Brady Stewart, the CEO of Bay FC and the first public hire in the history of the women’s professional soccer team, has resigned, the team announced Friday.
The team said in the release that a search for Stewart’s successor is underway.
Stewart played a pivotal role during the San Jose-based club’s first two seasons of existence. Stewart was hired in the late spring in 2023, and during her tenure the franchise established a NWSL record for the highest-attended match in league history (40,091 fans at the Giants’ Oracle Park this summer) and work began on a permanent Sports Performance Center on Treasure Island in San Francisco.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we built at Bay FC,” Stewart said in a release issued by the team. “In just two years, we made history – both here in the Bay Area and in women’s sports globally – by proving what’s possible when vision, commitment, and community come together. I’m deeply grateful to the Bay Area and to our fans, whose passion and support from day one helped turn Bay FC into a model of success for women’s sports.”
In the statement, Stewart suggested she is returning to her business “roots.” Stewart joined Bay FC after a long career in the consumer and retail industry, with her longest stint coming at San Francisco-based Levi Strauss and Co. In her 16 years at Levi’s, Stewart was in charge of growing the direct-to-consumer business for the 170-year-old clothing company.
Alan Waxman, Chair of Bay FC, said in the release, “Brady put her heart and soul into this organization and on behalf of everyone across Bay FC we want to thank her for her contributions to building the club. We started this organization two years ago from scratch. During Brady’s time here, Bay FC has established itself as a commercial leader and as a brand full of meaning and purpose for the Bay Area and beyond. As Bay FC enters its next phase of growth, we couldn’t be more excited about the club’s future.”
When Stewart was hired in June of 2023, she told this news organization, “This is my dream job, because it is your opportunity to give a legacy. It’s a legacy for the Bay Area, it’s a legacy for women’s sports, and if we do it right, it’s a global iconic brand.”
Bay FC will have a very new look after their season finale in Louisville on Sunday, Nov. 2. In addition to Stewart’s departure, head coach Albertin Montoya already announced he is stepping down after this season, although he likely will continue to have some role with the franchise. In April, COO Jen Millet left to become the Denver Summit FC’s team president.
The team (4-13-8) is currently on a 14-game winless streak. Bay FC made the playoffs in its debut season after finishing seventh in the 14-team league during the regular season.