Kayla Bruster

Kayla Bruster
Personal information
Full name Kayla Lorina Bruster[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-29) April 29, 1999
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Center back
Team information
Current team
 Fylkir
Number 25
Youth career
Tophat SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Georgia Bulldogs 80 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 San Diego Wave 0 (0)
2024– Fylkir 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 1, 2025

Kayla Lorina Bruster (born April 29, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for 1. deild kvenna club Fylkir. She played college soccer for the Georgia Bulldogs before being selected by San Diego Wave FC in the 2022 NWSL Draft.

Early life

Born to Sherman and Kathy Bruster, Bruster was raised in Atlanta, Georgia.[2] She lived in Smyrna and attended Woodward Academy[3] in the nearby neighborhood of College Park.[4] As a freshman and junior, Bruster was named the MVP of Woodward Academy's soccer team.[3] She also played club soccer for Tophat SC.[5]

College career

Bruster joined the Georgia Bulldogs in 2017. In her second season of college, she started every single one of Georgia's matches, a feat she would later repeat on two other occasions.[2] The following year, Bruster was named to the All-SEC first team.[6] In 2020, she was a member of the All-Conference second team despite missing the SEC Tournament with a finger injury.[2][7][8] Bruster helped to anchor the Bulldogs' backline for three more seasons, including a fifth year in which she opted to play for an extra year of college to set herself up for a chance to play professionally.[9] In her entire collegiate career, Bruster played in 80 matches, was a three-time SEC Honor Roll recipient, and was twice named to the SEC preseason watchlist.[2][10]

Club career

San Diego Wave

San Diego Wave FC selected Bruster in the fourth round of the 2022 NWSL Draft ahead of the team's inaugural season.[11] As the 40th overall pick of the draft, she became the second-ever Bulldog to be drafted into the NWSL.[6] Bruster's rookie season was hampered with injuries and she struggled to earn playing time.[12] In the end, the Wave elected not to exercise Bruster's contract option, and she left San Diego without having made an appearance in any competitions.[13]

Fylkir

On December 21, 2023, Bruster signed with Icelandic club Fylkir, joining the team on a one-year contract on its return to the Besta deild kvenna.[14] She made 16 appearances[15] in her first season with Fylkir, including a standout performance in a 0–0 draw with Víkingur.[16] At the end of the season, Fylkir were relegated back down to the 1. deild kvenna, Iceland's second-tier women's soccer league.[17]

Personal life

Bruster's sister, Baleigh Bruster, played for four years on the Duke Blue Devils women's soccer team.[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of March 1, 2025[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
San Diego Wave FC 2022 NWSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fylkir 2024 Besta deild kvenna 16 0 0 0 — 16 0
Career total 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs

References

  1. ^ "2021 Virtual Plaque". University of Georgia Alumni. University of Georgia. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "University of Georgia Athletics". georgiadogs.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Pourtout, E. Marcel (February 1, 2017). "Northside athletes celebrate next step in career". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  4. ^ Frierson, John. "Quick Chat: Kayla Bruster". georgiadogs.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  5. ^ "Girls Commitments: Defensive duo decides | High School Soccer News". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Benavidez, Art. "Bulldogs' Bruster, 'a critical member of the Georgia backline,' drafted by San Diego Wave FC". Peach Tree Times. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  7. ^ Hubbard, Drew (October 28, 2020). "Georgia soccer defender Kayla Bruster out with finger injury against Ole Miss". The Red & Black. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  8. ^ "Soccer at Georgia 11/15/2020". Auburn Tigers - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  9. ^ Soto, Kyle (September 9, 2021). "Graduate students make their mark in return to Georgia soccer". The Red & Black. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  10. ^ Mixon, Joshua. "4 Georgia players make SEC soccer watch list". Online Athens. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  11. ^ Stuckey, Timothy. "UGA graduate Bruster chosen by San Diego Wave FC in NWSL Draft". Peach Tree Times. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  12. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (November 13, 2022). "San Diego Wave FC 2022 Player Postmortem: Players who didn't see field". LAG Confidential. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  13. ^ Emerick, Tyler (November 15, 2022). "San Diego Wave FC Announces Initial Roster Decisions Ahead of 2023 NWSL Season". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  14. ^ "Bandarískur liðstyrkur til Fylkis". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Kayla Bruster at Soccerway
  16. ^ Mímisson, Kári (February 7, 2024). "Uppgjör og viðtöl: Fylkir-Víkingur R. 0-0 | Ekkert mark í baráttuleik". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  17. ^ "Íslandsmót KSÍ - Besta deild kvenna - 2024". www.ksi.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  18. ^ "Baleigh Bruster - 2024 - Women's Soccer". Duke University. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
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