Typically, it takes a long time to establish a rivalry. But when you have two cities with a history of disdain like San Diego and Los Angeles, the process can be fast-tracked. San Diego FC’s first meeting with Los Angeles FC at Snapdragon Stadium sure had the feeling of something bigger than your run-of-the-mill early season Major League Soccer

The San Diego Wave FC captured the city’s imagination during its opening three seasons, making professional women’s soccer matches must-see outings. The Wave delivered with a trip to the National Women’s Soccer League’s inaugural semifinal playoffs in 2022 and were back again among the expanding league’s final four playoffs teams in 2023 after winning the league’s regular season shield (top record).