Learn all the opportunities you have to support women’s professional and college teams in Southern California.
It’s the perfect time to become a Southern California women’s sports fan. Angel City FC and San Diego Wave have an exciting rivalry that has brought soccer culture to SoCal. Both teams are still relatively new, joining the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2020 and 2022, respectively.
While women’s soccer is widely supported in Southern California, it’s far from the only way to support women’s sports: the Los Angeles Sparks, the area’s National Women’s Basketball Association (WNBA) team, has been a fixture in the city for decades.
Professional women’s sports are sought out in Southern California, but there are more ways to support women’s sports than heading to a big stadium. From supporting local college teams to finding the perfect bar to watch the game, the options are endless for cheering on our women athletes.
Catching an Angel City FC game
Angel City Football Club gave Los Angeles sports fans a bit of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the thick of 2020’s lockdown, the news broke: Los Angeles was getting an NWSL team. Plus, the club was backed by a long list of famous women.
Angel City FC was founded by actress Natalie Portman and two businesswomen, Kara Nortman and Julie Uhrman. Early investors included some of the biggest names in women’s soccer, like Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, along with the likes of Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, just to name a few.
While the team was founded during the pandemic, they didn’t play their first game until March 2022; since then, the city of Los Angeles has supported them with enthusiasm. They play at BMO Stadium, the same one as the men’s team, LAFC, and pull similar, if not more, crowds.
Cheering on the San Diego Wave
If you’re in San Diego or the surrounding area, Angel City’s rivals, the San Diego Wave, are your club. They played their first-ever game against the Los Angeles club while both were newbies in the NWSL, kicking off a passionate rivalry between fans. To make matters more intense, they tied!
Alex Morgan, one of the most iconic and recognizable players in soccer history, was the team’s first signing. After years with the Orlando Pride, she made her way to San Diego, becoming an instant fan favorite. She retired with the Wave and is still part of the team as a minority investor. She also made history as the first-ever retired jersey. Morgan made the Wave’s first few seasons extra memorable.
The Wave have had success in their opening season. In 2023, they won the shield for having the best regular-season record, and won the World Sevens Football Championship in 2025.
You can catch them at Snapdragon Stadium along with the men’s team, San Diego FC, and the San Diego State Aztecs.
Watching the Los Angeles Sparks play at Crypto.com Arena
The Women’s National Basketball Association was founded in 1996, and the Los Angeles Sparks were part of the inaugural season. Over the years, the team has been home to some of the league’s most iconic players. From Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker to a new generation with Cameron Brink and Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks have always had star power.
While there has been a recent boom in conversations about the WNBA, Los Angeles has always supported their team. When the Lakers and the Clippers’ seasons are over, basketball fans flock to Crypto.com Arena to watch the Sparks play.
The Sparks are not only fun to watch, but they make a difference in the community. In 2020, they started their Change has no Offseason campaign, which helps register voters, tackle injustice on and off the court, and educate the public on important social issues.
You can support the Sparks by attending a game, buying some merch at the team store, and supporting the social justice movements that mean so much to them.
Supporting the Los Angeles Queens during their inaugural season
Did you know Los Angeles has a professional women’s baseball team? They’re called the Los Angeles Queens and are part of the Women’s Professional Baseball League. 2026 was the league’s inaugural season, so becoming a fan now means you were there from day one.
Currently, the league has only four teams, but it’s expected to grow. While you can support them from Los Angeles, sadly, you’ll have to travel to catch a game for now. The inaugural season is being played in Springfield, Illinois. With such a small group of teams, it’s easier to keep everyone in one spot.
Hopefully, the Queens will get to play in their home city soon. Until then, you can support them by buying team merchandise on the league’s website. Become a living billboard for the team! Occasional games are also streamed on ESPN+ and Scripps Sports Network.
Supporting UC San Diego and San Diego State games
College sports are not nearly as popular as they should be in California. When people are raving about the games, it’s always a men’s sport. College football and basketball are popular, but the women’s teams never seem to be a priority. If you’re in San Diego, you can help change this by rooting for your UC San Diego or San Diego State women’s teams.
The San Diego State Aztecs are known for their impressive women’s basketball and soccer teams, but the school’s list of sports is long. There’s women’s golf, water polo, lacrosse, and more. Going to a game is the best way to support, and it’s easy to stay up to date with all sports schedules on the school’s website.
That also goes for UC San Diego. The same women’s sports are played here, but it’s not as easy to keep up with their teams. While they don’t offer a rolling calendar like SDSU, you can find game information on their website. Select the sport you’re interested in seeing to find the schedule.
Seeing UCLA or USC’s athletes
Don’t underestimate Los Angeles’ college sports lore. Located just 12 miles apart, both schools have dedicated fanbases and an academic and athletic rivalry. If you’re in the city, you likely prefer one school over the other, even if you didn’t go there or care about sports. It’s become ingrained in the city’s culture, starting in 1929, when the football teams first competed against one another.
Because of the rich football history, it’s not surprising that college sports fans favor the men’s team over the women’s. Both schools have competitive teams that are worth watching. UCLA has award-winning softball and gymnastics teams and has recently seen a boom in its basketball and soccer programs.
USC is best known for its women’s beach volleyball team. If you’ve never been to a game, add it to your summer bucket list. Merle Norman Stadium on campus is filled with sand, completely transforming the area. Students have been known to watch the games from the parking garage to enjoy the sport even if tickets sell out.
Support the teams by making it out to a game. UCLA has an all sports schedule that makes it easy to plan an outing, and USC has a composite schedule. Occasionally, women’s college sports games are broadcast on local channels. You can support them from your couch.
Enjoy a drink while watching an ACFC game at LA’s first women’s sports bar
Untamed Spirits in Silver Lake is a revolutionary spot. While most sports bars ignore women’s sports entirely, this is a hub specifically for women’s sports fans. Opened to create community around empowerment and inclusion, it has become one of LA’s most beloved bars. With delicious food, unique cocktails, and the perfect vibe, it’s the best place to tune into a game.
Untamed Spirits is part of Angel City’s official bar network and has become the most popular spot outside of BMO Stadium to catch a game. Whether you’re a regular or a newbie to the bar, Untamed Spirits prides itself on being an open and welcoming place for all, which can be difficult to find for women’s sports fans.
Gone are the days of a stinky, beer-soaked bar. Untamed Spirits brings atmosphere and a woman’s touch to watching sports, as it is women-owned and operated. They are located at 3715 Evans St W in Silver Lake. They are open Tuesday through Friday, and hours vary.
Grab a cold one at San Diego’s One of Us bar
San Diego also has its own bar dedicated to women’s sports. One of Us is located on University Ave; it prides itself on being a bar without sticky floors, as mentioned on their website. It’s the first bar in the city to focus on women and their professional sports leagues. They aim to unite all sports fans and help grow the popularity of women’s sports leagues.
This bar offers coal-fired pizza, craft cocktails, and a welcoming atmosphere. Die-hard fans can join its membership program, which comes with perks like extended happy hours and a free birthday drink.
Visit One of Us at 3085 University Avenue, Tuesday through Sunday. You’re not only supporting women’s sports, but also a women-owned community space.
