Want more ways to catch up on the latest in Bay Area sports? Sign up for the Section 415 email newsletter here and subscribe to the Section 415 podcast wherever you listen.
At the beginning of 2025, no one expected Rafael Devers would land with the Giants, the Golden State Valkyries would charge into the WNBA playoffs, or that Brandon Aiyuk’s 49ers career would essentially be over.
The cliche “expect the unexpected” exists for a reason, and in 2026, there will again be shocking developments none of us saw coming.
The Standard asked our sports reporters to make one bold prediction for the team they cover anyway.
We can’t always accurately forecast the future, but every idea our reporters present is at least within the realm of possibilities in the year ahead.
Golden State Warriors
Danny Emerman: In 2026, LeBron James will leave the Los Angeles Lakers and commit to spending his Year 23 with Steph Curry and the Warriors.
James will hit free agency at 41 years old this upcoming summer. The Lakers would be smart to prioritize re-signing young guard Austin Reaves, but that could come at the expense of James. What if Los Angeles only offers the four-time MVP a mid-level exception? Would he rather stay close to his family in Los Angeles and play third fiddle for his final season (or more) or head up California to reunite with Curry, his Team USA basketball brother?
If not the Warriors, I could envision James leaving the Lakers for the Cavaliers or Knicks. But Golden State has been interested in James in the past, and might get its best chance at the King soon.
San Francisco 49ers
David Lombardi: The 49ers are on a tear that’s borderline miraculous right now — they’ve resurrected from injury decimation to win six straight games and can grab the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win against the Seattle Seahawks in Saturday’s regular season finale.
How can the 49ers’ run, built on seismically explosive offense to cover for a staggering defense, possibly be sustainable?
The good news for the 49ers: They don’t need to become world-beaters defensively to have a shot to win the Super Bowl. They merely need to secure the easiest playoff path possible and add just a dosage of defensive firepower — just a couple extra stops per game can make a world of difference with Brock Purdy playing at the highest level in the NFL.
Well, both of those parameters are attainable. The 49ers can earn a first-round bye and ensure that the entirety of the path to the Lombardi Trophy — three wins — comes at home (Levi’s Stadium hosts the Super Bowl) just by beating Seattle this weekend. And then superstar linebacker Fred Warner, who’s zeroing in on a January return, can make a dramatic re-entry into the lineup to give the 49ers the boost they need.
So yes, I’m predicting a Warner return and a 49ers’ Super Bowl title — won at home — for 2026.
Brock Purdy is undefeated since returning from a toe injury. | Source: Amber Pietz/The StandardSan Francisco Giants
John Shea: Nobody knows how Tony Vitello will fare as he transitions straight from the college ranks to the big leagues. Whether he succeeds or fails, one thing is certain: He’ll give us one heck of a story.
From the first day of spring training, all eyes will be on the Giants’ new manager. His mannerisms. His body language. His emotions. His decision-making. His in-game moves. His reactions. His handling of players. His relationships with the front office, in particular Buster Posey.
1 day ago
Friday, Dec. 19
Tuesday, Dec. 16
All we can do is guess what’ll happen, and the wager from this corner is that Vitello will quickly morph into a good enough manager to keep the Giants in the playoff hunt through the summer and earn a spot among the three finalists for the National League manager of the year award.
We have little to go by beyond Vitello’s success with younger players, his energy level, his communication skills, his intelligence, and his drive to win, but those are traits that should make a difference at Oracle Park, where mediocre seasons have become the norm.
Posey took a chance with someone who’s not battle tested in pro ball, a huge risk that could backfire, but it says here it’ll work out sooner rather than later.
New Giants manager Tony Vitello will open his first spring training in February. | Source: Amber Pietz/The StandardGolden State Valkyries
Jane Kenny: With one season in the books, the Valkyries won’t just be building in 2026 — they’ll be choosing. The league’s 2025 All Stars will be lining up to rep the Bay, and the franchise will secure a true face-of-the-team talent.
Sabrina Ionescu, supposedly committed to New York for her career, will openly consider a homecoming, drawn by the chance to open a new era in her backyard. The “Studbudz” — Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman — could see San Francisco as the perfect new home for their viral influence and winning basketball. A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell, Breanna Stewart, Gabby Williams are all elite talents and sitting in CBA limbo. They could be admiring the Valkyries’ accomplishments, vision, market, and momentum.
Under GM Ohemaa Nyanin, Golden State will operate from a position of power in the free agency period. After that, Golden State won’t just be knocking at the door of the playoffs, it will be threatening a deep postseason run. It’s all part of Joe Lacob’s five-year plan.
A’ja Wilson is the WNBA’s best player, and she might be compelled to consider a fresh start with Golden State. | Source: Louis Grasse/Getty ImagesSan Jose Sharks
Kerry Crowley: At long last, the Sharks will finally start adding around a core anchored by emerging superstar Macklin Celebrini. Yes, San Jose might sell a few veterans at the upcoming trade deadline, but by the middle of the summer, expect GM Mike Grier to make his biggest free-agent or trade acquisition yet.
Rangers winger Artemi Panarin is expected to be the top free agent available, but there will be other players clamoring to play for the Sharks. Would future Hall of Famer Steven Stamkos, 35, be willing to waive his no-movement clause this summer and play alongside Celebrini in San Jose? At the very least, Grier should be actively working to capitalize on the young core that’s reenergized SAP Center this season.
Bay FC
Kenny: Bay FC has quite a lot to improve upon after its 4-14-8 finish in year two. The franchise won’t fix everything, but it won’t need to. The roster probably won’t look drastically different right away in Kay Cossington and Emma Coates’ first year as the duo in charge, and the defensive spine will still have its shaky moments against the league’s top attacks. But, despite totaling a NWSL-low 26 goals this season, 2026 is the year for Bay FC to become a legitimately dangerous scoring team.
After too many missed chances and a persistent struggle to create shots on target, the attack will click just enough to start flipping results. Taylor Huff and Caroline Conti, with another year of experience, will make up a more confident, more direct, and faster paced midfield under Coates’ directive. Racheal Kundananji was the most consistent piece creating scoring chances in the final third this season, and the new year will bring the finishing. Leading scorer Penelope Hocking or Cal product Karlie Lema will find a breakout season to shoulder a revived attack for the club.
Bay FC won’t dominate on a weekly basis, but the team will boast an offense that can punish opponents and put the ball in the net a whole lot more than it did in year two.
College football
Crowley: The bar isn’t all that high for either program, but fans should expect better results for both Cal and Stanford in 2026.
Under new head coach Tavita Pritchard, the Cardinal will make their first bowl since 2018, when David Shaw led the program to a nine-win season and a victory over Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl.
At Cal, new coach Tosh Lupoi will attack the transfer portal and look to build around quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. In a wide-open ACC, the Bears will remain in a chase for a conference championship berth until the final weekend of the regular season.
If Lupoi can keep Sagapolutele in Berkeley beyond next season, 2027 is the year when the left-handed quarterback could force his way into the Heisman conversation.