February 21, 24, 27 | Snapdragon Stadium

In Group B of the inaugural W Gold Cup, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and either Haiti or Puerto Rico will face off in a slate of games that affirms Snapdragon Stadium as a destination for world-class soccer. “The vision […] from the very beginning was that this facility would be a focal point for the entire San Diego community,” Snapdragon Stadium general manager Adam Millar told San Diego Magazine in November, when Concacaf announced that the city would host the first-ever W Gold Cup final. Tickets for the group stage start at $18, and that’s for seats three rows from the pitch. Grab yours before the rest of San Diego realizes some of the best soccer on the planet is happening in their backyard.

SDSU Women’s Basketball vs. Air Force

Wednesday, February 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Viejas Arena

Watch: Mountain West Network

Led by Adryana Quezada’s 15 points per game, the 14-9 SDSU women’s basketball team is having a fine season, one they hope ends next month in a deep run in the Mountain West Conference championship tournament. Before then, the Aztecs have four more home games, including their matchup against Air Force on February 21 that serves as their annual Black History Month celebration.

Women basketball players have long been at the forefront of “collective activism addressing racism, policing, gender pay equity, LGBTQ+ issues, voting, and reproductive rights,” as Shamira Ibrahim writes for Harper’s Bazaar. The Aztecs’ celebration of Black history reminds us of that struggle, but also of how Black culture and identities enrich American life and sport. 

Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Thursday, February 22 | 12:10 p.m. | Peoria Sports Complex, AZ

Yes, this matchup occurs in the middle of a weekday, and yes, by the third inning you likely won’t be familiar with a single player on the field, but the Padres’ first spring training game means baseball is officially and emphatically back. For the 2024 season, the Pads return one of baseball’s best infields, led by perennial MVP candidate Manny Machado, and Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Michael King would form a top-flight playoff rotation, but they have to get there first.

It’s the team’s depth that might hold them back. How will new manager Mike Shildt fill the Juan Soto-sized hole in the lineup? Will new relievers Woo-Suk Go, Yuki Matsui, and Wandy Peralta stabilize a thin bullpen? Who’s joining Fernando Tatis in the outfield, and who’s filling out the starting rotation? The answers will get sorted out over the team’s six weeks in Arizona, and soon we’ll be settling into the rhythms of another summer at Petco Park.

San Diego Mojo vs. Grand Rapids Rise

February 23 | 7:00 p.m. | Viejas Arena

Watch: Bally Live

Owned by beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings, the Mojo played their first match in the Pro Volleyball Federation last Thursday, a 3-0 defeat to the Atlanta Vibe, and are one of seven teams in the new league trying to capitalize on indoor volleyball’s surging popularity. Currently, it’s played more than basketball among girl high school athletes, college volleyball viewership and attendance is skyrocketing, and it’s now an Olympic sport.

After one more away match against the Vegas Thrill, the Mojo bring that excitement to their home debut on February 23. Fans even have a couple of locals to cheer for—Bonsall’s Kendra Dahlke picks up her career after playing professionally overseas from 2018 to 2022, and Carlsbad’s Morgan Lewis transitions to the pros after a standout collegiate career at the University of Oregon.

Cymbiotika San Diego Open

February 24-March 3, 2024 | Barnes Tennis Center

Before pickleball left its inventor’s yard, before the Padres had a winning season, and before top-flight soccer barely existed in the United States, San Diego was a tennis mecca. Billie Jean King, one of the most revered women athletes ever, won the first Southern California Open, now known as the San Diego Open. Fifty-three years later, the Open returns to the Barnes Tennis Center in Ocean Beach with a new sponsor. The field isn’t set yet, but as an official stop on the WTA 500 tour San Diegans will again get to watch some of the sport’s rising stars.

The post The 5 Best Lineups in San Diego Sports: February 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

San Diego will become home to the sixth announced team in the Pro Volleyball Federation, a new league set to launch matches in early 2024.

Fresh off the news that SD will become home to a new Major League Soccer team, the volleyball team announced today that 3x gold medalist, 1x bronze medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, aka “Six Feet of Sunshine,” will be joining a roster of league owners that includes Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, owners of the Orlando Magic, and various other deep-pocketed volleyball lovers.

Kerri Walsh Jennings

Photo Credit: Dana Drambarean, Buzzle Media

“This is one of the most exciting days of my professional career,” Walsh Jennings said in a statement to the press. “I am passionate about the vision of the Pro Volleyball Federation and making this San Diego team the very best it can be.”

