Alex Loera Bio
Alexis Alycia Loera (born June 19, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender or as a midfielder for the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) tall and wearing jersey number 12, Loera is recognized for her defensive intelligence, versatility across the backline and midfield, and her knack for scoring in high-pressure moments. She has represented the United States at the under-17 and under-23 levels and continues to build a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable young players.
Early Life and Background
Alexis Alycia Loera was born on June 19, 1999, in Thornton, Colorado, United States. She grew up in Thornton alongside a wide range of athletic interests, beginning to play soccer along with several other sports when she was three years old. As she progressed through her childhood, Loera eventually chose to focus on soccer over softball, a decision that set the direction for the rest of her athletic life.
Loera attended The Academy of Westminster in Colorado, where she played high school soccer. Outside of the school program, she also developed her game with the Colorado Storm of the Elite Clubs National League, one of the top youth club competitions in the United States. The combination of strong high school coaching and elite-level club play helped her build the defensive foundation that would later define her style as a professional.
Path to Soccer
Loera’s path to the professional game ran directly through one of the strongest collegiate women’s soccer programs in the country. She joined the Santa Clara Broncos, competing at the NCAA Division I level from 2017 through 2021. Her time in the Bay Area sharpened her tactical reading of the game, refined her passing range out of the back, and prepared her for the speed and physicality of the NWSL.
In 2020, Loera served as a captain of the Broncos squad that captured the NCAA Division I women’s soccer tournament title, earning Santa Clara its second national championship. Her performances throughout the bracket were recognized with the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, a clear sign that she had become a leader on a championship-level team. Those years also brought invitations from the United States Soccer Federation, including camps with the U.S. under-17 and under-23 national teams, further confirming her status among the country’s top young defenders.
Alex Loera Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Loera entered the professional ranks through the 2021 NWSL Draft, when expansion side Kansas City NWSL selected her with the 36th-overall pick. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional year of eligibility it created, she chose to return to Santa Clara for her final collegiate season before joining the then-renamed Kansas City Current in 2022. That extra year allowed her to graduate from college as a national champion and arrive in the NWSL with both a trophy and an extra season of experience.
Kansas City Current Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Loera made her professional debut on March 18, 2022, starting for Kansas City in a 1–1 NWSL Challenge Cup draw against Racing Louisville FC. She wasted little time making an offensive impact, scoring her first professional goal on April 24, 2022, against the Chicago Red Stars in a 2–1 Challenge Cup victory. The strike was selected as a Top 10 play on SportsCenter, an early indication of her ability to produce memorable moments.
Her most defining moment came in the 2022 NWSL Playoffs semifinal against OL Reign. With Loera shifted from the backline into defensive midfield to replace the suspended Desiree Scott, she scored in the fourth minute, recording the fastest goal in NWSL Playoffs history. The tally stood as the match-winner in a 2–0 victory that sent Kansas City to the NWSL Championship match, where she started and played all 90 minutes in a 0–2 final loss to the Portland Thorns FC. On January 5, 2023, the Current re-signed her to a three-year contract running through the 2025 season, cementing her as a core part of the club’s plans.
Bay FC Era (2023–2024)
On November 15, 2023, Kansas City traded Loera to NWSL expansion side Bay FC in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money and protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. The move made her the first player signed in Bay FC’s history, giving her a unique role in building the identity of a brand-new franchise. She spent the 2024 season with Bay FC, contributing as a versatile defender and midfielder in the club’s inaugural NWSL campaign.
Utah Royals Era (2025–Present)
On December 19, 2024, Loera joined the Utah Royals from Bay FC in an intra-league transfer valued at $25,000, with an additional 15% sell-on fee included. The deal kept her under contract with Utah through the 2027 season, signaling a long-term commitment from the club. She made her first appearance for Utah on Friday, May 9, 2025, against Angel City FC, returning to the field after recovering from an ACL tear.
Just twelve days after that return, on May 21, 2025, Loera announced that she had suffered another ACL tear, pausing her momentum with the Royals. Despite the setback, her place in the team’s long-term plans remained intact, and the focus shifted to recovery, rehabilitation, and a targeted return to the pitch.
Driving Style and Strengths
Loera’s game is built on tactical awareness, clean tackling, and the ability to read the game from multiple positions. She is comfortable operating as a traditional center back, stepping into defensive midfield when needed, and contributing to build-up play with composed distribution. Her willingness to step into bigger roles, such as the midfield shift in the 2022 playoffs, has shown coaches that she can be trusted in high-leverage moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Loera’s signature moment remains her fourth-minute goal against OL Reign in the 2022 NWSL Playoffs semifinal, the fastest goal in league postseason history and the strike that sent Kansas City to its first NWSL Championship. She is also recognized as the first player signed in Bay FC history and as a national champion and Most Outstanding Defensive Player from the 2020 NCAA tournament.
Alex Loera Career Wins
Loera’s verified trophy case centers on her college success and a pair of landmark individual milestones at the professional level. Her 2020 NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship with Santa Clara stands as her highest team honor, while her place in the NWSL record book is anchored by the fastest goal in playoff history.
National Women’s Soccer League Highlights
Loera’s first NWSL goal came against the Chicago Red Stars on April 24, 2022, a Challenge Cup finish later featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10. She added a defining postseason strike against OL Reign in the 2022 playoffs semifinal, then helped Kansas City reach the NWSL Championship match the same year. Her most recent club move came in December 2024, when she was transferred to the Utah Royals on a contract that runs through 2027.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Loera has represented the United States at both the under-17 and under-23 age groups, including a 2022 appearance with the U.S. U-23 team. Her club résumé also includes being named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2020 NCAA Division I women’s soccer tournament, a recognition that highlighted her as one of the top defensive players in college soccer that season.
Alex Loera Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Loera was raised in Thornton, Colorado, and credits her early years there, and the influence of her family and local coaches, with her decision to focus on soccer over other sports. She is a Christian and has spoken openly about the role faith plays in her career and daily life.
Personal Life
Loera is in a relationship with Chardonnay Curran, a former Kansas City Current teammate. The couple’s connection, first built in the Kansas City locker room, has been a steady part of her life alongside her professional commitments.
2025 Season Performance
Loera’s 2025 campaign with the Utah Royals was defined as much by resilience as by on-field production. After completing her transfer from Bay FC in December 2024 and signing a contract that runs through 2027, she was working her way back from an ACL injury sustained earlier in her career. Her first appearance of the season came on May 9, 2025, against Angel City FC, marking an emotional return to competitive soccer for both player and club.
That return was cut short on May 21, 2025, when Loera announced she had suffered a second ACL tear, bringing her 2025 season to an early halt. The injury forced the Royals to adjust their defensive plans, but the club’s long-term commitment to her, reflected in the length of her contract, signaled confidence in her eventual comeback. Her minutes on the field in 2025 were limited, yet her presence in the locker room and her reputation for big-game performances continued to carry weight within the team.
Looking ahead, the focus for Loera and the Royals is rehabilitation, a full return to fitness, and re-establishing herself as a regular starter in the Utah backline. With her contract running through 2027, she has both the time and the institutional support to write the next chapter of her career, and the 2025 setbacks are widely viewed as a temporary interruption rather than a defining one.