Payten Cooper Season 2025

2025
Played in all 21 games and made six starts … Ranked third on the team with three goals and tied for third in scoring with seven points … Named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week Sept. 2 after scoring the game-winner and assisting on a second goal in the Bruins’ 2-0 win over Long Beach State … Also scored a goal in the Bruins’ win over Nebraska and scored in the final minute to seal a 3-1 win over Pepperdine in the NCAA first round.    

High School/Club
Played three years of soccer and four years of track & field … Offensive MVP of 6-6A and second-team all-region honors in 2025 … Earned first-team all-district honors and was named the midfielder of the year in 2024 … Newcomer of the Year in 2022 … Played club soccer with Solar Soccer Club and won the national championship in 2023.

Personal
Born in Plano, Texas … Mother is Donnita Gordon … Decided to attend UCLA because of the campus, environment and welcoming nature of the team … Greatest athletic thrill is doing celebrations after goals with her teammates … Admires boxer Terence Crawford and basketball player Anthony Edwards … Hobbies are fishing, listening to music, baking and watching old soccer games, crime documentaries, baking shows and Animal Kingdom … Hopes to become a neurologist.