BYU Women's Soccer Cougs in the Pros

Since 2000, the Cougars have had 17 former student-athletes play in professional soccer leagues across the United States and around the world.

Author Brenna Seeman
BYU Women's Soccer Cougs in the ProsBYU Women's Soccer Cougs in the Pros

PROVO, Utah - BYU women's soccer has had great success in the professional realm.

Since 2000, the Cougars have had 17 former student-athletes play in professional soccer leagues across the United States and around the world.

Five former BYU student-athletes have played overseas in Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain and Hungary. 

In 2001, BYU All-Americans Maren Hendershot McCrary and Shauna Rohbock were drafted to play in the inaugural season of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA). This league evolved into the Women’s Professional League (WPL) in 2009 and BYU’s Katie Larkin played in the inaugural season.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was formed in 2013 with eight teams, which has since expanded to 14. The Cougars have had 10 former student athletes play in the NWSL, with a program-record five players drafted in the 2023 draft class.

In 2024, the USL Super League was officially announced with eight teams across the U.S. Three former Cougars currently play in this league.

CURRENT NWSL COUGARS

Colohan-Cluff, Utah Royals

Mikayla Colohan Cluff:

Following her BYU career, Mikayla Colohan Cluff was drafted 14th overall in the 2021 NWSL by the Orlando Pride. In 2023, she was traded to the Utah Royals where she currently plays.

Colohan Cluff played for BYU from 2017-2021 and was an integral part of BYU’s first-ever College Cup appearance. Playing in 93 games as a Cougar, her 53 career goals ranks second highest in BYU soccer history. She was a four-time All-American, 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist and Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Year.

Gomes

Nadia Gomes: 

Nadia Gomes was drafted 23rd overall by the Orlando Pride in the 2017 NWSL draft. In 2018, Gomes represented Portugal at the 2018 Algarve Cup, scoring her first international goal in a win over Australia. After five years away from club soccer, Gomes signed with the San Francisco Glens for the 2023 USL W League season, where she became a team captain. She signed with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024 where she still plays. 

As a striker for BYU, Gomes played 79 games, notching 22 goals and 23 assists. She was a 2015 NSCAA All-American and was on the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list.

Smith-Griffitts

Olivia Smith Griffitts: 

Olivia Smith Griffitts was drafted by the Utah Royals as the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NWSL draft. In her first season with the Royals, she played in 13 games for a total of 1,107 minutes as a defender and scored one goal. Due to pregnancy, she will sit out the 2025 NWSL season.

During her BYU career Griffitts played in 82 games, notching four goals and 19 assists. She was an integral part of BYU’s defense during their 2021 and 2023 College Cup runs.

Hatch, Washington Spirit

Ashley Hatch: 

As BYU’s highest NWSL draft pick and most prolific professional player, Ashley Hatch was chosen second overall by the North Carolina Courage in 2017. Named the NWSL Rookie of the Year, Hatch recorded seven goals and one assist. In 2018, she was traded to the Washington Spirit where she currently plays. Hatch earned the 2021 Golden Boot after finishing her regular season with 10 goals. 

She made her first USWNT appearance in 2016, as BYU’s first former women’s soccer player to compete with the senior national team. In 2021, Hatch made the USWNT roster for two friendlies in Australia where she scored her first international goal.

During her career at BYU, Hatch was a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and NSCAA All-American. Playing in 69 games for BYU, she tallied 45 goals and 18 assists.

Wade-Katoa

Olivia Wade-Katoa: 

Drafted 23rd overall by the Portland Thorns in the 2024 NWSL draft, Wade-Katoa had six professional appearances as a rookie. Due to pregnancy, she will sit out the entirety of the 2025 season.

As a captain and key member of the 2021 and 2023 College Cup teams at BYU, Wade-Katoa competed in 120 games as a Cougar. She scored 25 goals and tallied 20 assists, earning 2023 NCAA Third Team All-American and All-Big 12 Second Team honors.

Mozingo, Utah Royals

Brecken Mozingo: 

Selected fourth overall by the Utah Royals, Brecken Mozingo became the second-highest NWSL draft pick in BYU history. She played significant minutes for the Royals as a rookie and continues to make an impact on the field, playing in 12 games so far this season and tallying three goals in back-to-back-to-back games.

After transferring to BYU as a sophomore, Mozingo became one of BYU’s most decorated student-athletes. She played 93 games and tallied 36 goals and 37 assists during her collegiate career. As a senior, she was named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist and NCAA First Team All-American. She earned College Cup All-Tournament Team, All-Midwest Region Team and All-Big 12 Team honors her senior season.

