving a web. She’s writing a poem,” Brodka continues. “And she’s the only skater that I’ve seen that skates that way.”
As we bid one another goodbye, Wettstein lets me know that, if the magazine would ever like a volunteer for our events, she’s happy to come help. “I’m a big fan,” she says.
Nicolle Monico is an award-winning writer and the director of creative projects, digital editor for San Diego Magazine with more than 16 years of experience in media including Outside Run, JustLuxe and The San Francisco Chronicle.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
From WWII Marine to master potter, Solana Beach’s Wayne Chapman reflects on his many lives ahead of The Mingei International Museum's "Boundless" exhibit
“Sometimes people say, ‘Hey, I saw your pot on Etsy for $1,000,’ and I probably sold it for about $100. But I would make pots even if I couldn’t sell them. I’d give them away if I had to.
At 15, I managed to sneak into the Marine Corps. I was six-foot-one-and-a-half and weighed 200 pounds. They didn’t want to know anything; they just said, ‘Sign here.’ Two weeks later, I was in boot camp in San Diego. We were training for the invasion of Japan, and then they dropped the bomb and that ended it.
I realized, Hey, I’ve got to get a better education if I’m going to do anything in life. I decided to get out of the Marines. I would work all night at the police department and go to school during the day.
Courtesy of The Marks Project
At City College, I just fell right into pottery. From 1959 on, I was a potter. Clay tells you what it wants to do if you listen. You start with mud, you end up with something beautiful. And if it doesn’t come out perfect, that’s okay; that’s part of the charm.
When I met Barbara, it took me about three months before I finally got the nerve up and asked her out. She accepted and we had the most wonderful date in the world. We went to see Camelot at a drive-in movie in Midtown. Then we went out to the Carnation Ice Cream place and had hamburgers and malts. We talked until they kicked us out and went out and parked and talked and talked. We just hit it off. She was very beautiful, very intelligent, and fun-loving.
Courtesy of The Marks Project
And Barbara was a wonderful craftsman. She taught at a gallery here in Encinitas for 40 years—a total of 50 different craft techniques. She was invited to show her dolls in the Louvre. We dreamed of having a house like this where we could work at our crafts. [Kendrick Bangs] Kellogg designed this house; Barbara was friends with his wife. A fireman who lived nearby and I built it together. Every piece of wood in this house has got my fingerprints on it. Barbara did the interior design.
But two years ago, Barbara got a little sick. They found out it was stage four colon cancer. Boom, just like that, she was gone. We only had four weeks to be with her before she passed. We were married for just under 54 years.
It’s not the same without her. I thought I would have been the first to go. I’m older. I’m 94 now. I broke my back during Covid, but I’m still making pots and I still love it. Sometimes I go out just to look at the pots when they’re cooling. Even now, when I open the kiln, it still feels a little like Christmas morning. I’ll make pots until I drop. That’s the plan.”
Listen to our Ultimate California Mixtape below featuring each artist
Some of the most famous musicians on the planet got their start in California—the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Cher, Snoop Dogg, and Fergie, to name a modest handful. But before they were topping charts and selling out stadiums, these heavy-hitters were just kids with a dream.
California’s still full of dreamers, talented artists playing garages and filming TikToks in the hope of making their voices heard. Among them are the next Metallica, Dr. Dre, or Billie Eilish (three more Golden State stars). So, we asked 15 music experts from venues, record shops, and radio stations throughout the state to cut through the noise and tell us who they think is poised to go platinum. Here’s your chance to beat the inevitable Ticketmaster battle royale and see ’em while they’re still up-and-coming.
Courtesy of The Schizophonics
The Schizophonics
Recommended by: Tim Mays | Founder of The Casbah | San Diego
“I’ve long thought that The Schizophonics (@theschizophonics) are on the verge of going big. They just played a high-profile opening slot for Jack White at the Hollywood Palladium. They’ve got an established national booking agency working for them and a couple big tours over the next few months. They’ve consistently drawn large local crowds and their show is one of the best live shows out there—it must be seen to fully understand.”
