SSFC Spotlight: Trinity Byars keeps finding the back of the net
· Yahoo Sports
A serious injury at a critical juncture can derail a player’s burgeoning career, setting them back or potentially resulting in their premature departure from the sport. However, others are able to respond quickly with a smooth rehabilitation process, resuming their upward trajectory. Trinity Byars saw her collegiate career end on a down note but was able to find her way back to the field after missing almost an entire season. Now in her second professional campaign, the 23-year-old San Diego Wave striker is demonstrating what made her such a highly rated prospect.
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Born in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas, Byars played with Solar SC and won multiple national titles, receiving Central Conference Best XI and the Development Academy Golden Ball. She also trained with Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. TopDrawerSoccer rated her as the number-one overall recruit in the country, having been twice named a United Soccer Coaches All-American. In addition, the multi-sport athlete was an All-State track athlete and won District Freshman of the Year in basketball.
Despite considering the professional game, the choice was made to remain an amateur. “It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to play pro,” Byars shared with DFW Inside High School Sports. “I’m just waiting for the right time. Getting a few college years in is important. But when the time comes, I know I’ll be ready.”
After committing in the eighth grade, Byars then matriculated at the University of Texas at Austin, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists in 22 freshman appearances, receiving Big 12 Conference All-Freshman Team, All-Big 12 Second Team, and Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Her sophomore campaign saw her put up 17 goals and nine assists in 21 matches, receiving Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-America. As a junior, she produced an eye-popping 18 goals and 14 assists in 23 fixtures as the Longhorns won the Big 12 Championship, with the forward claiming Big 12 Forward of the Year and Second-Team All-America. Her collegiate career closed with five goals and three assists in five games before being cut short with a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Entering into the professional ranks, Byars signed a two-year contract with San Diego Wave with an additional one-year option. She spent the majority of the schedule rehabilitating her college injury. However, the forward managed to feature on the bench in the final regular-season match and played 19 minutes in the 1-0 playoff quarterfinal loss to the Portland Thorns.
This season, Byars has established herself as a key player in the rotation, notching her first contributions with a finish and a helper to secure a 2-1 victory over the Washington Spirit. She has 11 goals and three assists in 24 matches, placing her in a tie for fourth on the league charts, as well as being named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 19 and leading the Wave to second place in the table and a CONCACAF Champions League spot. The club signed her to a contract extension through 2028, having “consistently demonstrated her quality in front of goal and her ability to deliver in key moments.”
“The Wave still having faith in me and signing me was such a blessing, and that really motivated me to keep going,” Byars told CBS 8. “When a big injury like that happens, you have so many doubts. But them still wanting to sign me when I was still injured was a blessing. … Looking back at it, seeing how scared and doubtful I was during the whole rehab process and seeing where I’m at now, it’s such a good feeling that I can count on myself to be the player I want to be.”
At the international level, Byars is a long-term member of the United States program, beginning in the Under-14 age group. She was included on the roster for the 2018 U-17 World Cup, starting and playing all 90 minutes in the 3-0 group stage loss to North Korea. The forward was a member of the Under-20 team that won the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and failed to escape the group stage at the ensuing U-20 World Cup. Emma Hayes named her to the recent training camp that included two matches against Spain, although the newcomer failed to dress for either friendly.
Standing at five feet, five inches tall, the “dynamic and exciting” Byars is a hard-working striker who wins her aerial duels, “plays between the lines, and threatens in behind.” She has “explosive” speed, breaking past the opponents, but can also operate in quick combination link-ups or skip pass defenders off the dribble. However, some of her best work is done by simply being in the right spot and managing to convert with a single touch, appearing to have figured out NWSL defenses and being unafraid to launch as soon as possible.
“What I’ve liked about Trinity is the combination of how she can hold the ball up to bring her team into play, but she can stretch in behind, get into the box,” said Hayes. “She’s got a vicious finish. She strikes the ball so true, and I think she’s a huge potential.”
Byars has shown the capacity to produce at a high rate, having scored and created at every successive level. There remains one echelon that she has to reach, but a senior international cap should be coming in the near future. A player of her caliber is rarely held back, merely delayed before being given the chance to make a tremendous impact.