J. Perry

Four matches into her first professional season, Jayden Perry stepped up to a penalty spot in the NWSL and became the fastest rookie in the league's history to convert one. All seven of her goals for UCLA had come the same way; she brought the habit with her.

Perry spent four years with the UCLA Bruins in NCAA Division I, from 2021 to 2024. The Bruins won the NCAA title in 2022, took the Pac-12 conference championship in 2021 and 2023, and the Big Ten in 2024. She was named to the All-Pac-12 second team in 2023 and the All-Big Ten second team in 2024, and made more than eighty college appearances.

She signed her first professional contract with Portland Thorns FC in 2025, moving straight from college with no fee involved. The debut season brought 18 appearances, three goals — all penalties — and one assist. One of those penalties arrived in stoppage time to rescue a 3:3 draw with Racing Louisville; another salvaged a 1:1 against San Diego Wave. Her pass to Reilyn Turner in the Louisville match earned her NWSL Assist of the Week on 27 April 2025. In May the club extended her deal to 2028.

The 2026 season has been more uneven. By August she had 16 appearances, nine of them starts, with one goal and two assists. She also picked up four yellow cards and a red. Portland finished third in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup in 2025.