New Bedford Woman Jaydah Bedoya Signs With Pro Soccer Team

Jaydah Bedoya knew she was different when she was 5 years old.

Her love for soccer was immediate and strong. She was also pretty darn good.

"I'd score about five or six goals a game when I first started with NBYSA (New Bedford Youth Soccer Association)," she said. "I loved everything about it, especially the feeling of scoring goals."

She said she particularly loved attending the Jireh Swift School in New Bedford and remembers that Miss Sousa, her second-grade teacher, was her favorite. "She was really personal and was just super-sweet. She was so nice to all of us."

Bedoya moved on to club teams, played her freshman year at New Bedford High School, then transfered to Tabor Academy in Marion where she helped her team win the New England Prep School Soccer title.

After Tabor came University of Connecticut. "I chose to play at UConn because I wanted to be close enough to home that my family could come see me play," she said.

Bedoya finished her college career in West Virginia. Initially, she had plans to take advantage of her fifth-year Covid option and go to grad school, but decided against it when she started getting interest from some pro soccer teams.

Back in February 2024, while wrapping her senior year at West Virginia, she visited her boyfriend in North Carolina when she could and spent weekends trying out for the Carolina Ascent FC team, part of the United Soccer League.

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How did she juggle doing all of these things at once?

"If there's one thing you learn quickly as a student-athlete in college, it is time management. It is critical," Bedoya said.

May was a whirlwind for Bedoya. She graduated from West Virginia several weeks ago.  Then, after several tryouts for the Carolina Ascent, she finally got the news she was waiting for.  A lifetime dream was realized.

She was offered a contract to play professional soccer.

Bedoya said she feels a shift happening with women's sports.

"It's awesome to see the opportunities women are getting in sports," she said. "The growing media coverage with the WNBA and Caitlyn Clark is something people have been waiting for. It's the recognition that it's not all just about men's sports. Women can do it, as well."

What would she tell a little girl in New Bedford who wants to play pro soccer?  Her answer made her emotional.

LISTEN: Jaydah Bedoya offers advice to little New Bedford girls

"Dream," she said. Dream hard. It's not going to get easy. You're going to have struggles, but it's so worth it. Just continue to keep pushing and dedicate yourself to what you want to do. It will all work out in the end. Never, never let anybody tell you that you can't do something.

"Because you really can."