Baseball Doesn't Have a Monopoly on Bobbleheads
The World Cup wrapped up, but MLS is still in full swing. The WNBA is in the middle of its most-watched season ever. And both leagues are giving away bobbleheads.
We track promotions across all North American sports, not just baseball. This is the first of what will become regular non-baseball coverage — a look at every bobblehead and notable giveaway still on the calendar across MLS and WNBA for the rest of 2026.
If you're only checking baseball schedules, you're leaving bobbleheads on the table.
MLS Bobbleheads
Major League Soccer doesn't do bobbleheads at the volume of MLB, but when they do, they tend to be fan favorites with real collector appeal. Here's what's still coming:
| Date | Team | Bobblehead | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22 | Charlotte FC | Ashley Westwood Bobblehead | TBD |
| Sep 5 | Charlotte FC | Kristijan Kahlina Bobblehead | TBD |
Charlotte FC is the clear MLS bobblehead leader this season with two scheduled. Westwood is a fan-favorite midfielder and Kahlina is the starting goalkeeper — both solid choices for a team still building its identity in their fourth season.
What Already Dropped (In Case You Missed It)
| Date | Team | Bobblehead |
|---|---|---|
| May 9 | Nashville SC | Eddi Tagseth Bobblehead Night |
| May 16 | San Diego FC | Anders Dreyer Bobblehead Night (first 20,000 fans) |
Nashville and San Diego each did one early in the season. If you're a collector, these are already on the secondary market.
WNBA Bobbleheads & Figurines
The WNBA is where non-baseball bobblehead collecting is really heating up this year. Between expansion teams, legends nights, and the general surge in WNBA popularity, there are more collectible giveaways than ever:
| Date | Team | Giveaway | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12 | Golden State Valkyries | Violet Bobblehead (mascot) | First 10,000 fans |
| Aug 19 | Washington Mystics | Sonia Citron Bobblehead | TBD |
| Aug 20 | Las Vegas Aces | Bucket$ Bobblehead (San Antonio Stars Legacy Night) | First 7,500 fans |
| Sep 17 | Seattle Storm | Dominique Malonga Funko POP | First 5,000 fans |
| Sep 24 | Phoenix Mercury | Fan-Voted Player Bobblehead | First 5,000 fans |
The Highlights
Golden State Valkyries — Violet Bobblehead (Aug 12): The expansion Valkyries are giving away a bobblehead of their mascot Violet. This is their inaugural season, so this becomes a first-year collector's item by default. First 10,000 fans.
Las Vegas Aces — Bucket$ Bobblehead (Aug 20): This is part of their "San Antonio Stars Legacy Night" celebrating the franchise's history before the Vegas relocation. Bucket$ was the Stars' mascot. A deep-cut nostalgia play for longtime WNBA fans. First 7,500 fans.
Seattle Storm — Dominique Malonga Funko POP (Sep 17): Not technically a bobblehead, but a Funko POP of the Storm's breakout rookie is arguably more collectible. First 5,000 fans — this one will go fast.
Phoenix Mercury — Fan-Voted Player Bobblehead (Sep 24): The fans pick who gets immortalized in plastic. This is their Fan Appreciation Night closer. First 5,000 fans. I'm planning to be there for this one — expect a pickup review after the game.
Washington Mystics — Three Bobbleheads This Season: The Mystics are the WNBA's bobblehead leaders with Kiki Iriafen (Jun 28, already dropped), Monique Currie Legends Night (Jul 6, just happened), and Sonia Citron (Aug 19, still coming). If you're in the D.C. area, the Citron bobble is the one to target — first-year starter on a team with a lot of buzz.
Best Non-Bobblehead Giveaways Still Coming
Not everything worth collecting is a bobblehead. Here are the standout giveaways across both leagues:
Jerseys & Apparel
| Date | League | Team | Giveaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28 | WNBA | Minnesota Lynx | Native American Heritage Night soccer jersey |
| Aug 20 | WNBA | Los Angeles Sparks | Dodgers x Sparks co-branded baseball jersey |
| Sep 18 | WNBA | Minnesota Lynx | Noche Latina soccer jersey |
| Sep 21 | WNBA | Phoenix Mercury | Noche Latina fútbol jersey (first 5,000) |
| Sep 19 | MLS | Portland Timbers | Hispanic Heritage Night limited-edition scarf |
The Sparks x Dodgers co-branded jersey (Aug 20) is interesting — a full baseball-style jersey in Sparks branding, given to all fans in attendance. Cross-sport collectible.
The Minnesota Lynx run a recurring soccer jersey series tied to themed events throughout the season (Black Excellence, Pride, Women's, Native American Heritage, Noche Latina). They're all ticket-bundle exclusives, meaning you need the special package — not just a general admission ticket.
Bags & Accessories
The Golden State Valkyries are doing a giveaway nearly every home game in their inaugural season — cross body belt bag (Jul 25), backpack (Aug 6), mini tote bag (Aug 17), shoulder bag (Sep 19). If you're a Valkyries fan, just show up early to every game.
Theme Nights Worth Noting
| Date | League | Team | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16 | WNBA | Phoenix Mercury | Diana Taurasi Ring of Honor — GOAT plush (first 5,000) |
| Sep 5 | MLS | Columbus Crew | Grateful Dead Night — tie-dye shirt (ticket package) |
| Sep 13 | MLS | San Diego FC | Hispanic Heritage Night — cowboy hat (first 25,000) |
| Oct 24 | MLS | Columbus Crew | Throwback Night — metal lunchbox (ticket package) |
The Diana Taurasi Ring of Honor night (Aug 16) is an event in itself — they're retiring her number and giving away a GOAT plush to the first 5,000 fans. Whether you collect WNBA or not, that's a piece of basketball history.
How This Compares to Baseball
A quick reality check on volume:
| League | Bobbleheads This Season | Total Giveaway Events |
|---|---|---|
| MLB | 80+ | 500+ |
| MiLB | 195+ | 2,000+ |
| MLS | 4 | ~40 |
| WNBA | 6 (incl. Funko) | ~60 |
Baseball still dominates by sheer quantity. But the WNBA and MLS giveaways tend to be more limited (1,500–10,000 units vs. MLB's 40,000) which makes them harder to get and more collectible long-term.
What's Next
We're adding MLS and WNBA to our regular schedule coverage alongside MLB and MiLB. You can already browse these promotions on the site — and next year, we'll have full preseason previews for both leagues when their calendars drop.
For now, the September stretch is loaded. The Mercury bobblehead, the Malonga Funko POP, and Charlotte's Kahlina bobble are all still ahead. Plan accordingly.
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