Maya Brady: Stepping Up as a Leader for UCLA Softball

Maya Brady, niece of seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, is making a name for herself on UCLA’s softball team. After two seasons of relying on upperclassmen, Maya is stepping up to become the team’s leader. As a redshirt junior, she is having her best season with a .453 batting average, 57 RBIs, and 16 home runs. Her hitting has propelled UCLA to a 23-game winning streak and the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Conference tournament. Despite the expectations that come with her last name, Maya is focused on being her own player and not just Tom Brady’s niece. She has overcome the pressure to prove herself to her teammates and coaches and has developed her swing mechanics.

 In addition to her success at the plate, she has also taken on a new challenge at shortstop, a position she played in high school but had not played in college until this year. Her leadership on and off the field has helped UCLA clinch another berth in the Women’s College World Series.

Re-reported from the story published in LOS ANGELES TIMES