AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Longhorns women’s soccer team captured the university’s first-ever SEC championship on Sunday with a 1-0 win over South Carolina, but that was not the only way Texas soccer made history recently.

The club announced Thursday that Trinity Byars, senior forward, signed a contract with the San Diego Wave of the National Women’s Soccer League. The forward will join the Wave’s roster in January on a contract through the 2026 season with a mutual option for 2027.

Byars became the first active NCAA athlete to join the NWSL after the league announced a new collective bargaining agreement earlier this year. The deal eliminated all draft events, and it introduced free agency for all.

This is the first time college and youth players are free to sign directly with teams of their choice in the league's 12-year history.

Byars suffered a knee injury on Sept. 1 and has been sidelined since. However, even though her college career was cut short, she is still one of the most decorated athletes in UT’s history. 

She has tallied 52 career goals and was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and Big 12 Forward of the Year in 2023. Additionally, Byars was named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team for three consecutive years, All-Big 12 First Team in 2022 and 2023, and the United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2023.

According to ESPN, Wave officials have predicted Byars’ road to recovery to be about nine months. However, the time period may be adjusted based on her progress. Byars will conclude her rehab in San Diego.

The Wave are currency ranked No. 10 out of 14 teams in the league.