After retiring their cleats from Wallis Annenberg Stadium, a lineup of former Bruins will now step onto the professional stage.
As the 2024 season came to a close, the then-No. 2 seed Bruins faced a shorter season than expected, falling short of an NCAA title for the second consecutive year after a second-round exit against then No. 7 seed Virginia Tech. However, their legacy of excellence continues to shine, as eight Bruins have signed professional contracts, taking their talents to clubs across the globe.
“Being a top program in the country, so many of our players aspire to play at the professional level – that’s what drives us,” said coach Margueritte Aozasa. “We feel it’s our responsibility to develop them as much as possible so they can make that transition smoothly.”
As UCLA continues to cement its reputation as a powerhouse for developing soccer talent, several seniors and graduate students from the 2023-2024 season are taking the next step in their careers, transitioning from collegiate competition to the professional stage.
“I think that whole class is just a class to look up to,” said junior forward America Frias. “They were the embodiment of our culture, of hard work, our work ethic –everything.”
Leading the charge is senior defender Lilly Reale, the first of this year’s class to lace up for the pros.
The 2024 Big Ten Defender of the Year and First Team All-American heads across the country to New Jersey to join Gotham FC as a defender. Reale made a name for herself over four standout seasons with the Bruins, collecting an array of accolades, including three consecutive conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, two MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist nods and the Honda Sport Award. As the squad’s captain, she leaves behind a legacy of excellence and leadership, one that returning players say has left a lasting impression on them.
“They (seniors) definitely showed me hard work, discipline and great time management,” said sophomore midfielder Val Vargas. “Especially Lilly – I feel like she had a lot going on school wise and soccer wise, and she obviously impacted our work ethic.”
Reale isn’t the only Bruin making the leap to the East Coast for a change of scenery. Graduate student goalkeeper Ryan Campbell and junior midfielder Sofia Cook, who have also signed with the New York-based club, will join their former teammate across the country.
Campbell, a standout goalkeeper from Stanford and the Big Ten leader in shutouts, will add depth to Gotham FC’s roster alongside Cook, who played a key role in UCLA’s midfield.
Five of the eight Bruins heading to the pros have earned All-North Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches. The Gotham FC recruits claimed first-team recognition while the West Coast squad standouts secured second-team honors.
Staying on the West Coast are senior defenders Jayden Perry and Quincy McMahon, who are continuing their careers in the National Women’s Soccer League. Perry has signed with the Portland Thorns while McMahon is joining the San Diego Wave, making them the fourth and fifth Bruins, respectively, to go pro at the end of this past season.
Perry will reunite with former UCLA forward teammate Reilyn Turner, who signed with Racing Louisville upon her graduation and has since been signed to the Thorns as of August. Meanwhile, McMahon, UCLA’s leading scorer and Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient, will take on a defender role for the Waves after proving indispensable for the Bruins across three positions.
“I’m going to miss her (McMahon), and I do miss her every single day,” Frias said. “She’s one of my closest friends, and she was just such a great role model. I wish all the younger players could have seen the kind of player and person she was – both on and off the field.”
The final three committed Bruins will make their professional debuts on the international stage, with midfielders graduate student Maya Evans and senior Alice Barbieri signing with U.C. Sampdoria in Genoa, Italy, alongside senior defender Ayo Oke who signed a contract with Club Pachuca in Hidalgo, Mexico.
“They set an example of what it looks like, what it takes and what it feels like to put that work in,” Aozasa said. “They’re also great resources for our players – so as they go on and experience the pros – and we’re just really proud that that’s kind of a new core group of our alumni playing at the next level.”
Source: https://dailybruin.com/2025/02/23/ucla-womens-soccer-scores-global-goals-as-players-go-pro/
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