Massachusetts native Lilly Reale is headed home to join Boston Legacy FC on a four-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.
The defender was acquired from Gotham FC and has signed through December 2029. Gotham will receive $350,000 in allocation money and $50,000 in intraleague transfer funds.
“Understanding where this club is going and the direction that it's going in excites me the most,” Reale said in a statement. “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, I think, 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 is in her second professional season and already has an impressive resume. She has mainly played as left back for club, but has extensive experience as center back as well.
The 22-year-old began her professional career with Gotham last year after signing a three-year contract and had a phenomenal rookie season. Her defensive contributions played a large role in the team winning the 2025 NWSL championship.
Reale led the team in interceptions (36), finished seventh in the league in successful take ons and eighth in passes into the box. She played in every regular season and playoff game, and her efforts earned her the 2025 Rookie of the Year title.
The defender’s international career has also been on the rise. Reale received her first senior call up to the U.S. Women’s National Team last July and has since played nine games. Her first cap for the team also resulted in her first career international assist.
She represented the U.S. on the U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams and made two appearances in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. A month before debuting for the senior team, Reale scored her first U-23 international goal against Germany.
Though she will undoubtedly be an important addition to the Legacy’s defensive line, whether the Massachusetts native is fully fit is unclear. Reale missed Gotham’s first game after the April break due to a lower leg injury, and the most she’s played in a single regular season game since then is 28 minutes. The lack of minutes (and decision to head to Boston) could have also been due to new competition for her defensive role. Reale was on the roster for the USWNT’s latest round of friendlies against Brazil, but she did not receive playing time.
Reale hails from Hingham, Massachusetts and grew up playing youth soccer with South Shore Select (like the Legacy’s Sammy Smith). After the Legacy-Gotham season opener in Foxboro, Reale expressed her excitement over seeing loved ones and playing in Gillette Stadium.
“But just what an atmosphere and so much fun to have so many of my friends and family just here. We live 30 minutes from here, so it's definitely special,” Reale said. “You know, growing up going to the Patriots games and now playing in a stadium that had 30,000 fans, it's just surreal.”
Reale will have two more chances to play at Gillette later this year, but fans will be able to see her as soon as July 5 when the Legacy face Bay FC in Rhode Island.
