{"id":483817,"date":"2026-10-03T10:38:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T10:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/483817\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T10:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T10:38:32","slug":"oakland-sports-in-october-last-roots-match-at-coliseum-valkyries-playoffs-a-new-hockey-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/483817\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland sports in October: Last Roots match at Coliseum, Valkyries playoffs, a new hockey team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before it was a Sports Basement, the building at 2727 Milvia Street in Berkeley was Iceland<\/a>, a rink where many players, including a local kid named Cassidy Lavin, fell in love with ice hockey. Lavin\u2019s dad coached there, which might explain why he started playing when he was 2 years old. Now in his 40s, Lavin still plays the game, and he deeply appreciates it as a fan.<\/p>\n

\"\"Matvey Ivanov of Oakland Skates goes on the attack in an exhibition game against the San Diego Renegades in August. Credit: Jerome Parmer<\/p>\n

For years, he lamented having to travel all the way to San Jose to catch a professional game. Then last year, the Oakland Ballers won the Pioneer League baseball championship<\/a>, and Lavin was inspired. \u201cI was walking back from the championship game and talking to my wife,\u201d he told the Oaklandside. Lavin knew that Santa Rosa had a semipro team that did well, selling out 20 home games a year. Why not Oakland? With his friend Shawn Shelby, another lifelong puckhead, Lavin pitched the idea of starting a team to the Oakland Ice Center. And the rest, they say, is history. Or it will be, when the Oakland Skates<\/a> play their first game on October 30.<\/p>\n

That inaugural match, against the Santa Rosa Growlers, is just one of the many happenings in Oakland sports to look out for this month. We also help you catch up on your Oakland teams.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Golden State Valkyries<\/p>\n

\"\"The Golden State Valkyries celebrate \u201cViolet Day\u201d with a flag raising at Oakland City Hall, September 25, 2026. Credit: Courtesy of Golden State Valkyries<\/p>\n

In only their second season, the Valkyries captured the No. 2 overall seed during the WNBA regular season. Now the team is storming the first round of the playoffs, having demolished the Dallas Wings 104-80 on Sunday at the Chase Center, then losing a squeaker in overtime in Dallas on Wednesday, 108-100. Although they play their home games in San Francisco, the Valkyries\u2019 headquarters and practice facility are both in Oakland, and they recently celebrated \u201cViolet Day\u201d with a flag raising at Oakland City Hall on September 25.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Does that make them an Oakland team? Star player Gabby Williams\u2019 own Oakland roots<\/a> might be reason enough to say so. The halftime show during their playoff win was Oakland\u2019s own Too $hort<\/a>. Despite being prepped by the arena emcee Ari Waller that Too $hort\u2019s \u201cfavorite word\u201d was \u201cValks,\u201d the savvy Oakland-heavy crowd definitely yelled back the original lyric when he performed \u201cBlow the Whistle.\u201d In her on-court interview after the game<\/a>, Williams said, \u201cI heard Too $hort was in the building. I couldn\u2019t lose in front of Too $hort,\u201d before leading the crowd in a call-and-response to \u201cWhat\u2019s my favorite word?<\/a>\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As identified by the Valkyries bar network<\/a>, there are at least 10 bars and restaurants in Oakland showing every game, including Xingones<\/a>, the Oakland Athletic Club<\/a> and the White Horse Inn<\/a>. While all the exact dates, times and opponents are not yet settled for their playoff run, Golden State\u2019s season will end \u2013 hey, maybe with a championship! \u2013 sometime in October.<\/p>\n

\u26bd Oakland Roots<\/p>\n

\"\"The Oakland Roots take on the Indy Eleven in Indianapolis, Sept. 20, 2026. Oakland won the match 1-0. Credit: Matt Schlotzhauer\/Oakland Roots SC<\/p>\n

The Roots are still trying to claw their way back into the playoff picture. With two wins and a loss in September, the team is now tied for ninth place in the USL Championship League\u2019s Western Conference \u2014 and only the top eight teams go through. Oakland is five points out of the playoff picture right now, but with four games in October, they can make up as many as 12 points (wins are worth three points each; draws are worth one) if they go on a winning run.<\/p>\n

