Maya Ann Brady-Timmons (born June 1, 2001) is an American college softball player for the UCLA Bruins. As a freshman in 2020, she was named Softball America Freshman of the Year.

Maya Brady
UCLA Bruins – No. 7
Utility
Born: (2001-06-01) June 1, 2001 (age 23)[1]
San Mateo, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Teams
  • UCLA (2020–present)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's softball
Representing the  United States
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2024 Castions di Strada Team

High school career

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Brady attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California where she was a middle infielder and led the team to three Marmonte League titles and was a two-time league MVP. During her senior year, she had a .558 batting average with 12 home runs and 32 runs batted in (RBI).[2] Following an outstanding season, she was named Marmonte League Most Valuable Player and All-CIF Southern section, as well as the Ventura County Star 2019 All-County Softball Player of the Year and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year.[3][4] She was ranked the No. 2 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball and Softball America.[5][6]

College career

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Brady made her collegiate debut for UCLA Bruins in 2020. During the opening week of the season at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, Brady was 9-for-18, with four home runs, nine RBI, and nine runs scored. She was subsequently named Pac-12 Freshman and Player of the Week for the week ending February 11, 2020.[7] During her Freshman year she finished with a .356 batting average, .699 slugging percentage and led the team with seven home runs and tying for first with 28 RBI, tied for second with seven multiple-RBI games and tied for third with seven multi-hit games, and ranked third with 22 runs scored and 11 walks. Following the season that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was named Softball America Freshman of the Year.[8]

During her redshirt freshman year in 2021, she had a .333 batting average, six stolen bases, and nine multiple-RBI games. She tied for second with 13 home runs, third with 36 runs batted in, 31 runs scored and 19 walks.[9] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the first team All-Pac-12, Pac-12 All-Freshman team and NFCA first team All-American.[10]

To begin the 2023 season, Brady recorded 11 consecutive hits, setting a new UCLA program record, surpassing the previous record of 10 held by Stacey Nuveman (1999) and Lisa Fernandez (1993).[11] She was subsequently named the NFCA National Player of the Week for the week ending February 14, 2023, after she went 13-for-16 with 14 RBI and four home runs in UCLA's season-opening Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament.[12] She finished the 2023 regular season with a .456 batting average, 16 home runs and 56 RBIs. She led the conference in batting average, hits (72), total bases (138), extra-base hits (31), on base percentage (.519) and slugging percentage (.873). Following the season she was named first-team all-Pac-12, Pac-12 Conference Softball Player of the Year and the Pac-12 batting champion.[13]

International career

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Brady represented the United States at the 2024 Women's Softball World Cup and won a silver medal.[14]

Personal life

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Brady was born to Maureen Brady and Brian Timmons. Her mother was an All-American pitcher at Fresno State. She is the niece of former American football player Tom Brady and the niece of former Major League Baseball player Kevin Youkilis.[2][15]

References

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  1. ^ Ansari, Mohammad Asif (May 2, 2023). "EssentiallySports". EssentiallySports. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Maya Brady". uclabruins.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Curly, Joe (June 14, 2019). "Maya Brady is The Star's All-County Softball Player of the Year". Ventura County Star. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Ciniglio, Tony (June 5, 2019). "Oaks Christian's Maya Brady anchors 2019 Daily News softball all-area team". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Sievers, Chez (November 17, 2018). "Signing Day Spotlight: Maya Brady Signs With UCLA". flosoftball.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Top 2019 High School Softball Recruits". softballamerica.com. July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Bruins Sweep Week One Pac-12 Awards". uclabruins.com. February 11, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "2020 NCAA Freshman Player of the Year: Maya Brady". softballamerica.com. April 15, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Five Bruins Earn NFCA All-American Awards". pac-12.com. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Kelly, Nick (June 4, 2021). "Five things to know about UCLA softball's Maya Brady: Yes, she's related to the Super Bowl guy". USA Today. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Brady, Faraimo Make History in Double-Header Sweep of San Diego". uclabruins.com. February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Maya Brady Honored as National Player of the Week". uclabruins.com. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Pac-12 announces 2023 softball all-conference honors". pac-12.com. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "Japan outscore USA in the final to become Women's Softball World Champions". wbsc.org. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Nguyen, Thuc Nhi (April 28, 2021). "Maya Brady is Tom Brady's niece; that isn't why the UCLA star has riveted college sports". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 2, 2021.