Bay FC’s inaugural roster is beginning to take shape and the soccer team said it plans to continue adding players with ties to the Bay Area.
The National Women’s Soccer League announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Alex Loera, a Kansas City Current defensive midfielder, in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money and protection from Bay FC in next year’s expansion draft. Her contract runs through the 2025 season.
Loera played for the Broncos at Santa Clara University from 2017 through 2021, captaining the team to its second NCAA Division I National Championship win in 2021.
"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,” Loera said in a statement.
She also said it’s "an incredible opportunity" to join a team that is new to the league but has a “deep, rich history of soccer excellence.”
Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton, previously with Major League Soccer and the Premier League, praised Loera’s ability on the field.
Ex // Top Stories
Majority of voters supported Mayor London Breed’s ballot measure to boost the downtown economy
Wall Street may be regaining its appetite for new companies, which could be good news for local startups, investors and San Francisco
A new study reported that traces of the virus can be found in both blood and tissue samples for extended periods of time
"Alex’s technical ability and passing range makes her the perfect fit for Bay FC’s possessional style of play and epitomizes the tone we want to set for the rest of the team," Rushton said.
"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,” she added.
Ruston said the squad would continue getting fleshed out through a mix of acquisitions, free agency and next month’s expansion draft.
On Monday, the team gave the Orlando Pride $50,000 in allocation money and expansion protection in exchange for the latter’s first round pick in the draft scheduled for Dec. 15.
Bay FC, which joins the league next year alongside Utah Royals FC, will kick off in March at San Jose’s PayPal Stadium.
Next season will also be the first under the NWSL’s new media rights deal worth $240 million to the league over four years.
