Nya Harrison Bio
Nya Layson Harrison is a professional soccer player who plays as a defender for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Born in the United States on November 9, 2002, she has gained recognition as an influential player in women’s soccer and has been called up to represent the Philippines internationally. Harrison showcased her talent while playing college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal, where she was a multi-year starter before turning professional.
Harrison came into the NWSL as one of the more talked-about young defenders of her class, having starred in elite youth soccer and at one of the most decorated programs in college soccer. Her signing with her hometown club, San Diego Wave FC, marked the start of her senior career.
Early Life and Background
Harrison was born and raised in San Diego, California. She is one of three daughters of Sherill and Derrick Harrison. Her mother immigrated to the United States from the Philippines, and her father is African American, giving Harrison a multicultural family background that has shaped her identity and international soccer ties.
She attended Del Norte High School in San Diego, where she played varsity soccer as a forward during her freshman year. Outside of high school, she developed her game with San Diego Surf, one of the top club programs in the country, helping her team reach runner-up finishes at both Development Academy and ECNL national championships. Her strong club career drew national attention, and TopDrawerSoccer ranked her as the 21st-best prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. She committed to Stanford during her sophomore year of high school.
Path to Soccer
Harrison’s pathway to professional soccer ran through the elite youth club circuit and a standout college career. After years of competing at the highest youth levels in Southern California, she joined the Stanford Cardinal for the 2021 season. Her time at Stanford gave her a platform to refine her defending, sharpen her tactical reading of the game, and play in big matches on a national stage.
By the time she completed her senior year, Harrison had logged four seasons of high-level college soccer and had been part of deep NCAA tournament runs. Her combination of club pedigree, college production, and dual national eligibility made her an attractive signing for clubs in the NWSL.
Nya Harrison Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Harrison’s competitive career began at San Diego Surf, where she played from 2017 through 2021. With the Surf, she was part of teams that reached national championship finals in both the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and the ECNL, finishing as runner-up at both events. Those performances established her as one of the top defenders in her age group.
At the international youth level, Harrison trained with the United States under-16 team in 2018 and later with the United States under-18 team in 2020. Those camps gave her early exposure to high-level international soccer and confirmed her standing as a top American prospect.
Stanford Cardinal Era (2021–2024)
Harrison enrolled at Stanford in 2021 and immediately contributed to the program. As a freshman in 2021, she played in six matches and scored one goal. In her sophomore year of 2022, she appeared in nine games as she continued to earn a larger role on the back line.
Her junior year in 2023 represented her breakthrough at the college level. She played in 20 matches with 11 starts and scored one goal while helping Stanford reach the NCAA tournament final, where the Cardinal lost to Florida State to end an otherwise undefeated season. As a senior in 2024, she started all 23 games and scored one goal, contributing to 12 shutouts during Stanford’s first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She helped Stanford reach the NCAA tournament semifinals, where the team fell to Wake Forest.
San Diego Wave FC Era (2025–Present)
On March 12, 2025, San Diego Wave FC announced that the club had signed Harrison to a short-term contract through June. The move made her the first player of Filipino heritage to sign a contract in the NWSL, a milestone that drew attention in both American and Filipino soccer circles. On June 20, the club re-signed her for the remainder of the year, signalling her value to the team.
Harrison made her professional debut on October 18, 2025, coming on as a stoppage-time substitute for Dudinha in a 6–1 victory over the Chicago Stars that clinched a playoff spot for the Wave. On January 2, 2026, San Diego Wave announced that Harrison had signed a one-year contract extension, keeping her with the club into 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 5 ft 4 in, Harrison is a compact right back whose game is built on positioning, anticipation, and one-on-one defending rather than pure size. Her college film shows a player comfortable stepping into tackles, recovering quickly, and supporting attacks down the flank. Coaches have praised her composure under pressure and her willingness to compete in duels against bigger opponents.
Notable Events and Milestones
Harrison’s most notable milestones include reaching the 2023 NCAA championship match with Stanford, becoming the first Filipina to sign an NWSL contract with San Diego Wave FC in 2025, and making her professional debut in a playoff-clinching win over the Chicago Stars in October 2025. She is also a cousin of former NFL linebacker Jashon Sykes.
Nya Harrison Career Wins
Harrison’s competitive record so far is rooted in club finals and deep college tournament runs rather than a long professional trophy haul. With San Diego Surf, she reached national championship finals at both the Development Academy and ECNL levels. With Stanford, she played in the 2023 NCAA championship match and the 2024 College Cup semifinals.
Stanford Cardinal Highlights
Across four seasons with Stanford from 2021 through 2024, Harrison appeared in more than 55 matches and scored multiple goals. She started every match of her senior year in 2024 and helped the program post 12 shutouts. Her junior-year run to the NCAA title game and her senior-year College Cup semifinal appearance are the defining moments of her college résumé.
Other Wins and Performances
With San Diego Surf, Harrison was part of teams that finished as national runner-up in the Development Academy and ECNL. Her professional debut with San Diego Wave FC came in a 6–1 victory over the Chicago Stars, a result that clinched the club’s place in the NWSL playoffs.
Nya Harrison Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Harrison comes from a close-knit family in San Diego. Her mother, Sherill Harrison, was born in the Philippines before moving to the United States, which gave Nya her connection to Filipino soccer. Her father, Derrick Harrison, is African American. She is one of three daughters in the family and a cousin of former NFL player Jashon Sykes.
Personal Life
Off the field, Harrison has been outspoken on athlete rights. In December 2023, alongside Stanford teammate Sedona Prince and DeWayne Carter, she filed suit against the NCAA seeking to challenge restrictions on student-athlete compensation. She stands 5 ft 4 in tall and continues to live and play in her hometown of San Diego.
2025 Season Performance
Harrison’s first professional season with San Diego Wave FC in 2025 was a steady introduction to the NWSL. After signing a short-term deal in March and being re-signed in June, she worked into the squad over the summer and fall. Her debut came in one of the most important matches of the year, a 6–1 win over the Chicago Stars that clinched a playoff berth for the Wave.
Across the season, Harrison served as a depth option at right back, contributing to a defensive group that pushed San Diego into the postseason. The club’s decision to extend her contract in early January 2026 signalled that her rookie year had met expectations and that the Wave viewed her as part of the club’s long-term plan.
Looking ahead to 2026, Harrison is expected to compete for a larger role on the right side of the Wave’s back line. With a full preseason and a season of NWSL experience now under her belt, she is well placed to take a step forward in minutes, responsibility, and visibility on a contending roster.