Jayden Perry Bio
Jayden Lee Perry (born March 31, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the UCLA Bruins, winning the 2022 national championship.
Early Life and Background
Jayden Perry was born in Laguna Hills, California, to parents Jana and Jason Perry. She grew up in Rancho Santa Margarita and has two younger siblings. During her time at Trabuco Hills High School, she captained the soccer team and earned all-state honors. Perry also played club soccer for Slammers FC, where she achieved significant success, winning the ECNL under-15 national championship in 2018. Her commitment to play for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) came before her sophomore year of high school.
Path to Soccer
Perry began her collegiate soccer career with the UCLA Bruins, where she played in 17 games during her freshman season in 2021, contributing to the team’s Pac-12 Conference regular-season championship. As a sophomore in 2022, she became a key player, starting in 24 matches and playing every minute of the NCAA tournament after the first round. Her efforts helped UCLA secure their second national championship, notably coming back from a two-goal deficit to defeat North Carolina 3–2 in the title match.
Jayden Perry Career
Early Career (2021–2024)
During her time at UCLA, Jayden Perry established herself as a formidable defender. In her junior season in 2023, she started all 19 games and earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors, contributing to her team’s success as they won their second conference championship. In her senior season in 2024, she continued to excel, starting 22 games and helping UCLA lead the nation with 16 clean sheets while earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Throughout her college career, Perry scored seven goals, all from penalty kicks.
Breakthrough (2025)
Jayden Perry’s transition to professional soccer began when Portland Thorns FC announced her signing to a one-year contract on January 22, 2025. She made her professional debut on March 15, 2025, starting and playing the entire match in a 3–1 loss to the Kansas City Current. Her first professional goal came on April 23, 2025, when she converted a penalty kick in a 4–1 victory against Gotham FC. Perry quickly made a name for herself as the fastest NWSL rookie to score a penalty, achieving this milestone in just her fourth appearance.
Notable Works and Milestones
In her rookie season, Perry finished with 18 regular-season appearances, starting 14 of those matches. She scored three penalty goals and played over 1,300 minutes on the field. Her contributions were recognized when she earned the NWSL Assist of the Week for setting up a goal against Racing Louisville.
Jayden Perry Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Jayden Perry has been recognized for her contributions on the field, particularly during her time at UCLA, where she earned accolades for her performance in the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences.
Jayden Perry Awards Won
Jayden Perry’s achievements include winning the NCAA National Championship in 2022 and multiple Pac-12 Conference Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Jayden Perry Family
Jayden Perry was born to Jason and Jana Perry, who have supported her throughout her soccer career. She has two younger siblings, contributing to a close-knit family dynamic.
Personal Life
Details about Jayden Perry’s personal life outside of soccer are limited, as she focuses primarily on her athletic career. As she continues to develop in the NWSL, her journey as a professional athlete remains her primary focus.