{"id":618923,"date":"2026-03-11T18:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/618923\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:30:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:30:35","slug":"what-to-expect-in-san-diego-sports-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/618923\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Expect in San Diego Sports This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the clock wound down on August 23, 2025, San Diego FC<\/a> had one thing on their mind: clinching the postseason for their new hometown. It wasn\u2019t a night of dramatic late goals or last-second strikes\u2014it was a steady, controlled run against the Portland Timbers. Snapdragon Stadium<\/a> roared with the hopes of 35,000 locals, who\u2019d spent years waiting for a championship team to call their own.<\/p>\n

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\u2014SDFC 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>.<\/p>\n

A month later, after nabbing a Wild Card spot, the Padres<\/a> punched their ticket to the postseason with catcher Freddy Fermin delivering an RBI single in the 11th inning. The 5\u20134 walk-off win over the Milwaukee Brewers marked the team\u2019s 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\u2019t seen in decades. <\/p>\n

Finally, in October, the Wave FC<\/a> 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\u20131 victory that night landed them in the postseason. <\/p>\n

If last year\u2019s playoffs run didn\u2019t convince you that San Diego is a sports town once again, you weren\u2019t 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\u2019s sneak peek.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of San Diego Padres<\/p>\n

San Diego Padres<\/p>\n

Freddy Fermin nearly did it. Down to the last out of the wildcard playoff series\u2014the last chance for the Padres\u2019 2025 season\u2014he 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\u2019 center fielder. Season over. So close. Less than two weeks later, manager Mike Shildt announced the stress was getting to him and retired. <\/p>\n

To many fans, Fermin\u2019s 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\u2019 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\u2019 window to finally bring a World Series championship to the city? Or does it remain open for 2026? <\/p>\n

There\u2019s still massive, all-star talent on the team\u2014Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tat\u00eds Jr.<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of San Diego Padres<\/p>\n

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>\u2014a former Padres relief pitcher who\u2019d been working as a special assistant, mentoring players.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I said it was going to be easy, I\u2019d be lying to myself,\u201d Stammen admits. \u201cMy whole life there have been different things that prepared me for what I\u2019m 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\u2019s like behind the curtain\u2014what 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.\u201d <\/p>\n

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\u2019s uncertainty around how team dynamics will shift. But Stammen believes it\u2019s going to be a positive. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, I haven\u2019t had to make very many tough decisions with those guys, but there may come a time during the season where that may happen,\u201d he says. \u201cIf it does, I just have to be very up front and honest and be the same person I\u2019ve always been. We\u2019ll do our best to keep our friendship [what it is] and use that to our advantage as much as we can.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of San Diego Padres<\/p>\n

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 Arr\u00e1ez, and Robert Su\u00e1rez, and retirement rumors swirl around Yu Darvish). Bringing continuity, he\u2019s somebody the Padres think can keep the clubhouse steady and focused. \u201cThere\u2019s a trust level between AJ Preller, [Assistant General Manager] Josh Stein, and me,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019ve seen my leadership qualities up close and personal.\u201d <\/p>\n

One of the biggest strengths of the team remains the pitching. \u201cGreat pitchers make a manager look really good,\u201d Stammen says. <\/p>\n

Then, there\u2019s the fans. The Padres sold out 72 of 81 games last season, making them number-two in attendance behind only the Dodgers. Petco Park<\/a> is a layer of hell for opposing teams. \u201cWhen the fans show up to the ballpark,\u201d Stammen says, \u201cthey\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those team goals? \u201cTo reach our potential,\u201d Stammen confirms. \u201cWe 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\u2019s never happened before. But you can\u2019t think about that stuff right now. Right now, we\u2019ve just got to be able to focus on reaching our potential.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of SDFC<\/p>\n

San Diego F\u00fatbol Club<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine a dreamier kickoff to the MLS era in San Diego. In their debut year, San Diego FC<\/a> broke multiple league records for an expansion team\u2014most 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.<\/p>\n

Near perfection. Now, can they follow it up? <\/p>\n

The biggest headline entering year two is the end of \u201cChuckymania.\u201d Mexican national star Hirving \u201cChucky\u201d Lozano was supposed to be the face of the franchise, but it didn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of SDFC<\/p>\n

