Reyna René Reyes Stubblefield Bio
Reyna René Reyes Stubblefield (born 16 February 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Born in the United States, Reyes represents the Mexico national team at the international level. She came to professional soccer through the college ranks, starring for the Alabama Crimson Tide before being drafted fifth overall by the Thorns in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
A defender capable of contributing on both sides of the ball, Reyes has become a steady presence on the Portland back line while also making an impact in the attacking third with set-piece deliveries and assists. Her dual nationality and bicultural background have shaped a career path that connects the youth systems of Mexico with the top professional league in the United States.
Early Life and Background
Reyes was born and raised in Garland, Texas, in the United States. She is the daughter of a Mexican father and an American mother, a family background that ultimately led her to choose Mexico when she began representing national teams. Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area placed her near one of the largest Mexican-American communities in the country, and soccer was a central part of her upbringing.
She attended Naaman Forest High School in Garland, where she developed as a young player in the local youth soccer scene. As a teenager, she joined the Naaman Forest Rangers youth setup, the club pathway that helped introduce her to higher-level competition. Her combination of pace, composure on the ball, and tactical awareness stood out early, drawing attention from college recruiters and Mexican federation scouts alike.
Path to Professional Soccer
Reyes committed to play college soccer for the University of Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide program to continue her development at the NCAA level. She made her debut for Alabama on 23 August 2019 in a 1–0 defeat to BYU, stepping straight into the collegiate starting picture as a freshman. Over the next several seasons, she became a key member of a strong Alabama squad that included players such as Felicia Knox, Ashlynn Serepca, Riley Parker, and Riley Tanner.
Alongside her college career, Reyes progressed through the Mexican youth national team system. She represented Mexico at two FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup editions in 2016 and 2018, competed at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship, played in the 2019 Sud Ladies Cup, and featured at the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. These international appearances sharpened her game against high-level opposition and prepared her for the demands of senior professional soccer.
Reyna René Reyes Stubblefield Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Reyes spent her formative senior years with the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2019 through 2022, establishing herself as one of the program’s most reliable defenders. Her four seasons in the Southeastern Conference allowed her to refine the defensive positioning, crossing ability, and set-piece delivery that would later define her professional profile. Competing in a top college conference gave her regular exposure to high-intensity matches and high-caliber attacking players.
During her time at Alabama, Reyes balanced her collegiate schedule with international duty for Mexico’s youth teams. That dual pathway kept her match-sharp and accelerated her tactical maturity, and by the end of her senior year she was widely regarded as one of the top full-back prospects entering the 2023 NWSL Draft.
NWSL Breakthrough with Portland Thorns (2023–Present)
On 12 January 2023, Portland Thorns FC selected Reyes with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, signaling the club’s belief in her long-term potential. A preseason injury initially delayed her transition to the professional ranks, as league rules prevented her from negotiating a contract until she was fully cleared to train with the team.
On 25 March 2023, Reyes signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year with Thorns FC. She made her professional debut as a 90th-minute substitute on 1 April 2023 against the Kansas City Current, and on 26 May 2023 she scored her first professional goal in a 1–1 draw against San Diego Wave FC. By the 2024 season, she had grown into a regular contributor, highlighted by her 11 October 2024 corner-kick assist to Morgan Weaver that helped Portland hand league leaders Orlando Pride their first loss of the season in a 2–0 victory.
Playing Style and Strengths
Reyes operates primarily as a full-back, comfortable defending along the flank while also pushing forward to deliver crosses and set-piece service. Her time with Mexico’s youth national teams helped develop a calm, possession-based approach, while her college years at Alabama added a physical edge suited to the NWSL’s competitive demands. The combination of dependable defending and offensive contribution from wide areas has made her a flexible option for the Thorns coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments, Reyes’s first professional goal against San Diego Wave FC in 2023 marked her arrival as a goal threat from the full-back position. Her October 2024 assist against Orlando Pride, which helped end the leaders’ unbeaten run, further underlined her growing influence in big matches for Portland.
Reyna René Reyes Stubblefield Career Highlights
Reyes’s professional résumé is still in its early chapters, but it already includes a top-five NWSL Draft selection, a debut goal in her rookie season, and meaningful contributions to a championship-contending Portland Thorns side. Her international pathway through Mexico’s age-group teams has paralleled her club rise, providing a steady stream of high-level experience.
Portland Thorns Highlights
Since joining Portland Thorns FC in 2023, Reyes has logged minutes as a defender and set-piece contributor in NWSL competition. Her first professional goal came against San Diego Wave FC on 26 May 2023, and she has continued to add attacking output through assists, including the corner-kick delivery that set up Portland’s 2–0 win over Orlando Pride in October 2024.
International Highlights
At the international level, Reyes represented Mexico at the 2016 and 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups, the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship, the 2019 Sud Ladies Cup, and the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. She made her senior debut for Mexico on 24 February 2021 in a 0–0 friendly home draw against Costa Rica, beginning her ongoing role with the senior national team.
Reyna René Reyes Stubblefield Family
Family Background and Heritage
Reyes was raised in Garland, Texas, by a Mexican father and an American mother. Her bicultural upbringing gave her a deep connection to both countries and ultimately informed her decision to represent Mexico at the international level, even though she was born and raised in the United States.
Personal Life
Public information about Reyes’s personal life remains limited. She continues to reside in the United States while playing her club football in the NWSL, and her professional focus since being drafted in 2023 has been on establishing herself with the Portland Thorns and the Mexico national team.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering 2025, Reyes is in the latter stages of her initial two-year contract with Portland Thorns FC, which includes an option for a third year. After a 2024 campaign in which she contributed key assists and grew into a regular role, she is positioned to remain a central part of the Thorns’ defensive plans and wide attacking patterns in the new season.
At the international level, Reyes continues to be available for selection by the Mexico senior national team as the program builds toward upcoming competitive fixtures. Her continued involvement in NWSL competition provides a strong platform for both club and country heading into the 2025 calendar.
With experience across two NWSL seasons and a deep résumé of Mexican youth international tournaments, Reyes’s outlook for 2025 centers on consistency, expanded offensive contributions from the full-back position, and a larger leadership role within a Portland squad aiming to return to championship contention.