The Pro Volleyball Federation touts itself as, “the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America” and expects to have at least eight teams in the league playing a 16 game schedule in its inaugural season. 14 players per team will compete.

We’ll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

The post Kerri Walsh Jennings and the PVF Bring Pro Volleyball to SD appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

South Mission Beach Courts

Patrick Davis for Life’s a Beach

Friendliest Bike Shop

MJ’s Cyclery

The bike shop sits on a popular commute route and is staffed by affable mechanics who have worked the Tour de France. Hardcore bicycle people don’t have the friendliest rep, but MJ’s is different. They’ve got the skill set to equip racers, but they don’t treat commuters or parents buying bikes like tourists in their world.

Way to Become the Pickleball

PB Tennis Club

One minute you’re casually playing a game of pickleball, the next thing you know, you’ve helped design Gearbox’s newest paddle. The brand is based in San Diego and PBTC is their local court, where they play with locals to gain insights on how to improve their rackets. This sounds like free lessons to us.

Boujee Boat Picnic

Picnic Voyage

When a relative was giving away their boat, local architect Vilchis saw an opportunity to design a 10/10 Instagrammable experience. Now you can class up your day date by recreating The Notebook—a pristinely refurbished tiny boat with padded seats, plant garlands, snacks and drinks, and even parasols. Ryan Gosling not included.

Beach Volleyball Where Everyone Knows Your Name

South Mission

Each weekend on the courts of South Mission Beach, the sand is taken over by 2v2 players—many of which are ESL speakers from various countries. They’ve made this plot of sand their sacred community, where the universal language is bump, set, and spike.

Running Shop That Doubles as Bumble BFF

Milestone Run Club

On any given Wednesday on Hamilton Ave., 100 to 200 runners gather to run the streets of North Park. It’s put on by Milestone Running, a shop created by locals Greg Lemon and Chad Crawford. Go a few times and you’re pretty much guaranteed at least ten new friends—might even get “Smirnoff Iced” during the post-run raffle. You win some, you lose some.

Reward-Based Running

Waterfront Social Run Club

Even avid runners can lose motivation. This year, Waterfront introduced a new tradition: beer stops. The three- mile loop starts at Eppig Brewing in Point Loma, then heads to Fathom Bistro for a beer before completing the next 1.5 miles. Finish up with a post-run brew at Eppig, obviously.

Mission Bay Basketball Court

Madeline Yang

Sailing Lessons by Jack Sparrow Himself

Harbor Sailboats

San Diego’s maritime history runs deep. America’s Cups have a permanent home here. Harbor Sailboats—seven-time winner of the “ASA School of the Year”—offers sailing courses taught by longtime sea dogs. You know, the type of no- nonsense skippers who know how the wind will change by the way the breeze hits their beard hair.

Hikes in Real Nature

Palomar Mountain

If you want sky-high firs, oak forests that shade your path, and mountain peaks that overlook actual foliage (read: no palm tree in sight), head to Palomar Mountain State Park. And, since the inaugural California State Parks Week took place this year, there’s no better time to dust off your hiking boots on one of the six hiking trails (five for running).

An Apparently Easy Climb That’s a Lie

Mission Gorge

A mellow 5.7 climb on paper, The Tower at Mission Gorge will have you clipping the first few bolts like you’ve been dirtbagging in Yosemite all your life. You’ll have to dig deep into your courage reserves to tackle the crux, but you’ll be walking down that mountain with your head held high when the sun starts to set.

Floor Exercise

Mission Bay Basketball Court

Hoops here have always had a magical effect—a full regulation court, smack dab on the beach. The ball smells like sunscreen. No fence; out of bounds is in the sand. And it just got an artful resurfacing in honor of local basketball legend, Bill Walton—who’s been a member of the South Mission Beach Sports Park & Rec for 25 years.

Best Surf Shop Nowhere Near Water

Happy Battle Surf Co.

Yep, in City Heights. Specializing in boards from local shapers, owner Mark Polintan (who grew up on a pineapple farm in the Philippines) has created an infectious gathering place for surfers to support their peers. Like chasing tubes in exotic locations, you never know what or who you’ll find here, but you’re guaranteed to leave stoked.

Best Way to Justify Surfing All Day to Your Family

100 Wave Challenge

Surfers are selfish. No matter how many waves we catch, we always want more. And while there’s no shot we’ll ever change, we can at least direct that impulse toward a good cause. At the annual 100 Wave Challenge, participants commit to riding 100 waves in one day to raise funds for the local nonprofit Boys to Men Mentoring.

See full list of contributors here

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