Karlie Lema is an American professional football player who plays as a striker for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
She scored her first pro goal in her first start: a 70‑yard solo run and finish during Bay FC’s 2‑0 home‑opener win on March 22, 2025.
She competed in track and volleyball in high school, shining in hurdles and long jump as a Junior Olympic athlete.
She began playing football at the relatively late age of 10, after first participating in track and gymnastics.
She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.
She has represented the United States at the U-15 and U-17 levels, scoring a hat trick against Czechia in a UEFA Development Tournament.
In summer 2024, she played for the San Francisco Glens in the USL W League to stay sharp before her senior college season.
As a child, she played in a boys’ league with her stepbrother, which helped toughen her up as a player.
Despite undergoing hip surgery after her freshman year, she became a four-year starter for Cal.
Karlie with her dog.
| Adidas |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025
-
present
|
Bay FC | 10 | 2 |
|
2024
-
2024
|
San Francisco Glens | 2 | 1 |
|
2021
-
2024
|
California Golden Bears | 76 | 31 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2019
-
2019
|
United States U17 | 1 | 0 |
