IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer has enjoyed its success over the past decade-plus resulting in a steady flow of Anteaters earning their stripes on the professional ranks. Currently, there are 10 'Eaters playing professionally across the U.S., Mexico, England, Denmark, Austria, and Greece with more potentially on the way. Here we update on each alum's season and career to date:
Tati Fung - UCI's linchpin to the successful 2022 and 2023 seasons joined the professional ranks right before the 2024 UC Irvine season joining Fort Lauderdale United of the newly-formed USL Super League. The 2024-25 season began as Fung arrived, and as she trained and acclimated, she earned minutes playing in seven of the team's 14 matches they've played with two starts. She's commanded the midfield in her nearly 200 minutes with 68% passing success rate, completed 100% of her attempted tackles, and added three shots on goal for FTLUTD. The team is fourth in the eight-team league through the fall season as the spring portion begins on February 8 against Tampa Bay Sun. The top four clubs will make it to the postseason.
Kiana Palacios - The scoring star for the Anteaters from 2014-17 had a successful 2024 campaign for club and country. The striker has scored 13 goals in 21 matches of the current season for Club America. In the Apertura portion, the club finished third and reached the playoff final before falling. Palacios has played just one match of the six in the current Clausura season. Club America has also been playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with wins in all four group stage matches. The semifinals begin in May as the club strives for a title. National team play has seen her in 10 matches including five in the women's Gold Cup with Mexico reaching the semifinals before falling to Brazil, and she's added a goal against Venezuela in 1 of 4 friendlies and three more upcoming in February against Taiwan, Canada, and China.
Scarlett Camberos - Palacios' teammate at Club America has taken the reins in her absence in this most current season scoring five times over five matches. She has 10 goals over 19 matches since transferring from Bay FC in early 2024. Camberos has added a goal in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and played in seven matches with the national team scoring in a win over Costa Rica.
Destinee Manzo - The 2022 Anteater alum is finally finding some footing now in her second season with Club Leon. She's put in 16 matches with now her third Liga MX club.
Janelly Farías - The star of field and social media continues to prolong her career on the pitch. This season with FC Juarez, Farias has played 17 matches during the Apertura and willed the club into the playoffs. She even scored four goals including a brace in the regular season finale to help them finish fifth in the table. Unfortunately, she suffered an injury in their playoff loss and soon after underwent arthroscopic surgery on her arm as she looks to recover and join the team sometime again this year. She's now in her sixth year of professional soccer in Mexico playing 146 matches and scoring 20 goals as a defender.
Sophie Gillies - One of the newest professional Anteater, Gillies has returned to her pre-college club in Exeter City FC in her home country. The club is second in the table needing to make up five points in their final seven matches to top the league and earn a promotion bid. All Gillies has done is score 15 goals in all competitions, two in two FA Cup matches and 13 in league play putting her at the top of the league scorers in line for the Golden Boot.
Laila El Behery - The newest pro is the Egyptian national who signed with FC Nordsjaelland of Denmark's top league just a week ago. Nordsjaelland is coming off a league title last year, and are currently among the league's top six as they will begin the championship group portion of the season in March. Prior, they will take on Swedish club Hacken in a friendly and start Danish Cup play to start March for El Behery to train and work for minutes.
Amber Huff & Glo Hinojosa - The duo is thriving in Austria for FC Pinzgau Saalfelden in the country second tier league. Huff is currently in her third season after signing in March 2023. Over 48 matches with the club, she's netted 19 goals in all matches which has included two Salzburg Women's League titles and second place in the 2. Frauen Bundesliga a year ago. Hinojosa just signed this past August and has taken the reins in net putting up a 3-5-3 mark with four clean sheets which is currently sixth in the 12-team league.
Mady Solow - A 2013 Anteater alum continues their extensive pro career. After returning to her home country of Canada and playing a couple seasons of pro soccer there, she began her European journey which has now spanned 11 years, 206 matches, and going from Iceland to Italy to Switzerland, back to Italy then on to Spain, England, and this year in Greece. Solow has played five matches with her new club Agia Paraskevi, currently sixth in the top tier of Greek football, and she scored a goal in a win in late 2024 raising her career scoring total to 22 for the midfielder.