Momentum is on their side. The Roots\u2019 last two matches were wins. On September 20, they defeated the Indy Eleven 1-0 on the road in Indianapolis. The lone goal was punched in by striker Peter Wilson who now stands alone as the top scorer in Roots history, with 32 goals. The Roots returned home on September 26 for Beast Mode Night against Phoenix Rising. While perhaps no one had as much fun that night as Roots part owner and Superbowl champ Marshawn Lynch did driving a golf cart around the Coliseum field, Roots players and fans definitely enjoyed this 3-0 romp. Perhaps less heralded amid the excitement over the scoring was keeper Kendall McIntosh\u2019s success in keeping the ball out of the team\u2019s own net yet again. \u201cBack-to-back clean sheets against two pretty good teams is always difficult,\u201d coach Ryan Martin noted.<\/p>\n

But the headline news is that the Oakland Roots are about to play their final home match at the Coliseum.<\/a><\/p>\n

On Fan Appreciation Night, in order to close out their run at the historic venue in style, the Roots have a number of special events planned. It starts with a tailgate party in H Lot with performances curated by The Office Hours<\/a>. At halftime, there will be a fashion show with Oakland designers. After the whistle, there will be a live performance by the Roots\u2019 newest co-owner, Oakland legend Goapele<\/a>. Following that, there will be a final fireworks show over the field. The game itself will be a hotly contested one, as Oakland sits in ninth place, just outside the playoffs, with San Antonio just ahead of them in eighth.<\/p>\n

October 10, 7 p.m., Oakland Coliseum, 7000 S. Coliseum Way, Oakland, tickets from $24<\/a><\/p>\n

\u26be Oakland Ballers <\/p>\n

\"\"Jeter Ybarra hits a home run as the Oakland Ballers face off against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds on June 28, 2026. Credit: Courtesy Oakland Ballers<\/p>\n

The Ballers season is now a wrap, with a 46-50 record good for eighth place in the Pioneer League. On September 6, the Ballers ended their season on a high note with a win in Marysville, beating the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds 17-14. Among the hot bats was Jeter Ybarra\u2019s sweet swing. The infielder went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a home run. Ybarra finished his breakout season by grabbing Oakland\u2019s single-season records for hits (144), home runs (34), doubles (32), RBIs (110) and batting average (.356).\u00a0<\/p>\n

All of which raises a high-stakes question: Will Ybarra return to the Ballers next season? Or will he get signed by a Major League Baseball franchise like 11 Ballers have over the last three years?\u00a0<\/p>\n

And that number doesn\u2019t even include Kelsie Whitmore, who went on from the Ballers to become the No. 1 overall draft pick of the San Francisco Firebells for the inaugural season this year of the Women\u2019s Pro Baseball League<\/a>. While her team fell just short of the title, losing to the Los Angeles Queens 2-0 in a winner-takes-all game 5 on September 22, Whitmore was dominant at the plate and on the mound all season. She led the league in home runs (11) and in pitcher wins (3).<\/p>\n

While home games are over for the season, Oakland Ballers are offering free game tickets for next season to registered \u201cballunteers<\/a>\u201d who show up to help set up, break down and staff the OakTown Third Thursday<\/a> street festival, which is holding its final event of the season this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

October 15, 2:30 to 10:30 p.m. (each volunteer shift is three hours), Latham Square, 1615 Broadway, Oakland, register online<\/a><\/p>\n

\u26bd Chivas vs. Club Am\u00e9rica<\/p>\n

\"\"Club America\u2019s Erick Sanchez heads the ball during a Mexican soccer league match against Chivas in Mexico City, Sept. 19, 2026. Credit: AP Photo\/Eduardo Verdugo<\/p>\n

In a rare opportunity to see two titans of Liga MX<\/a> play stateside, the two winningest teams in Mexican soccer history will face off at the Oakland Coliseum. Club Deportivo Guadalajara, better known as Chivas, have earned 12 titles since their inception in 1943 as a founding member of the league. That was the same year that Club de F\u00fatbol Am\u00e9rica began their storied franchise in Mexico City, Las \u00c1guilas (The Eagles), as Club Am\u00e9rica is nicknamed, who have won 16 titles. As you might expect in our soccer-crazed Town, the tickets have already sold out, but some are available for resale or as part of a ticket package<\/a> with seats at the Oakland Roots\u2019 October 10 match.<\/p>\n

