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Lilly Reale is coming back to her roots. The Hingham, Mass., native grew up near Boston, and within a matter of weeks, she'll be pulling on her boots for her hometown's National Women's Soccer League club, Boston Legacy FC.
And while there's certainly no place like home, Reale's motivations for accepting the trade extend far beyond geography.
"I'm incredibly excited [about the move to Boston] for so many reasons—about what they're constructing here, and stepping into something that's just getting off the ground," Reale says. "I was a bit apprehensive at first, but mostly it's pure excitement. Hopefully, I can bring what I picked up at Gotham to this team and help us keep building."
Prior to the international break, the Legacy reached out to Gotham FC regarding a potential trade for the 2025 NWSL Rookie of the Year. Reale, who had been getting fewer minutes on the pitch recently, took time to weigh the opportunity, leaning on her support network and examining the decision from every angle. She would be departing an environment she had grown to love and a fanbase that had given her tremendous support throughout her debut season and into an NWSL Championship.
ROTY ➡️ NWSL Champion
What a year for Lilly Reale 👏 pic.twitter.com/dY1BAOVW9b
In the end, the decision to head to Boston wasn't just about the present moment, but about how it could define the trajectory of her career for both club and country. If she was going to leave Gotham, she wanted to make the right call, and for the 22-year-old still in the early chapters of her career, Boston felt like exactly that.
"I had a little time to think it through, but it wasn't an especially difficult decision," Reale says. "I'm truly grateful and have nothing but love for my Gotham family—I've made so many wonderful friends who will be part of my life forever."
At any Gotham home match, it was hard to overlook the nearly 50 friends and family members dressed head-to-toe in Reale gear, cheering her on loudly. Now, the Reale contingent won't need to travel far to support their star. Reale cherishes the chance not only to be closer to her family, but also to reconnect with the very community that shaped her and molded her into the player she is today.
This is Reale, This is Me 🎶
Rookie Lilly Reale grabs her first pro goal! pic.twitter.com/rdNv2jZdDj
"I'm really excited to be around [my family and friends] more and give back to the community as much as I possibly can," Reale says. "I want to connect with the youth organizations in the area and hopefully visit my old club and speak with those girls. I'm genuinely thrilled to get involved in the Boston community again."
During her time at Gotham, Reale had already faced the Legacy on two occasions—first in the expansion side's home opener, where Gotham claimed a 1–0 victory, and then in a 1–1 draw in New Jersey on May 9. Through those matches, Reale witnessed a squad brimming with grit and passion. She saw a team that had continued to push forward and develop, navigating the unique hurdles of being an expansion side. Now, she's eager to be part of Boston's early story and step onto the pitch alongside her new teammates in Legacy Green.
"I have friends on this team and I have a sense of the culture they've established," Reale says. "The bonds they've built on and off the field look incredibly strong and solid. I see nothing but [the opportunity for] growth here, and that's what excites me most."
Lilly Reale, take a bow for that assist 👏✨ pic.twitter.com/Xq9W0X8YkF
"Lilly is a player of genuine quality and competitive spirit, and her NWSL Rookie of the Year award last season is proof of that," Legacy general manager Domènec Guasch says. "But she's also a young player with tremendous room to develop, and part of what drives this move is our conviction that her finest years are still ahead of her. This is her city; she knows what it means to compete here, and we intend to be the club that helps her reach that potential."
The league's 15th franchise endured a difficult start to the season, but through resilience and true Boston tenacity, it has gradually begun climbing the standings, stringing together a series of wins and draws. In joining Boston, the left-footed outside back believes she can slot into the system and make an immediate impact, while also keeping one eye on the future.
"Making this decision was about the long term, recognizing that this year they're still building," Reale says. "From a long-term standpoint, I'm really excited about what we'll be able to develop here over the next few years."
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Reale also understands that her club performances are crucial to her continued push for a place on the U.S. women's national team, including a potential spot at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil next summer. The benchmark is already set for Reale, who was named U.S. Soccer's Young Female Player of the Year in 2025, but she's not allowing the pressure to weigh on her. Reale knows she's young, has plenty of room to improve, and that her high ceiling may well be her greatest asset as she works to cement her role with the USWNT.
"It's no secret that I want to keep making rosters and push for that U.S. team," Reale says. "I'm excited about the chance to keep growing and hopefully play a significant role [at Boston]. I'm a very vocal person, so I'm hoping to keep motivating my teammates and step into that leadership role. I'm genuinely just excited for the challenge and the growth that I know is coming here."
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Jenna Tonelli is a writer for Sports Illustrated Soccer. She is passionate about women's soccer, particularly the NWSL, USWNT, and the Italian women's national team. When not thinking about soccer, Jenna can be found drinking iced coffee and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.