San Diego Wave FC kicks off the 2025 NWSL regular season at 3:50 p.m. Sunday against Angel City FC in Los Angeles.
Some of the focus though will be on the Los Angeles community, in the midst of its long recovery after January’s devastating wildfires.
The Wave will support Angel City’s “Seats of Strength” initiative for the match, a program that allows fans to purchase tickets to a home game at BMO Stadium for first responders and those hit hard by the fires.
SD’s new number 9 ??? pic.twitter.com/xHjk7R6tmx
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 8, 2025
Angel City will match every ticket purchased, doubling the number of seats available as part of the program.
“It’s important to our club that we use the power of this sport to bring people together, especially in times of hardship,” San Diego’s Chief Impact Officer Shannon MacMillan said.
Before the match begins, both teams will take the field for the national anthem wearing “LA Strong” T-shirts provided by Angel City to acknowledge the ongoing fire relief efforts and the families dealing with the devastation.
year 4 of SD wave fútbol ? pic.twitter.com/M8QuB0GjfU
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 15, 2025
Additionally, the Wave’s match kits will feature limited-edition San Diego Fire-Rescue Department patches on the back of the player jerseys.
It’s a transition year for the club, which is billing the year as the beginning of the “Wave’s New Era.” They’re moving on without stars Alex Morgan – who retired in the middle of last season – and Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw, who now toil for Chelsea and the North Carolina Courage, respectively.
San Diego heads into the 2025 campaign with a new coach, Jonas Eidevall, whose squad includes 12 new signings, midfielders Gia Corley, Kenza Dali and Favour Emmanuel, forwards Adriana Leon and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu and defender Trinity Armstrong among them.
The crew includes three teenagers from the U.S. U-20 National team, Armstrong, Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio.
Sunday’s match will be broadcast live on ESPN2. The Wave plays their first match at home on March 22, welcoming Utah Royals FC.