Jamie Shepherd, Bay FC

Jamie Shepherd: 

Along with her four teammates, Jamie Shepherd was drafted in 2024 as the 30th overall pick by Bay FC. The center midfielder played in two games as a rookie and has played in six games so far this season.

At BYU, Shepherd holds the record for most games played with 108 games under her belt. Playing in all but one game from her freshman to senior year, Shepherd notched 14 goals and 21 assists. She became a 2022 NCAA Second Team All-American and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watchlist as a senior.

Vasconcelos
Pace, Rachel 2025
Colohan-Cluff
Hatch US National Team
Vaka, Lava 2024
Cameron Tucker
Jennie Lakip
2025 Levante Badalona

Rachel McCarthy Pace:

After a five-year career at BYU, Rachel McCarthy Pace played overseas with ETO FC Gyor in Hungary for a year. She signed with the USL Super League’s Dallas Trinity FC ahead of the 2025 season.

McCarthy Pace tallied 101 games played, 21 goals and 18 assists for a total of 4,344 minutes on the pitch during her BYU career. The former Cougar earned All-WCC First Team and Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors. 

Cameron Tucker:

As one of BYU’s most prolific strikers, Cameron Tucker was drafted by Gotham FC in 2021 and appeared in 13 matches as a rookie. In 2024, she played for the Utah Royals before signing a contract with Spokane Zephyr FC ahead of the 2025 USL Super League season.

As a Cougar, Tucker played in 98 games, notching 43 goals and 29 assists. She earned NSCAA All-American status and was on the 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. She competed for BYU during its first-ever College Cup Championship appearance in 2021.

Laveni Vaka:

Playing center back for BYU, Laveni Vaka became the first-ever female Tongan professional soccer player in the United States after being drafted as the 55th pick by Bay FC in 2024. Although she was waived before the season started, she signed with Fort Lauderdale United FC in 2024, where she currently resides. Due to an ACL injury, she will sit out the entirety of the 2025 season.

At BYU, Vaka played in 97 games for 7,068 total minutes on the pitch. She was a two-time NCAA First Team All-Region selection, a 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American. She was also named the 2022 WCC Defender of the Year and named to the All-Big First Team in 2023.

Jennie Lakip:

Jennie Lakip played for the Cougars from 2008-2011. After graduating, her and her husband Romy had two children before she began her professional soccer career overseas. In 2021, Lakip played for Dimas Escazu in Costa Rica. The next year, she played for another team in Costa Rica, Alajeulense. Following her time in Costa Rica, she played the 2023-2024 season in Mexico for Queretaro. In 2024 Lakip moved to Portugal and began playing for Valadares Gaia in Liga BPI, where she currently plays. 

During her time as a Cougar, Lakip played in 89 games, notching 17 goals and eight assists. She was named MWC and TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Week several times during her collegiate career.

Michele Vasconcelos:

After playing for BYU from 2012-2016, Michele Vasconcelos was drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL. She moved to the Utah Royals in 2020, and when ownership transfers to a group in Kansas City, Vasconcelos played on the expansion team in 2021. She was loaned to Sevilla FC of the Spanish Primera Division Femenina for one season before signing with the Portland Thorns as a national team replacement player in 2022. She re-signed with Thorns FC to a one-year contract and now plays for FC Levante Badalona in Liga F.

At BYU, Vasconcelos played in 65 games and tallied 29 goals and 23 assists. She was a 2016 NSCAA All-American and was named the 2016 WCC Player of the Year. 

Since 2000, the Cougars have had former players competing at the next level. In the early 2000's, the NWSL had not been created yet. The Women's United Soccer Association had it's inaugural season in 2001, and BYU had two former student-athletes participate. 

Player League Team Years
Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall NWSL Fourth overall, Sky Blue FC 2013-2015
Katie Larkin WPS

19th overall, LA Sol

Sixth overall (expansion draft), Atlanta Beat

 2009-2010
Maren Hendershot McCrary WUSA

53rd overall, Carolina Courage

Traded to San Jose CyberRays before the first WUSA season

 2001-2004
Shauna Rohbock WUSA San Diego Spirit 2001-2002
Danika Serassio Campeonato de Portugal Vilaverdense FC 2020-21

Below is a list of former student-athletes who were drafted by professional teams, but did not play.

Player League Team/Year
Cloee Colohan NWSL 14th overall, Western New York Flash, 2014
Taylor Isom NWSL

14th overall, Utah Royals, 2018
Sara Reading WUSA

Atlanta Beat, 2001
Staci Reynolds WUSA

Third overall, Carolina Courage, 2001