OAKLAND – Alexis Contreras had the football tucked in her left arm as she was flanked by teammates running beside her at Laney College.
Would-be tacklers were strewn along the ground behind the wide receiver, and only open grass remained between Contreras and a place in the history book as the first player to ever score a touchdown for the Golden State Storm women’s tackle football team.
And in her ear that day in early April were shouts from her children, encouraging their mom to get into the end zone before jubilating in the stands. Contreras celebrated the milestone score by launching the ball 20 feet in the air.
Golden State Storm’s Lex Contreras (17) raises her helmet towards fans in celebration during a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
“It was just an amazing feeling. I heard everybody,” Contreras remembered about the moment before breaking out into a smile and adding, “They had fun, and they celebrated.”
The Bay Area’s new semi-pro football team has enjoyed a banner first season, playing in front of packed home crowds that cheer for a roster that features a multitude of mothers. They won’t play this Mother’s Day weekend, but the regular season finishes next Sunday in Los Angeles.
While other teams in the Women’s National Football Conference average around 500 spectators, the Storm have more than tripled that figure (roughly 1,700) for their three home games, by far the most in the league.
Balancing careers such as Tesla engineer, public school teacher and security guard, these women have found time to become key players on a team poised to make the playoffs.
The juggling act is a tricky proposition for players who work full-time jobs, even those whose children are grown.
Take defensive end Nakisha Harris, whose 21-year-old son Zephyr is attending UC Davis with the goal of eventually graduating from medical school as a doctor. As one of the few players who has experience with tackle football, she fondly recalled when Zephyr was just a kid watching her play for the Sacramento Sirens in the 2000s.
“I remember one time when he was probably 7 or 8, he said ‘Mom, you’re Superman.’ I was like, ’That’s so cute,’ Harris said.
Golden State Storm’s Nakisha Harris (47) walks on the field during a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Nowadays, wearing the same number as her age – 47 – Harris dominates as a pass rusher even while keeping a busy schedule off the field.
She teaches full-time at Dublin High and coaches flag football on the side. She usually returns to her Oakland home in the afternoon to recharge before making the long drive to Fairfield for Tuesday and Thursday practices.
Practice begins at 7 p.m., and Harris doesn’t make it back home until 11 on most nights. Even then, her day is not done.
“Then I take care of my body, so I soak in Epsom salts for at least a half hour after practice,” Harris said. “Then I go to bed and get up and do it all over again.”
The practices include all of the drills and film study that most levels of tackle football entail. There are 55 players on the Storm roster. They hail from as near as Berkeley and San Jose, to as far as Texas, Georgia and even Mexico.
Most of the players have experience playing flag football or another sport but are still becoming acquainted with tackle football, which means much of practice is focused on fundamentals.
Golden State’s DJ Espinosa (19) warms up before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Storm’s Lex Contreras (17) catches the ball during warmups before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Storm’s Lex Contreras (17) catches the ball against Oregon Ravens Amelia Deibler (9) in the first half at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
The Golden State Storm’s Nakisha Harris (47), Golden State Storm’s DJ Espinosa (19), Golden State Storm’s Paulina Lopez (13) tackle the Oregon Raven’s Sara Cabot (21), Oregon Raven’s Jacque Lopez (1), and Oregon Raven’s Jess Gerdes (37) in the second half at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Storm’s DJ Espinosa (19) faces off against the Oregon Ravens in the first half at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Fans cheer for the Golden State Storm at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
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Golden State’s DJ Espinosa (19) warms up before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Given that the workouts are held in the evening, the moms on the team often bring their kids to practice.
“Some players, because they have kids, say that they think they can’t come. But we welcome that,” said assistant coach Wes Aldana, a mom herself to a teenager. “We welcome the kids.”
The hard work is paying off, as the Storm have gone 2-1 in home games and 3-2 overall.
The team is owned by Jake Langner and Brad Grovich, and most involved do so for the love of the sport. All staff and coaches are volunteers. The players don’t make a salary, either, but can generate money through selling tickets and sponsorships.
Golden State Storm’s Lex Contreras (17) jumps on Golden State Storm’s running back coach K.C. Adams at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
The Storm pays for all travel and equipment such as pads and jerseys, far exceeding contributions made by other teams in the league.
“They don’t have to worry about how we’re gonna get out there and where we’re going to stay,” Aldana said. “Everything is lined up.”
While on the road, the players can immediately spot the Lake Merritt-sized differences between the Oakland-based team and its competition in the eight-team Western region of the league.
“Oh, you guys don’t have an ambulance right there,” DJ Espinosa remembered remarking to an opponent in Seattle. “Like that’s such a small thing, but yet, that’s something we didn’t see at one of our other games.”
The Bay Area team is still trying to find its footing financially, but the players appreciate the front office’s desire to make things feel as big-time as possible, even if the gestures are small.
Golden State Storm’s DJ Espinosa (19) smiles on the sidelines before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Espinosa, for instance, travels from Cupertino to practice in Fairfield and games in Oakland. Her son, Joshua, is in grade school and attends games when he can, even those on the road. Afterward, Joshua, his mom and her partner get burgers in nearby Alameda.
“The best part about this, the part he loves the most, is that he’s a season ticket member,” Espinosa said.
The Storm’s 14-8 victory over the Oregon Ravens last week was supposed to be the final home game for Joshua and the rest of the season ticket holders, but that might not be the case.
The Golden State Storm walk towards the field before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Storm’s Lex Contreras (17) and Golden State Storm’s Julysil Paycoan (10) yell in a camera before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Storm’s Nakisha Harris (47) has her cleat tied by Golden State Storm’s Alyssa Dixon (26) before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
The Golden State Storm stands near the bench during a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
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The Golden State Storm walk towards the field before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
The WNFC’s West Coast playoffs are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles in June, and the championship in Texas. However, multiple sources around the Storm said the league could move the playoffs to Oakland after seeing the large crowds at Laney.
“There’s a night-and-day sort of experience I’ve had from then to now,” Harris said when asked to compare playing in Sacramento to Oakland. “We played at a high school before.”
After the win over Oregon, most players went up to the stands to meet loved ones. While hanging onto the railing of the bleachers for support, Espinosa embraced her family, including Joshua.
“He thinks this is the coolest thing ever,” she said.
Golden State Storm’s DJ Espinosa’s 7-year-old son watches her on the field before a game against the Oregon Ravens at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)