Bay FC, the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), players will take part in a special storytime at the Central Park Library. Get active, learn some professional moves, meet players and listen to a special storytime with music and movement.
After program, we'll move to the FIFA Countdown Clock in the Lobby to take pictures and you can meet the players Lema and Anderson. 

Meet Karlie Lema: 

A Bay Area native, Lema joined Bay FC after a stellar college career at Cal where she tallied 31 goals in 76 appearances, sixth on the Bears all-time scoring list, and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2021 and All-Pac-12 Third Team her junior season in 2023. She also featured locally for San Francisco Glens Soccer Club in 2024 in USL W League action. She was one of the country’s top offensive players her senior season at Cal, netting 16 goals in 21 appearances to earn ACC Offensive Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team honors. Lema’s contributions helped her squad to a top-25 national ranking and an at-large bid in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where the Bears reached the second round after a tournament-opening 2-1 win vs. Pepperdine after extra time. 

Lema played her youth career with Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club. She represented U.S. Youth National Teams throughout her youth career, earning five invitations to the U17 Women’s Youth National team from 2019-2020, and a selection to the U-17 Women’s Youth National Team roster for the 2019 UEFA Development tournament. She participated with the U-15 Women’s Youth National Team in 2018, earning a roster spot for the squad’s trip to the 2018 CFA Youth International Football tournament in China.

Meet Joelle Anderson: 

A San Jose native, Anderson joined Bay FC ahead of the 2024 season from the Houston Dash. Drafted by Houston in 2021, she joined the club after completing her college career in 2022 and played in 30 games across all NWSL competitions, earning 15 starts with two goals from 2022-23. 

At Pepperdine from 2017-21, Anderson was a five-time All-West Coast Conference selection, earning first team honors three times and second team recognition twice. Across her career, she appeared in 88 matches, totaling 35 goals and 24 assists, which earned her All-West Region accolades four times, including three first team selections. In her final season, Anderson notched 11 goals and eight assists – career highs in both categories – in 22 games (21 starts) for the Waves. 

*Limited capacity. First come, first served.

Ross Dress for Less and Bay FC support summer reading and literacy programs at Santa Clara City Library. 
This is event is generously sponsored by the Santa Clara City Foundation and Friends.