This post was updated Aug. 16 at 12:22 a.m.

No. 8 UCLA is just two days from commencing its 2025 campaign, and after an offseason full of graduations, incoming and outgoing transfers and new freshmen, the Bruins may look different when they trot out for their first contest of the season. Prior to UCLA’s first official affair, Daily Bruin Sports will preview how the team’s roster has changed.

2024 record: (17-4-3, 8-1-2 Big Ten), Big Ten Tournament Champions
Coach: Margueritte Aozasa

Outgoing players:
When the squad exited the 2024 NCAA Tournament after an unexpected loss to Virginia Tech in the second round, it bid farewell to one of the most star-studded lineups in program history.

Nine members of the 2024 squad signed with professional teams, including six who joined the National Women’s Soccer League. Then-graduate student goalkeeper Ryan Campbell joined NY/NJ Gotham FC, alongside defender Lilly Reale and midfielder Sofia Cook.

Reale was selected as the conference Defensive Player of the Year for three of her four collegiate years, including her senior season in the Big Ten. As the squad captain, she led the No. 1 ranked defense in the nation, which racked up 16 shutouts and forfeited 10 goals throughout the season on a 0.415 goals against average.

Campbell, a Stanford transfer, led the nation in shutouts to help secure the second-highest shutout rate in program history. She played every minute in each of the Bruins’ 2024 contests after earning the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year award during her senior season with the Cardinal.

Defender Quincy McMahon also made her way to the NWSL, signing a three-year contract with San Diego Wave FC. McMahon totaled eight goals and 26 assists across her collegiate career and scored UCLA’s lone goal in their senior night win over Washington.

Also on the backline, Jayden Perry signed for Portland Thorns FC, joining former Bruin Reilyn Turner. Midfielder Meg Boade attended the Washington Spirit preseason camp, before briefly joining the NWSL roster.

Defender Ayo Oke, midfielder Alice Barbieri and all-around player Maya Evans all signed for overseas teams.

With the loss of the leaders of its No. 1 ranked defensive front, the incoming Bruin class has big shoes to fill.

Incoming players:

Of the 29-member roster, 11 are freshmen, and many of UCLA’s returning players have yet to see the lights of the Wallis Annenberg Stadium pitch.

Sophomore goalkeeper Layla Armas served as Campbell’s backup goalie during the 2024 run but never saw action. She will compete with freshman Daphne Nakfoor, who has attended the United States Youth National Camps for the past three years, for the starting goalie spot. Both athletes guarded the net during UCLA’s exhibition win against LMU, but the starting role is still undecided.

Freshman midfielder Grace Shank assisted the Bruins’ second goal against the Lions, passing to junior forward Oruha Hayashi, a transfer from Iowa Western. Shank passed a high bounce to Hayashi, who chipped the ball past the Lions’ goalkeeper.

Aozasa said that Shank was one of the best players on the field following the exhibition victory against LMU. During her high school career, she was selected to the U.S. Youth National Team’s first-ever College Talent ID Camp and earned United Soccer Coaches All-American selection.

Hayashi also boasted the United Soccer Coaches Player of the Year honor prior to her collegiate career and received a first-team All-American selection for Junior College Division 1 during her sophomore year at Iowa Western. In her second year, she scored 25 goals, recorded 19 assists and started in all of the squad’s games before transferring to UCLA.

Freshman defender Meila Brewer may help address the defensive line departures from 2024. The 2024 U-15 CONCACAF champion was named the No. 6 overall recruit out of her sophomore year of high school and participated in the U-20 Training Camp in April 2025 after graduating from high school early.

The team has been ranked No. 8 in pre-season polls, so despite losing key players to the 2024 NWSL Draft, the incoming squad has potential heading into the 2025 campaign.