Karlie Lema Bio
Karlie Lema (born June 29, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the California Golden Bears, where she was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Offensive Player of the Year after scoring 16 goals in her senior season.
A four-star recruit out of Northern California, Lema rose through the U.S. youth national team system before turning professional in 2025. She wears jersey number 5 for Bay FC and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young strikers in American soccer.
Early Life and Background
Karlie Lema was born and raised in Morgan Hill, California, where she grew up alongside four siblings in an athletic household. Her father, Dave Lema, played football at San Jose City College, while her mother, Annie Bergholz, ran track at Northern Colorado. This sports-focused upbringing helped shape Karlie’s early interest in athletics and competition.
Before committing to a single sport, Lema explored track and field and gymnastics during her childhood. She began playing soccer at the relatively late age of ten, a starting point that quickly turned into a serious passion. She went on to play ECNL club soccer for MVLA Soccer Club and verbally committed to the University of California, Berkeley, while still in eighth grade at Martin Murphy Middle School.
Lema attended Live Oak High School, where she starred on the soccer team and also competed in track and volleyball. Her dominance on the pitch earned her the Blossom Valley Athletic League Most Valuable Player award three times. A serious hip issue sidelined her for about 18 months before college, and she was rated a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer as part of a California recruiting class ranked the best of 2020.
Path to Soccer
Lema entered the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021 as one of the most highly regarded young players in the country. She immediately made an impact with the California Golden Bears, leading the team with 6 goals in 18 games as a freshman and earning a spot on the Pac-12 Conference all-freshman team.
After her first collegiate season, Lema had surgery to repair a torn hip labrum, an injury connected to the problems that had bothered her in high school. She returned for her sophomore year and scored 5 goals in 21 games, then posted 4 goals and a team-high 4 assists as a junior to earn third-team All-Pac-12 honors. Rest and rehabilitation during that period helped her regain full fitness heading into her senior campaign.
Alongside her college career, Lema represented the United States youth national teams at the under-15 and under-17 levels from 2018 to 2020. She scored in all three matches at the 2019 UEFA Development Tournament, recording a hat trick against Czechia. Before her senior season at Cal, she also gained pre-professional experience with the San Francisco Glens in the USL W League.
Karlie Lema Career
Early Career (2021–2024)
Karlie Lema’s four years at the California Golden Bears gave her a steady platform to grow as a forward. She started every season for the program and progressively raised her production, finishing her career among the most prolific scorers in school history. Her 16 goals in 2024 ranked fourth-most in California Golden Bears program history.
Alongside her collegiate development, Lema played for the San Francisco Glens of the USL W League during the summer before her senior year. That pre-professional stint offered her a first taste of senior-level competition and helped prepare her for the demands of a full professional contract.
California Golden Bears Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Lema’s college career took off in her freshman year, when her 6 goals made her an immediate Pac-12 all-freshman selection. Following offseason hip surgery, she returned to post 5 goals in 21 games in her second season, then added 4 goals and a team-high 4 assists as a junior, earning third-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
Her senior season in 2024 marked her true breakthrough at the national level. She opened the year ranked first in the nation with 13 goals across her first 10 matches and finished with 16 goals and 6 assists in 21 appearances. After California moved into the Atlantic Coast Conference, Lema was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-ACC selection, even as her team finished seventh in the league and exited the NCAA tournament in the second round.
Bay FC Era (2025–Present)
On December 30, 2024, Bay FC announced the signing of Lema to her first professional contract, a three-year deal with an additional option year. The agreement reflected the club’s confidence in her scoring pedigree from Cal and the U.S. youth national teams.
Lema made her professional debut on March 15, 2025, entering as a second-half substitute for Asisat Oshoala in Bay FC’s season opener, a 1–1 draw against the Utah Royals. One week later, on March 22, she earned her first start and scored her first professional goal in a 2–0 win over Racing Louisville, capping the run with a long solo dribble from deep and a finish from the edge of the penalty box.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lema plays as a clinical center forward, combining sharp movement in the box with the ability to carry the ball from deep. Her comfort receiving with her back to goal, paired with long-range dribbling, allows her to threaten defenses in multiple phases of play. Coaches have praised her finishing instincts, acceleration, and willingness to press opposing back lines.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her first NWSL goal against Racing Louisville stood out as a signature moment, showcasing her composure and ball-carrying range. Earlier milestones included a hat trick against Czechia at the 2019 UEFA Development Tournament and her selection as ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, a season in which she ranked among the national leaders in scoring.
Karlie Lema Career Wins
In her young professional career, Karlie Lema has already collected meaningful individual honors and a landmark first professional goal. Her achievements to date reflect a steady rise from standout youth prospect to a contributing NWSL forward.
Club and International Highlights
Lema’s club highlights begin with her first professional goal for Bay FC against Racing Louisville on March 22, 2025, part of a 2–0 win that announced her arrival in the NWSL. She was also a key part of the San Francisco Glens squad in the USL W League.
At the international level, Lema represented the United States at the U-15 and U-17 levels and was called up to the U-23 team in October 2025, training alongside senior national team players. She scored in all three matches at the 2019 UEFA Development Tournament, including a hat trick against Czechia.
Karlie Lema Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Karlie Lema was raised in Morgan Hill, California, in a family with deep ties to college athletics. Her father, Dave Lema, played football at San Jose City College, and her mother, Annie Bergholz, ran track at the University of Northern Colorado. She grew up with four siblings in a household that encouraged multi-sport participation.
Personal Life
Lema has been focused on her transition into professional soccer since signing with Bay FC in late 2024. She is not publicly known to be married, and information about a long-term partner or children has not been disclosed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Karlie Lema entered her first full NWSL campaign with Bay FC after a standout 2024 college season at California. Her early returns suggested she would compete for a regular starting role, and she made her professional debut on March 15, 2025, against the Utah Royals. Within a week she had her first NWSL goal, providing an immediate offensive spark for her club.
Beyond her club duties, Lema was called into the United States under-23 national team in October 2025, training alongside members of the senior squad. That call-up underlined her standing within the broader U.S. women’s player pool as she continues to develop at the professional level.
Looking ahead, Lema’s three-year contract with Bay FC gives her a stable platform to build consistency in front of goal. With her blend of finishing, dribbling, and pressing work rate, she is expected to remain a central part of Bay FC’s attacking identity through the rest of 2025 and beyond.