This year, UCLA women’s soccer is all about welcoming new changes.

Boasting a new head coach, Gof Boyoko, and two incoming freshmen, and, most notably, five strong transfers, the team has its eyes set on a new road to the NCAA championships.

After attending Washington State and BYU, goalkeeper Lynette Bryant is making her way back home to Southern California to join the Bruins.

The Corona, California, local produced a 79.5% save percentage in the 2023 season, which fell to 71.7% in 2024. Bryant’s total goals allowed also increased from 15 to 28 over the two-year period.

But under Boyoko and the Bruin coaching staff, Bryant may be able to replicate her past success. In 2025, the Bruins ended the season No. 17 on the 2025 United Soccer Coaches ranking, while BYU, Bryant’s former team, did not make the 25-team list.

In a similar fashion to Bryant, incoming junior defender Abby Gemma is making her second transfer after first moving from Notre Dame to the University of Florida, where she spent the 2025 season.

The Flemington, New Jersey, local improved significantly in her last two seasons, leaving the Gators with numerous assists and a game-winning penalty kick against Texas. She’s also found success outside of collegiate play, competing in the U.S. Under-20 National Team’s victory over China in 2025.

The defender’s experience with traveling for soccer will likely help her acclimate to Westwood – and the geographically vast Big Ten conference.

Rising senior midfielder Ava Priest, who transferred from the University of Colorado, has amassed strong performances since the beginning of her collegiate career.

In her freshman campaign, the Boulder, Colorado, local ranked second on her team with 10 points and also notched multiple assists and game-winning goals. She jumped to 17 points in her sophomore campaign, scoring four more goals than the previous season, but her junior-year output returned to that of her freshman season.

She was also the youngest player to score a goal in program history, at just 17 years and 65 days old.

The incoming senior may be joining the Bruins to regain momentum in a new environment after playing for three years in her hometown.

Incoming junior midfielder Cate Sarinopoulos will join the Bruins after playing at TCU since 2024. Despite making her team debut during her sophomore season, Sarinopoulos made significant impacts on the field across her 24 appearances.

The midfielder repeatedly displayed her importance to her former team’s success, such as through her game-winning assist in the squad’s 2-0 victory against Houston in 2025.

Sarinopoulos’ efficiency could be what the Bruins need to fill the gap left by the graduation of midfielder Emma Egizzi, who earned All-Big Ten honors and tied as the Bruins’ leading scorer in 2025.

After a three-year career at Auburn, rising senior forward Olivia Woodson will near the end of her undergraduate career alongside a new squad. Woodson was Auburn’s leading goal-scorer in 2024 and was a 2024 Second Team All-SEC awardee.

Posting 18 goals and six assists across her three years at Auburn, Woodson, alongside Priest, will extend the lineage of elite Bruin senior forwards, including FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup competitor America Frias.

Alongside the incoming freshman class, the Bruins’ five transfers are awaiting the opportunity to fill a hole left by six seniors. Each has the potential to amplify UCLA’s success.