BOSTON — Lilly Reale was traded from Gotham FC to Boston Legacy FC, where she signed a four-year contract through December 2029. Gotham FC received $350,000 in allocation money and $50,000 in intra-league transfer fees as part of the trade.

Reale, 22, won the NWSL Rookie of the Year award in 2025. In the same year, she won the NWSL Championship and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup with Gotham FC. She made 39 total appearances for Gotham FC.

Yael Averbuch West, President of Soccer Operations for Gotham FC, said Reale had been an important part of the club since joining last season. "Lilly has been an important part of our club since joining Gotham FC last season," West said. "She has made significant contributions to our success on and off the field, and we are grateful for everything she has brought to Gotham."

Reale appeared in every league game for Gotham FC during her debut season. Her playing time decreased during the 2026 season. She faced Boston Legacy FC twice during the 2026 season prior to the trade.

Domè Guasch, General Manager of Boston Legacy FC, commented on Reale's arrival. "Lilly is a player of real quality and competitive character, and her NWSL Rookie of the Year award last season proves that," Guasch said. He added, "But she's also a young player with enormous room to grow, and part of what drives this move is our belief that her best years are still in front of her."

Reale has nine caps with the U.S. women's national team. She grew up in Hingham, played high school soccer at Hingham High School, and for the club team South Shore Select, where she was teammates with Ally Sentnor. She was a four-year starter at UCLA and won a national championship with the university in 2022.

"Understanding where this club is going and the direction that it's going in excites me the most," Reale said. She also noted the club's distinctive approach. "Being able to understand not only the investment that ownership from top down has really put into this club and then also the team and the direction they're going in, understanding that this is the beginning, but that they're really hungry and asserting a style that you don't see as often in the NWSL — I think that really excites me, just being able to understand different playing styles and play whatever role I can on this team to help us get some wins."

Reale also reflected on her connection to the area. "Boston just has that standard of grit and passion and a lot of attitude and confidence that we carry into the sports around us," she said. "So I think you saw a lot of that today, and a lot of my Boston roots coming out."

Reale is expected to be available for Boston Legacy FC's match against Bay FC on July 5 at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.