Must-Listen Track: “Desert Girl”
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Rexx Life Raj
Recommended by: Pendarvis Harshaw | Arts & Culture Writer KQED-FM | San Francisco
“Rexx Life Raj (@rexxliferaj) can rap. He can sing. He’s a clever jokester who talks about the powers of psilocybin, as well as a poet who readily discusses the -isms that plague our society. He is from Berkeley, played college football in Idaho, and [has] done shows around the world. There are a lot of entry points to his catalog for someone who has never heard of him—the California Poppyand Father Figureseries are dope. And he’s done a number of remarkable features on other people’s projects.
But The Blue Hour album is a must-listen. In the wake of losing both his parents, he took that pain and made beautiful music for those who are in pain. (Isn’t that what music is for?) He’s dropping another project; it’s titled In Rhythm. I expect more of all of it.”
Must-Listen Track: “New Normal”
Courtesy of Anna Thoresen
Anna Thoresen
Recommended by: Jake Perry | Talent Buyer Whisky a Go Go | West Hollywood
“I’ve been the talent buyer at The Whisky for 15 years, and an artist named Anna Thoresen (@anna__thoresen) recently sent over her music and I’m very impressed. She’s in her early 20s and lives in Los Angeles. Her music is a blend of soulful rock and pop—a Gen-Z Stevie Nicks who produces her own music. I think she’s the next big thing!”
Must-Listen Track: “Dirty Laundry”
Photo Credit: Carlo Aranda
Shua
Recommended by: Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS Arts Reporter & Host of The Finest KPBS-FM, San Diego
“On my radar is Shua (@shuatheshua), a San Diego–based artist who, in his words, creates music ‘for lonely people.’ Throughout his career so far, he’s seen highs and lows—[he’s been] on the brink of making it, with record deals inked and songs with millions of streams, and he’s also been on the brink of homelessness, unsure where his next meal might come from. Throughout it all, he’s committed to raw, compelling, and honest storytelling—all with a stunning voice and sonic energy that’s both urgent and delicate.”
Must-Listen Track:“How To Let Go”
Courtesy of Mareux
Mareux
Recommended by: Brad Schelden | Head Buyer Amoeba Music | Los Angeles
“Mareux (@__mareux__) is a totally unique, new LA darkwave genius that also sounds completely familiar—a new kind of goth making music to help us cope with our brave new world.”
Must-Listen Track: “The Perfect Girl”
Courtesy of Live Nation
Sitting On Saturn
Recommended by: Candace Mandracia | Talent Buyer Humphreys Concerts By The Bay | San Diego
“Sitting on Saturn (@sittingonsaturnband) [is a] really upbeat trio playing a blend of ska, punk, and indie. Best of all, they are from San Diego and graduated from [San Diego State University]. They’ve made appearances at festivals like Riot Fest and toured with 311, Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, and even the Jonas Brothers and have collaborated with artists like G. Love, NOFX, and Simple Plan.”
Must-Listen Track: “Tokyo”
Courtesy of The Neighborhood Kids
The Neighborhood Kids
Recommended by: Lou Niles | Co-host of Loudspeaker, San Diego Music Foundation Executive Board Member, 91X FM | San Diego
“The Neighborhood Kids (@theneighborhoodkidsmusic) are poised to break out. They are a young, emerging hip-hop group produced by Jon the Funky Monk. They have a great, old-school hip-hop base to their sound while speaking to important political and social issues happening today. The Neighborhood Kids recently won best new artist at the San Diego Music Awards.”
Sloane Moriarty is a rising Junior at the University of California, Berkeley where she studies English and Education and writes for the Daily Californian newspaper. When she is not at a coffee shop doing work, you will find her in front of a bowl of pasta and a good book.
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs San Diego Padres
By Joyce A. Glazer
Sarah Farnsworth
Barney & Barney G.R.O.W. logo
geneenm
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.
