On Wednesday morning, Bay FC announced the signing of their first player, bringing back a former Santa Clara Bronco to the Bay Area.
Midfielder Alex Loera, the captain of Santa Clara’s 2020 NCAA women’s soccer championship team, was acquired from the Kansas City Current for $175,000 in allocation money and protection from Bay FC in the NWSL 2024 Expansion Draft.
“Alex’s technical ability and passing range makes her the perfect fit for BayFC’s possessional style of play and epitomizes the tone we want to set for the rest of the team,” said Lucy Rushton, General Manager of Bay FC. “Coupled with her tenacity and strength in defense, Alex has all the tools of a complete modern-day defensive center midfielder, and we are delighted to be bringing her back to the Bay Area.”
Loera was an integral part of the 2020 Broncos that won the national championship over Flordia State and was named outstanding defensive player for the tournament. She also made it to the 2021 College Cup Final Four with Santa Clara, but her team bowed out in the semifinals.
Kansas City selected Loera with the 36th pick in the 2021 NWSL draft, and she joined the team in 2022, featuring as a defender or a midfielder. She has also featured for the United States Women’s National Team U-17 and U-23 sides.
After the trade announcement, Loera could barely contain her excitement to return to the Bay Area and play for a team founded by four Santa Clara soccer alumni.
“It is an incredible opportunity to be on the roster of a team that is new to the league but has a deep, rich history of soccer excellence,” said Bay FC defender Alex Loera. “The Bay Area played such a significant role in my soccer career and development, and I could not be more eager to get back to my roots and onto the pitch for Bay FC.”
Bay FC will continue to assemble its roster and will add players through the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft on December 15th.
