On January 12, Mya Jones sat at home with her family in Calgary, Alberta, anxiously watching the National Women's Soccer League draft.
Around 10:30 that night she got a call from San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney, saying that she would be selected with the club's next pick.
Moments later the Wave's pick was in.
San Diego made a trade with Racing Louisville in order to move up in the draft and Mya Jones was selected as the 42nd pick in the 2023 NWSL draft.
The wait was finally over, after years of training and preparation Jones became a professional soccer player, the first women ever from the University of Memphis to say so.
Jones shed tears of joy and embraced her family.
The former University of Memphis standout made history in both Calgary and Memphis that night.
She became the first Memphis Tiger and Calgarian drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League.
“Eventually Casey called me, the coach of San Diego and said we are going to pick you," said Jones. "That was surreal. Yeah, they called my name, and I cried a little bit, but it was tears of joy. Yeah, it was pretty amazing.”
Jones was one of the top prospects coming out of the NCAA but since she is Canadian and NWSL teams can only have so many non-American players on their roster, Jones dropped lower than expected.
For San Diego, Jones dropping to the third round was a blessing.
They saw it as an opportunity and even traded up to make the pick.
“Yeah, we didn’t think we’d get Mya because we thought she would go a lot sooner," said San Diego Wave FC head coach, Casey Stoney. "I think the fact that she takes an international spot potentially is one of the reasons. This young player has got a lot of talent. The way she can go one v one. She can go inside and outside. She is a very positive attacking player.”
The talented forward played five seasons at Memphis, leading the Tigers to three straight AAC titles and five NCAA tournament appearances.
In 2023 she was named the Tennessee Hall of Fame Female Amateur Athlete of the year, the AAC Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
In 2023 she was also named to the prestigious United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team.
Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan coached Jones for five seasons.
Monaghan has coached many great Memphis players over the course of his 23 years at the helm.
He is an expert at judging talent.
He says Jones has possessed the skillset and mindset to play at the next level for the past few seasons.
“To really make it as a pro, you got to make it another step," said Monaghan. And its not for everybody. There are kids that have come through here and played a little pro but Mya is a pro.”
Monaghan added that he means no disrespect to any of his former or current players. He just believes that Jones is made for professional soccer.
Jones is also the first Calgarian to get drafted into the NWSL. She wants to use her accomplishments to inspire young girls in Canada.
“Potentially just inspiring for the young girls that are playing there," the San Diego Wave FC forward, said. "More so, I’m just representing them and the young girls in my city. I think, it’s a big deal to get drafted as a Canadian. Hopefully in the future girls can see that its possible."
As Jones boarded her flight from Calgary to San Diego she got an interesting text.
Her phone lit up and she noticed the sender was none other than USWNT striker and current teammate, Alex Morgan.
Morgan was welcoming Jones to the club.
From playing on the fields of Calgary, Alberta, to scoring worldies at the University of Memphis Track and Soccer Complex, to receiving a text from her now teammate Alex Morgan.
It is safe to say, after years of hard work and dedication, Mya Jones has achieved her goal.
