Bay FC, a National Women’s Soccer League expansion team in the San Francisco Bay Area, has signed defensive midfielder Alex Loera as their first player.
In exchange for $175,000 in allocation money and protection in the 2024 expansion draft, Bay FC acquired Loera from the Kansas City Current, where she played in her rookie season and scored the fastest goal in the league’s playoff history.
Loera expressed her excitement about joining Bay FC, stating, “As soon as I heard that Bay FC could be a potential team in the league I was so excited. I was like, `Yeah, I’m going to end up back here at some point.’”
Bay FC general manager Lucy Rushton praised Loera, saying, “At 24 years old, I think Alex is widely regarded as probably one of the best midfielders in the league, probably one of the best and most technically gifted ball playing midfielders in the league as well.”
Bay FC, cofounded by former women’s national team players Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton, and Leslie Osborne, was awarded an NWSL expansion team in April. The team is coached by Albertin Montoya.
With the addition of Bay FC and the Utah Royals, the NWSL will expand to 14 teams for the 2024 season.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer