BREAKING: Former Metea Valley star Nicki Hernandez is set to make her highly anticipated NWSL debut with the expansion team Boston Legacy. Just announced, Hernandez signed a two-year contract, marking a significant step in her professional career, which begins this March.
After a groundbreaking stint at Club América in Mexico, where she switched positions from forward to defender and made 27 appearances for the Mexican national team, Hernandez is ready for this new challenge. “I need to go to a team that’s going to prepare me for that,” she stated, highlighting her ambition to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Hernandez, who previously faced challenges in securing NWSL offers post-college, found her breakthrough in Mexico. Her impressive performance helped her team secure a gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games and achieve a historic upset against the United States in the 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup. “I’m going to play against amazing teams and amazing girls,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to improve and prepare for international competition.
The 26-year-old athlete expressed her excitement about joining the Legacy, driven by the positive energy of head coach Filipa Patão. “She showed me things that I needed to improve and things that I’m amazing at,” Hernandez remarked about their initial conversations. “That’s exactly what I needed.”
Boston Legacy’s general manager, Domènec Guasch, echoed this enthusiasm, praising Hernandez’s talent and work ethic. “Nicki is a dynamic, hardworking defender who plays with real intensity,” he said in a statement. “She’s already performing at a high level, but she also has the ambition and drive to keep improving.”
Preparations are underway for the Legacy’s inaugural season, with Hernandez leaving for Boston on Thursday to join three weeks of preseason training in Florida, followed by a week in Spain. World Cup qualifying matches are scheduled throughout the year, intertwining with her professional commitments.
Hernandez recently returned to her hometown of Naperville, where her family is thrilled about her new journey. “They’re so excited,” she said, adding that her mother is already planning visits. “My mom was like, ‘You need a two-bedroom apartment because me and your grandma are going to come visit all the time.’”
Her former coach, Chris Whaley, expressed pride in Hernandez’s accomplishments, stating, “I’m super excited for her. Just watching her journey over the last few years, you can see she’s just really enjoying herself and getting better and better as a player.”
As Hernandez embarks on this new chapter, her supporters are eager to witness her talent on the field. “Especially when I go to Chicago, I already have so many people saying, ‘Yeah, we’re going to come,’” she shared, emphasizing the strong community backing her.
Hernandez’s journey from Metea Valley to the NWSL is not just a personal triumph but also an inspiring story for aspiring athletes everywhere. As the Boston Legacy gears up for their debut season, all eyes will be on Hernandez as she aims to solidify her place on the national stage.
