In 2024, before she became the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League draft; before she joined the world-famous Savannah Bananas minor league team, Kelsie Whitmore came to the Oakland Ballers open tryouts. Whitmore, a pitcher, signed with the team and became the first woman to start a Pioneer League game.
Then last year, James Colyer came to the Ballers open tryouts. A lifelong Oakland baseball fan, sporting a large A’s logo tattooed on his thigh, Colyer was also a very good baseball player on his Logan High School team in Union City, and then at Ohlone College, Shorter University, and Cal State East Bay. His dream was to play professionally. Not only did Colyer, another pitcher, make his hometown team, he won a championship with them, and then went on to get signed by the Washington Nationals. “It’s totally one of those Cinderella stories that you would write up in a baseball movie,” said Casey Pratt, a spokesperson for the Ballers.
What will this year’s dream-come-true story be? Ballers tryouts, open to anyone who has played college or professional baseball in the last five years, are on March 7..
Alysa Liu comes home to Oakland
Alysa Liu competes during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy. She took home a gold medal. Credit: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
A hometown celebration for the figure skater who brought “Oakland to Milan” and came home with the first US individual figure skating gold medal in decades? That’s what I’m f-in’ talking about!
The details are still being sorted out as Team USA hero Alysa Liu makes the talk show rounds, but Mayor Barbara Lee’s office is in talks with Liu about a major event here in Oakland in the coming weeks to celebrate her incredible achievement.
Oakland Athletic League championships
In recent times, Oakland High Wildcats and Oakland Tech Bulldogs have dominated in basketball. Three years ago, Tech girls won their third straight state championship and the O-High boys won their first state championship. The following year, in 2024, it was the O-High girls and the Tech boys who each won a state chip. While 2025 did not produce the same level of results for the Oakland Athletic League, who knows what 2026 will bring, as the Bulldogs and Wildcats meet again in both games.
The opener features the girls championship, where Oakland Tech is favored. In the second game, “freshman sensation” D’Ari Bruce is looking to help the favored Wildcats sweep the Oakland Tech 3-0, but after a close 3-point loss on their homecourt on February 4, the Bulldogs are looking for revenge in the championship game.
The girls and boys soccer championships are also coming up this weekend, and the finalists will be decided on Thursday night. On the girls side, Oakland Tech is the top seed; they are undefeated in league play. On the boys side, the top-ranked Fremont Tigers have a 11-1-1 OAL record and are favored to take home the championship.
Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. girls basketball final, 7 p.m. boys basketball final, Merritt College, 12500 Campus Dr., Oakland; Feb. 28, 5 p.m. girls soccer final, 7 p.m. boys soccer final, Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Tickets, $12 for adults, $7 for children, students and seniors, can be purchased on site or online.
The Oakland Freedom Run and Wellness Festival
The Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network and the Oakland Ballers have organized a 5K Freedom Run fundraiser to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party and the 100th year anniversary Black History Month. The event will also include a wellness festival with free health screenings, food, massage, haircuts, clothing, toys, harm reduction and hygiene supplies. Want to volunteer with the Ballers and become a “Ballunteer” to support the event? There’s still time to sign up.
Feb. 28, starting at 8 a.m., Raimondi Park, 1689 20th St., Oakland. Registration is open now.
Roller derby scrimmage and fundraiser
You don’t have to wait until the official season kicks off in May to watch roller derby up close and personal. The Oakland Outlaws and other Bay Area Derby teams are getting ready to open a new practice facility in East Oakland. To get the warehouse ready for action, they are holding a family-friendly fundraising scrimmage, free skate and radio auction.
Feb. 28, 11a.m., California Historical Radio Society, 2152 Central Ave., Alameda. RSVP and details here.
Brunch with the Ballers
Tafari Tariq, 34, and daughter Xiere, 1, at a parade celebrating the Oakland Ballers’ 2025 league championship near Raimondi Park in Oakland on Oct. 5, 2025. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez for The Oaklandside
As part of SF Beer Week, you can join Oakland Ballers players and front office members – who are bringing last year’s championship trophy with them – for brunch and beer-mosas at Trumer Taproom.
March 1, 12 p.m., Trumer Taproom, 1404 Fourth St., Berkeley.
Californian Interscholastic Federation state championships
The 2026 state championship brackets for basketball and soccer will be released on Sunday, March 1. Keep an eye on the CIF website to see which Oakland teams will be playing in March. The state championship finals for both sports will be held in Sacramento on March 13 and 14; the basketball championships will take place at Golden 1 Center and the soccer championships at Natomas High School.
Meanwhile, state wrestling championships are underway today through Sunday at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, where Oakland’s competitors include Shayna Ward of Oakland Tech, who headed in seeded third in the state.
Oakland Tech’s Shayna Ward at her last training session before heading to state finals in Bakersfield, Feb. 24, 2026. Credit: Sarahbeth Maney
Oakland Ballers open tryouts
Have you played college or professional baseball in the past five years? Then you might want to register for the Oakland Ballers open tryouts. Who knows? You might just make the team, win a ring, and go on to sign with a major league team, like James Colyer did last year.
March 7, 9 a.m., Raimondi Park, 1689 20th St., Oakland.
Oakland Roots season opener
The Oakland Roots season opens at Monterey Bay FC. Die-hard fans can purchase tickets and make the trip to support the local team, or join a local watch party organized by the Oakland 68s at Guadalajara Restaurant, featuring Happy Hour specials all night long. The Roots are kicking off the season with returning Golden Boot winner Peter Wilson; an influx of new talent, including Florian Valot and Tommy McCabe; and yet another new coach, Ryan Martin, who’s looking to bring an exciting attacking, and possibly winning, style of play to Oakland.
Match March 7, 7 p.m., Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. Watch party, 7 p.m., Guadalajara Restaurant, 1001 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland.
Oakland 68s Fans Fest
If you’re an Oakland sports fan, you’ll find hundredsTK of kindred spirits at the free Oakland 68s’ annual Fans Fest at Fruitvale Village. Fans Fest is a family-friendly celebration of all things Oakland sports, with all your local teams plus food, drink, vendors, music, and appearances by players including Oakland A’s and Skyline High legend Bip Roberts, who will emcee. Check out the Oakland 68’s Instagram for updates on performances and appearances.
March 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fruitvale Village, 3301-3451 E. 12th St., Oakland.
Oakland Ballers Fantasy Camp
Have you ever dreamed of participating in a big league baseball tryout? Here’s your chance to get on the field with the Ballers for their first ever Fantasy Camp, where they say “you might meet a legend.”
March 14, 1 to 4 p.m., Raimondi Park, 1689 20th St., Oakland, advance registration required.
Bay Area Falcons season opener
Oakland’s professional women’s and non-binary ultimate frisbee team kicks off their season in San Diego. It’s a long road trip, but you can watch the game online.
March 14, 4 p.m., streaming on YouTube.
Oakland Roots home opener
The Roots’ first home game of their second season, where they’ll face off against New Mexico United at the historic Coliseum, promises to be a party. New Roots coach Ryan Martin, who came from Loudon FC, said “the amount of support and excitement for the team is a different level” in Oakland. Oakland legend E-40 will perform at halftime and there will be a fireworks show postgame.
March 14, 7 p.m., Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, tickets from $30.
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