Maya Brady would be nationally recognized regardless of her surname. The UCLA softball star is batting .324 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs for the No. 2 team in the country, and was recently named Pac-12 player and freshman of the week. With Maya leading the way, the Bruins are in prime position to defend their 2019 national championship.
Oh yeah, and she also happens to be Tom Brady’s niece. The GOAT has already called her the "most dominate athlete" in the family — “by far!”
The Los Angeles Times recently published an in-depth profile of Maya, chronicling her rise to softball stardom. Her mother, Maureen, an All-American pitcher in her own right, signed her up for softball at around 4 years old. Given her genetic riches, it isn’t surprising that Maya excelled at every level. She entered UCLA as the No. 2 recruit in the country.
“She is [an] amazing young woman,” Tom said in a text message to the LA Times. “Competitive. Tough. Poised. Smart. Clutch.”
The Brady siblings are all incredible athletes. Maureen, the eldest sister, ranks ninth in Fresno State history with 80 wins, and won the Women’s College World Series in 1992 and 1994. Nancy Brady was also a softball standout, and Julie Brady, the youngest sister, played soccer at St. Mary’s. She’s married to Kevin Youklilis.
It’s apparent competition runs in the Brady blood. During family vacations, games always break out, and the action can get often become intense.
“You could talk about the Brady family as much as you’d like, but the one thing that is always going to be the same with Maya and her whole family is they will compete,” Mike Stith, one of Maya’s travel coaches, told the LA Times.
Maya’s experiences have allowed her to excel instantly at UCLA, the most successful softball program in the country. The Bruins have 13 national titles and routinely field Olympians and All-Americans.
Maya fits right in.
“You’re at UCLA, Arizona, these types of places, you expect to win,” Stith said. “So what’s going to differentiate you from the other team? Oftentimes, it’s that character of your team and that’s what Maya’s specialty is.”
While the personal accolades are nice, Maya says she’s most focused on winning. Her uncle would be proud.
“I don’t really care about personal accomplishments that much,” she said. “I’d much rather win than be considered an All-American.”
