Alex Loera

Alexis Alycia Loera (born June 19, 1999) is a Mexican-American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League.

Alex Loera
Personal information
Full name Alexis Alycia Loera[1]
Date of birth (1999-06-19) June 19, 1999
Place of birth Thornton, Colorado, U.S.
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Kansas City Current
Number 22
Youth career
Colorado Storm
The Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Santa Clara Broncos 98 (7)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Kansas City Current 25 (1)
International career‡
United States U17
2022 United States U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 6, 2023

Youth career

Loera grew up in Thornton, Colorado, and began playing soccer among other sports when she was three years old. She eventually selected soccer over playing softball.[2] She played high school soccer for The Academy of Westminster, Colorado, and also played for Colorado Storm of the Elite Clubs National League.[2][3]

College career

Loera played NCAA Division I women's soccer for the Santa Clara Broncos. Loera was a captain for the Broncos team that won the 2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, resulting in Santa Clara's second national championship. Loera was also named the tournament's Defensive Most Outstanding player.[3]

Club career

Expansion team Kansas City NWSL selected Loera with the 36th-overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, though she opted to return to Santa Clara for an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She joined the then-renamed Current in 2022.[3]

Kansas City Current, 2022–

On March 18, 2022, Loera made her professional debut for Kansas City as a starter in a 1–1 Challenge Cup draw against Racing Louisville FC. She scored her first professional goal on April 24, 2022, against Chicago Red Stars in a 2–1 Challenge Cup victory, and the goal was featured on SportsCenter as a Top 10 play.[4]

In the 2022 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match against OL Reign, Loera—moving from the backline to defensive midfield in place of suspended Desiree Scott—scored the fastest goal in NWSL Playoffs history with a 4th-minute tally. The goal was Loera's first in the regular season or postseason, and was also the eventual match-winner as Kansas City won 2–0 and advanced to the NWSL Championship match.[5] Kansas City fell in the championship to Portland Thorns FC by a final score of 0–2; Loera started and played the full 90 minutes.[6]

On January 5, 2023, Kansas City Current announced that it had re-signed Loera to a three-year contract through the 2025 season.[4]

International career

Loera was called into camps for the United States under-17 and under-23 national soccer teams.[3]

Honors

Santa Clara Broncos

References
  1. "Class of 2021: Alexis Alycia Loera". Santa Clara University. June 2021. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  2. Azzi, Alex (October 28, 2022). "Q+A: Alex Loera on journey to Kansas City, 2022 NWSL Championship". On Her Turf. NBC Sports. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  3. Wiley, Ben (September 10, 2022). "NWSL Rookie Report: Alex Loera electrifying for the Kansas City Current". Soccer America. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  4. Green, PJ (January 5, 2023). "Kansas City Current re-signs defender Alex Loera". WDAF-TV. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. Hruby, Emma (October 23, 2022). "Alex Loera's first NWSL goal helps Current advance to title game". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  6. Carlisle, Jeff (October 29, 2022). "Portland Thorns overcome adversity-filled season to win third NWSL title". ESPN. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
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