| Alex Loera | |
| Fullname: | Alexis Alycia Loera[1] |
| Birth Date: | 19 June 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Thornton, Colorado, United States |
| Position: | Defender |
| Currentclub: | Bay FC |
| Youthclubs1: | Colorado Storm |
| Youthclubs2: | The Academy |
| Collegeyears1: | 2017–2021 |
| College1: | Santa Clara Broncos |
| Collegecaps1: | 98 |
| Collegegoals1: | 7 |
| Clubs1: | Kansas City Current |
| Years1: | 2022–2023 |
| Caps1: | 30 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Clubs2: | Bay FC |
| Years2: | 2024– |
| Caps2: | 2 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U17 |
| Nationalteam2: | United States U23 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2022 |
| Club-Update: | April 13, 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | April 6, 2023 |
| Clubnumber: | 22 |
Alexis Alycia Loera (born June 19, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Loera grew up in Thornton, Colorado, and began playing soccer among other sports when she was three years old. She eventually selected soccer over playing softball.[2] She played high school soccer for The Academy of Westminster, Colorado, and also played for Colorado Storm of the Elite Clubs National League.[2] [3]
Loera played NCAA Division I women's soccer for the Santa Clara Broncos. Loera was a captain for the Broncos team that won the 2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, resulting in Santa Clara's second national championship. Loera was also named the tournament's Defensive Most Outstanding player.[3]
Expansion team Kansas City NWSL selected Loera with the 36th-overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, though she opted to return to Santa Clara for an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She joined the then-renamed Current in 2022.[3]
On March 18, 2022, Loera made her professional debut for Kansas City as a starter in a 1–1 Challenge Cup draw against Racing Louisville FC. She scored her first professional goal on April 24, 2022, against Chicago Red Stars in a 2–1 Challenge Cup victory, and the goal was featured on SportsCenter as a Top 10 play.[4]
In the 2022 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match against OL Reign, Loera—moving from the backline to defensive midfield in place of suspended Desiree Scott—scored the fastest goal in NWSL Playoffs history with a 4th-minute tally. The goal was Loera's first in the regular season or postseason, and was also the eventual match-winner as Kansas City won 2–0 and advanced to the NWSL Championship match.[5] Kansas City fell in the championship to Portland Thorns FC by a final score of 0–2; Loera started and played the full 90 minutes.[6]
On January 5, 2023, Kansas City Current announced that it had re-signed Loera to a three-year contract through the 2025 season.[4]
On November 15, 2023, the Current traded Loera to NWSL expansion team Bay FC in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money and immunity in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. The transaction made Loera the first player signed in Bay FC's history.[7]
Loera was called into camps for the United States under-17 and under-23 national soccer teams.[3]
Loera is currently in a relationship with former Kansas City Current teammate Chardonnay Curran.[8]
Santa Clara Broncos