A Homecoming for the Reale Family
Lilly Reale, the 2025 NWSL Rookie of the Year, was officially traded to Boston Legacy FC on June 17, signing a four‑year contract that runs through 2029 and reuniting her with her younger sister Sophie, who is already training with the team.
The move places the Reale family at the center of a high‑profile homecoming story, as their mother Melissa expressed excitement that all three children now call Massachusetts home and noted that roughly 50 relatives plan to attend Lilly’s debut.
Reale’s résumé reads like a rapid ascent: after a four‑year stint at UCLA where she made 83 appearances, earned Pac‑12 Defender of the Year honors twice, and captured a national championship, she helped Gotham FC secure the NWSL championship as the eighth seed in the playoffs.
During her tenure with Gotham, she contributed 36 interceptions and ranked second in the league with 54 tackles, earning a call‑up to the U.S. Women’s National Team and nine caps, while also being named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
The Legacy, currently sitting 14th in the 16‑team league with a 2‑7‑3 record, will host Bay FC at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on July 5, a match that could mark a turning point for the club.