October 4, 5:30 p.m., Oakland Coliseum, 7000 S. Coliseum Way, Oakland, resale tickets available from $125<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"A 34-foot papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and metal sculpture of La Catrina stands tall in Oakland\u2019s Fruitvale Transit Village. The monumental piece was created for Oakland\u2019s 31st annual D\u00eda de los Muertos festival. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

And before the Liga MX match at the Coliseum, the Unity Council, the Oakland 68\u2019s and Visit Oakland are hosting a celebration at the Fruitvale Transit Village by the newly installed 34-foot-tall Catrina sculpture<\/a>. This Fiesta Futbolera<\/a> will feature live Mexican music from Banda 510<\/a> until 1 p.m. when the party boards BART to the Coliseum for the big game.<\/p>\n

October 4, 11 a.m., Fruitvale Transit Village, 3401 E 12th St., Oakland, free<\/p>\n

\u26bd Bay FC<\/p>\n

\"\"Bay FC forward Cristiana Girelli on the field as the team takes on Angel City FC during an NWSL soccer match, March 21, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. Credit: AP Photo\/Scot Tucker<\/p>\n

Bay FC travels to Kansas City to take on Malawian forward and former Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga and the Current in a mid-afternoon matchup. A watch party for local fans of the National Women\u2019s Soccer League is presented by Hysteria Sports Bar<\/a> as a pop-up at Xingones restaurant.<\/p>\n

October 3, 3:30 p.m., Xingones Restaurant, 190 4th St., Oakland, free\u00a0<\/p>\n

Later in the month, Hysteria Sports Bar<\/a> invites local soccer fans to watch together as Bay FC closes out its road schedule in Los Angeles. Angel City FC are jockeying for playoff position as the season ends, and Bay FC can play the spoiler, since they are currently in 13th place out of 16 teams.<\/p>\n

October 24, 5:45 p.m., Xingones Restaurant, 190 4th St., Oakland, free<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfd2 Oakland Skates<\/p>\n

\"\"The Oakland Skates take the puck in an exhibition game against the San Diego Renegades in August. Credit: Jerome Parmer<\/p>\n

The Oakland Skates<\/a> are gearing up for their inaugural season in the semi-pro Mountain Hockey League. With opening night just weeks away, the team is holding a practice open to members of the public who want to see some stick-on-stick action.<\/p>\n

October 17, 8 p.m., Oakland Ice Center, 519 18th St., Oakland, free<\/p>\n

Then, on All Hallows Eve Eve (aka the night before Halloween), the newest professional team to call Oakland home will play their first ever game. The Skates revived the name of the \u201990s roller hockey team in order to bring what might be the first professional ice hockey franchise back to Oakland since the NHL\u2019s Seals<\/a> left 50 years ago.<\/p>\n

October 30, 7:30 p.m., Oakland Ice Center, 519 18th St., Oakland, tickets $20 for adults, $10 for youth<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udefc Oakland Outlaws<\/p>\n

\"\"The Oakland Outlaws on their way to winning a tight match against the San Francisco Rolling Dead on August 1 , 2026. Credit: Will Toft<\/p>\n

After all the effort and excitement of fundraising for their new practice facility<\/a> in East Oakland, and hosting the North American playoffs for the World Flat Track Derby Association in May, it will be a short season for the Oakland Outlaws. They won a thrilling back-and-forth \u201cSummer Slam\u201d match against their frenemies, the San Francisco Rolling Dead, on August 1 by just one point, with a final score of 249-248. The two teams face off again this month for their final roller derby bout of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The team, featuring Hot Toady, Grim Reeba and Thunder Thighs, will soon take on the San Francisco Rolling Dead, whose members include Coffin Bean, Big Perm and Lexistential Dead, in the final roller derby match of the season. \u201cWe had a one point game in August so this one should be very exciting,\u201d Bay Area Derby spokesperson She Creature told The Oaklandside. For this Halloween-themed bout, fans are invited to dress up for a halftime costume contest. Food, drink (including a special \u201cSkatezilla\u201d IPA from Epidemic Ales), and a \u201cvendor village\u201d will be open two hours before the match.<\/p>\n

Oct. 24, 6 p.m., Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, tickets $35 for adults and $12 for youth<\/a> (children under 5 are free)<\/p>\n

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated the wrong date for the Oakland Skates first match on one mention. That match takes place October 30.<\/p>\n

“*” indicates required fields<\/p>\n

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