Lilly Reale

She started playing soccer at the age of 3 or 4 and played both forward and center back in high school before dedicating herself to defense.

She was a four-year starter at UCLA, leading the team to a national championship in 2022 and earning All-American honors three times.

She was named the Pac-12 Defender of the Year in both her sophomore and junior seasons, and in 2022, she also won the Honda Sports Award as the best player in college soccer.

Her younger sister, Sophie, also played soccer at UCLA, making it a family affair on the field.

The sisters share hobbies like baking and hot yoga, which have helped strengthen their bond both on and off the field.

She has represented the United States at various youth levels, including the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-20 teams, and even trained with the senior national team in 2025.

She admires athletes like Julie Ertz and Kobe Bryant, drawing inspiration from their dedication and achievements.

She enjoys skiing, surfing, tennis, hiking, long runs, and drives by the water at sunset.

She was Sociology major at UCLA.

With the league moving away from the draft system, Lilly reflects on how special it is to have more control over her professional future. She values the autonomy to choose a team based on her needs for personal and developmental growth, in contrast to the draft system, where the outcome was more uncertain.