Back in action: Bay FC aims to turnaround season after World Cup break

SAN JOSE – Bay FC hopes the five-week World Cup break will serve as a reset button for a season that has yet to find its footing.

The team entered the break in 13th place, six points behind the eighth and final playoff spot. The club returns to action Sunday against Boston Legacy FC looking to snap a three-game losing streak and climb back into the playoff race.

“We’ve taken some time to really have a deep dive into how we’ve played,” first-year coach Emma Coates said. “Where we sit from an outcome point of view isn’t where we want to be. But we picked out where we’re performing well, what areas we can level up on and implement some of that work this week. Ready to hit the ground running against Boston.”

The club’s biggest challenge has been generating offense. Bay FC (3-6-2, 11 points) has scored just nine goals, the second-fewest in the 16-team NWSL, despite often controlling possession.

“It’s been an emphasis that we’re working on this week, and hopefully we can develop that confidence and rhythm going into the next half of the season,” Coates said. “We’ve had a little bit of adversity in the front half of the season, and I’m a big believer that binds teams together, and the togetherness of the group is really strong, and everyone’s just looking forward now for the season to kick back up again.”

The break also allowed Bay FC to integrate a key addition. The club acquired midfielder Kennedy Fuller from Angel City FC during the June transfer window.

The U.S. Under-20 international appeared in all 11 matches for Angel City this season, recording two goals and two assists, including playing in Angel City’s 3-1 victory over Bay FC at PayPal Park. Last season, the Texas native ranked among the league’s top 10 in chances created with 36.

“Kennedy is such a dynamic midfielder,” Bay midfielder Hannah Bebar said. “Playing against her was a pain earlier this year because she’s so good on the ball and she gets into those pockets.”

While the Paraguay men’s national team used Bay FC’s training facility at San Jose State as part of its World Cup preparations, Bay’s players scattered for two weeks of rest before coming back to San Jose.

Coates returned home to England, where she welcomed the rainy weather. Defender Maddie Moreau visited Louisiana, where she described the heat as “disgustingly hot.” Defender Sydney Collins spent time outdoors in Bend, Oregon, Bebar vacationed at Disney World with her family and midfielder Caroline Conti traveled to Hawaii.

But they all returned to San Jose with the goal of using the remaining 19 games to make a playoff push.

“I love the culture that we’ve got,” Coates said. “The players are tremendous, the culture they’ve built amongst themselves, willingness to embrace things, to adapt to how we want to play, to take on new challenges, to grow together, to learn together. And as I say, we’re in a really good place. And now it’s around putting in the performances and just getting those all-important points on the board.”

Bay FC will remain on the East Coast after Sunday’s match, traveling directly to Louisville for a Friday matchup. The club’s next home game is July 18 against North Carolina.

“There’s so much season left,” Moreau said. “I think the girls are ready to rewrite a little bit of what we’ve done so far.”