Boston Legacy Football Club Agrees to Trade With Gotham FC for Lilly Reale
Boston (June 17, 2026) - Boston Legacy Football Club has agreed to a trade with Gotham FC for defender and Hingham, MA native Lilly Reale. The Legacy will receive Reale while Gotham will receive $350k in allocation money and $50k in intraleague transfer fee funds . Reale joins the Legacy on a four-year deal that runs through December 2029.
Reale has made 35 appearances for Gotham FC, including playing every league game for the club in her debut 2025 season, for which she was named NWSL Rookie of the Year. Reale has also been called up to the United States women’s national team, holding nine caps and one assist for her country. A Massachusetts native, she played youth soccer at Hingham High School and South Shore Select, where she was teammates with fellow NWSL and USWNT player Ally Sentnor.
“Understanding where this club is going and the direction that it's going in excites me the most,” said Reale of her return to Boston. “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.”
“Lilly is a player of real quality and competitive character, and her NWSL Rookie of the Year award last season proves that,” said Legacy general Manager Domè Guasch. “But she's also a young player with enormous room to grow, and part of what drives this move is our belief that her best years are still in front of her. This is her city, she understands what it means to compete here, and we intend to be the club that helps her fulfill that potential.”
The Legacy return to action on July 5 after a month-long leaguewide break in June for the Men’s World Cup, taking on Bay FC at Centreville Bank Stadium at 12:00 PM ET. Media accreditation application for that game is now live at bostonlegacyfc.com.
"This is her city, she understands what it means to compete here, and we intend to be the club that helps her fulfill that potential."
About Boston Legacy Football Club
Boston Legacy FC is the 15th team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), currently playing its inaugural season at Gillette Stadium and Centreville Bank Stadium. Founded and led by women, the club is committed to creating a home for the greatest female athletes of our time, building upon the supercharged legacy of Boston’s historic sports teams, cultivating a community of fans with impact at its core, and forging new connections across our city through sport. For more information, please visit bostonlegacyfc.com or its social media platforms – LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (X), Tiktok, Bluesky, Facebook
get the reale deal
2 matches. $39. Only 26 hours.
To celebrate Lilly's homecoming, snag tickets to her first two appearances on 7/5 vs. Bay FC and 7/19 vs. Washington Spirit for just $39. This deal lasts 26 hours only.
