Reilyn Turner Bio
Reilyn Sky Turner (born October 18, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing at 5 ft 9 in, she is recognized for her finishing instincts, her movement in the attacking third, and her composure in high-pressure moments. Turner also represents the United States at the international level and has been part of multiple U.S. Youth National Team setups before earning her senior debut.
Born and raised in Southern California, Turner built her reputation as a prolific goalscorer during her time with the UCLA Bruins, where she helped deliver a national championship and claimed a major Pac-12 award. Selected sixth overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC, she was traded midseason to the Portland Thorns, where she continues to develop into one of the league’s promising young forwards.
Early Life and Background
Reilyn Sky Turner was born on October 18, 2002, in Lakewood, California, in the United States. She is the daughter of Nate Turner, a former National Football League (NFL) wide receiver, and Felicia Madrigal, a former University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) soccer player. Growing up around two accomplished athletes gave Turner early exposure to competitive sports and shaped her understanding of professional discipline.
Turner has an older sister, Blake, who played college soccer at Columbia University, reinforcing the family’s strong sporting pedigree. Turner herself grew up in Aliso Viejo, California, and attended Laguna Beach High School, where she played for the school soccer program before committing to UCLA. Her athletic family background, combined with the sunny Southern California climate, allowed her to train and play year-round from a young age.
Path to Soccer
Turner’s pathway into professional soccer began through the U.S. Youth National Team system. In 2018, she featured for the United States at the U-17 level and scored twice at the 2018 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. She continued with the United States U-19 team from 2018 through 2020, gaining valuable experience in international competition and establishing herself as one of the country’s top forward prospects.
Alongside her national team duties, Turner committed to play college soccer at UCLA, joining the Bruins program in 2020. Her combination of pace, finishing ability, and tactical awareness quickly marked her as a future professional. By the time she entered the NWSL Draft, Turner was regarded as one of the top forward prospects in her class, which led to her selection by Racing Louisville FC in 2024.
Reilyn Turner Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
Turner played for the UCLA Bruins from 2020 to 2023, emerging as one of the most productive attackers in program history. Across her collegiate career, she scored 42 goals and added 16 assists. She finished her time at UCLA ranked fifth all-time in goals, game-winning goals, and multi-goal games, and sixth in total points.
In 2021, Turner became the first college athlete to sign a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike, a milestone that highlighted her marketability as a young American soccer star. During her 2022 campaign, she scored the game-winning goal in the College Cup semifinals and then netted the equalizing goal in the championship match, helping UCLA secure its second national title. She was named to the All-Tournament Team and earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors. As a senior in 2023, Turner became the first player in UCLA history to win the Pac-12 Forward of the Year award and was also named a second-team All-American by United Soccer Coaches.
Racing Louisville FC Breakthrough (2024)
Turner entered the professional ranks as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, selected by Racing Louisville FC in the first round. She became the fifth first-round pick in Racing Louisville’s history, joining a group that included Emily Fox, Emina Ekic, Jaelin Howell, and Savannah DeMelo. On February 21, 2024, Turner signed her first professional contract with the club.
She adapted quickly to the NWSL level. In an away match against the Seattle Reign in 2024, Turner scored the equalizing goal in the 97th minute to secure a 1–1 draw, demonstrating her composure and knack for late, decisive finishes. Her promising start in Louisville laid the foundation for the next step in her career.
Portland Thorns FC Era (2024–Present)
On August 21, 2024, Racing Louisville FC traded Turner to the Portland Thorns FC in exchange for Canadian international Janine Beckie. Turner made her Thorns debut just three days later, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat to NJ/NY Gotham FC. The transition to a new club did not slow her down, as she scored her first goal for Portland on September 4, 2024, during a CONCACAF W Champions Cup victory over Club América.
The Thorns advanced to the NWSL playoffs that season and faced Gotham FC in the first round. Turner scored the equalizer in the 75th minute, briefly giving Portland hope of an upset, before a decisive goal from Rose Lavelle ended the Thorns’ postseason run. Turner’s contributions during her rookie season showed that she could deliver in high-stakes matches.
Driving Style and Strengths
Turner is known for her intelligent movement off the ball, her clinical finishing inside the box, and her willingness to make late runs into dangerous areas. Her ability to score crucial goals in stoppage time and in championship moments reflects strong tactical awareness and mental toughness. She combines technical skill with a forward’s instinct for goal, making her a versatile attacking option in the NWSL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her standout moments, Turner scored the 2022 College Cup championship equalizer for UCLA and netted a 97th-minute equalizer in her first NWSL season against Seattle Reign. She also became the first UCLA player to win Pac-12 Forward of the Year and the first college athlete to sign an NIL deal with Nike, marking her as a trailblazer in women’s college soccer.
Reilyn Turner Career Wins
Across her college and professional career, Turner has delivered several signature victories and milestones. She helped UCLA win the 2022 NCAA national championship and won Man of the Match-style recognition as Most Outstanding Offensive Player of that tournament. In the NWSL, she has produced decisive goals for both Racing Louisville and Portland Thorns.
NWSL Highlights
Turner was selected sixth overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft and recorded her first NWSL goal with Racing Louisville against Seattle Reign. After joining Portland midseason, she scored her first Thorns goal in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup against Club América. She also found the net in the NWSL playoffs against Gotham FC during the 2024 postseason.
Other Wins & Performances
On the international stage, Turner represented the United States at the 2018 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, where she scored twice. She was later invited to Emma Hayes’s Futures Camp in January 2025 and earned her first senior USWNT call-up in January 2026, scoring on debut in a 6–0 friendly win over Paraguay on January 24.
Reilyn Turner Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Turner comes from a deeply athletic family. Her father, Nate Turner, is a former NFL wide receiver, while her mother, Felicia Madrigal, played college soccer at UNLV. Turner also has an older sister, Blake, who played soccer at Columbia University. This blend of football and soccer influences helped shape Reilyn’s competitive mindset and love for the game.
Personal Life
Turner grew up in Aliso Viejo, California, after being born in nearby Lakewood, and she continues to be based in the United States as she pursues her professional career. She keeps her personal life largely private, focusing public attention on her performances with Portland Thorns FC and the United States national team.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NWSL season, Turner was expected to play an expanded role with the Portland Thorns following her strong finish to the 2024 campaign. Her performances in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup and the NWSL playoffs underlined her value as a clutch goalscorer, and the Thorns were expected to build attacking sequences around her movement and finishing.
Turner’s January 2025 invitation to Emma Hayes’s Futures Camp also signaled her growing importance to the U.S. senior setup, allowing her to train alongside established international players. Her continued development with the Thorns was seen as central to both her club’s ambitions and her push toward a senior international debut.
With increased responsibility, deeper tactical understanding, and confidence from a productive rookie season, Turner’s 2025 outlook pointed toward more starts, more goal-scoring opportunities, and a leading role in Portland’s push for playoff contention and silverware.