Instead, the team invested in the vision of coach Mikey Varas<\/a>, extending his contract by multiple years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey could see that the project was moving in the right direction,\u201d Varas says. \u201cWhen I was signed [last year], there had to be some question marks. I hadn\u2019t been in this role before. Fortunately, everyone saw the alignment was 100 percent in sync. Our visions and values align. It\u2019s where I\u2019m supposed to be.\u201d Any questions were answered when the franchise burst out of the gates winning. <\/p>\n

In 2026, \u201cit\u2019s about asking ourselves individually and collectively: Now what?\u201d Varas says. The answer shapes this year\u2019s vision. <\/p>\n

With their superstar departing and forward Marcus Ingvartsen coming off an injury-plagued season, the club wants people who have a point to prove\u2014and, just as important, players and staff who push team chemistry. \u201cWe really do believe our collective is our superpower,\u201d Varas adds. \u201cThat means having people who care about understanding how to play better with and for their teammates.\u201d <\/p>\n

Building off last year\u2019s 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\u20132029 season\u2014deservedly so, since he scored 19 goals and was named 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year<\/a>. On a planet without Lionel Messi, Anders Dreyer would arguably be the reigning league MVP.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of SDFC<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also really excited about [developing] guys that started with us at ground zero and seeing what kind of steps they take,\u201d Varas says. \u201cThe Luca Bombino who was playing for us last year can\u2019t be the Luca Bombino who shows up this season. He\u2019s got to be a better version of himself. There\u2019s freshness coming from all different angles.\u201d Bombino was also awarded a contract extension through the 2028\u20132029 season. <\/p>\n

And now that the team isn\u2019t surprising anybody with their pressing style of play, being overlooked by other clubs will no longer be an advantage going into this season. \u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d Varas says. \u201cWe like that kind of challenge.\u201d <\/p>\n

There\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Wave FC<\/p>\n

Wave FC<\/p>\n

In the final game of last year\u2019s regular season, the San Diego Wave<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

The offensive hangover came quick\u2014they lost 1-0 in the first round to Portland. But our rose-tinted glasses are squarely on, so, as far as we\u2019re 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\u2019s biggest stories in women\u2019s sports since its inception four years ago. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think there were a lot of learnings during the season,\u201d says head coach Jonas Eidevall, who is beginning his second year leading the Wave. \u201cThere 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\u2019re] creative. We want to express that on the pitch.\u201d <\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019 defenses. <\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Wave FC<\/p>\n

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. \u201cIt helped us understand what we need to learn, change, and adapt [for regular-season play],\u201d Eidevall says. \u201cWe did that well in the Sevens tournament, and that\u2019s a mindset we can keep on going with in the season.\u201d <\/p>\n

Shortly following the team\u2019s victory in Sevens, offseason moves started. Roster shakeups always cause some broken hearts\u2014but fans were particularly shocked when the team abruptly announced in late December that goalkeeper and captain Kailen Sheridan<\/a>\u2019s contract would be terminated. (Along with Kristen McNabb, Sheridan was one of just two remaining players from the franchise\u2019s original team.) As of press time, the Wave hasn\u2019t announced who will take the captain\u2019s reins from Sheridan.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Wave FC<\/p>\n

With the team\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

PARTNER CONTENT<\/p>\n


\n \"Why
\n Why San Diego\u2019s 45+ Community is Choosing Refractive Lens…
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\n \"Faces
\n Faces of Healthcare 2025
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Among returning members, \u201cone player who was making a good impact for us already with limited time with the team was Dudinha,\u201d Eidevall says. \u201cI\u2019m really excited to see what she can do in the league here with a full preseason.\u201d The Brazilian forward netted five goals in just 12 games. In rare company with former Wave legends Alex Morgan<\/a> and Jaedyn Shaw, Dudinha matched a club record by scoring in three consecutive games last fall.<\/p>\n

Even with the loss of a face of the franchise like Sheridan, \u201cgoing into the season, both expectations and the know-how of what it takes to achieve what we want to achieve is much clearer,\u201d Eidevall says. \u201cWe laid the foundation last season, which we now need to build upon. Players we\u2019re bringing in can be picked to fit into that [creative] identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

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