Halftime ceremony celebrated Racheal Kundananji’s Lauren Holiday Impact Award nomination and Bay FC’s commitment to expanding youth access to soccer across the Bay Area
San Francisco (August 16, 2025) – Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji and Soccer Without Borders, an Oakland-based nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers to sports participation for youth, today unveiled the first-ever team kits for an Oakland-based Soccer Without Borders middle school girls’ team during a special pre-match event at Bay FC’s home match against the San Diego Wave. The custom kits, designed in collaboration with Kundananji, the girls’ team, and youth organization Design FC, were made exclusively for the Soccer Without Borders’ middle school girls’ team. Today’s unveiling was part of Kundananji’s nomination for the 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, which recognizes her work locally and globally to expand access to sport for girls and young women. Fans are invited to show support for Kundananji through the Fan Impact Challenge of the Lauren Holiday Impact Award by visiting bayfc.com to vote and are encouraged to vote daily through August 30.
During halftime, Bay FC and Nationwide representatives joined members of the Soccer Without Borders middle school girls’ team on the pitch as the team unveiled their new kits to fans at PayPal Park. For years, the team had requested kits but lacked the funding and resources. Designed entirely by the girls’ team, the kits reflect their creativity, identity, and stories, and align with both organizations’ missions to remove barriers that keep underserved youth from playing sports.
Before today’s match, Bay FC hosted a mini-Media Day for the Soccer Without Borders youth girls’ soccer team to take part in, just as professional athletes would on the day of their season kit unveiling. Bay FC provided hair and makeup for the youth, and had the girls participate in photo and video shoots, as well as a mini press conference. The youth also entered PayPal Park through the player entrance, enjoyed warmups on the field, and will be taking part in a post-match meet and greet with Racheal Kundananji.
Racheal Kundananji Nomination
Today’s unveiling was part of Racheal Kundananji’s nomination for the 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, which recognizes her work locally and globally to expand access to sport for girls and young women. Through the nomination, Kundananji selected Soccer Without Borders as her beneficiary for the award, building on the work of her recently established “Racheal Kundananji Legacy Foundation,” which aims to empower girls in Zambia and worldwide through soccer and sports.
Beyond the pitch, Kundananji has used her platform and foundation to connect with and lead programs across the Bay Area and Zambia to benefit underprivileged girls’ soccer players and youth, including:
- Collaborating with international organizations UNAIDS and UNESCO to host free soccer events, advancing access to the game in underprivileged communities
- Partnering with government officials to support the promotion of equitable governance, the ending of unethical practices, and promotion of girls’ education in Zambia
- Partnering with NOWSPAR Women in Sport to put on a gender and safeguarding workshop, advocating for women’s rights and an inclusive and safe sports environment for female athletes
In 2024, Kundananji was appointed as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and support bridging the gap between global awareness and local action. Earlier this year, she was recognized locally, being named one of 2025’s Most Inspiring Women of the Bay Area by the San Francisco Examiner and Nob Hill Gazette for her important work furthering access to sport, HIV/AIDS awareness, and being a positive role model to young women and girls.
Nationwide has donated $5,000 to Soccer Without Borders in connection with Kundananji’s nomination, and the organization could receive an additional $10,000 if she wins the Fan Impact Challenge, open for daily voting through August 30 at bayfc.com. For more information on Racheal Kundananji, Soccer Without Borders, and the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, click here.
Lauren Holiday Impact Award
The Lauren Holiday Impact Award presented by Nationwide shines light on players who are making a difference in their communities and honors the ongoing example of excellence and commitment set by the two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian ESPY Award.
At the end of the season, one nominee chosen by a panel consisting of Lauren Holiday and representatives from Nationwide, the NWSL, NWSL Players Association and NWSL Media Association, will be named the winner of the 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide. The winner of the award will be announced the week of the 2025 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel. At that time, Nationwide will make a $50,000 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice.
Please note: Message and data rates may apply if fans choose to vote using their mobile device. Votes generated by script, macro, or other automated means, or with the intent to affect the integrity of the voting process will be void.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Tickets are now on sale for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
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