The apple doesn’t fall far from the Brady family tree. And while Tom might be his most famous name, her niece Maya is enjoying her own time in the spotlight with the College Softball World Series underway.
Shortstop Maya is one of the game’s brightest prospects, underscored by her performance in UCLA’s 4-1 win over Alabama on Thursday, where she scored a run. They return to action Saturday against Oklahoma.
Tom regularly posts about Maya on his Instagram, congratulating her on her wins and will now be her biggest fan when she takes the field on Saturday.
“While I don’t mind being known as Tom Brady’s niece, at the end of the day I would love to be known simply as Maya Brady,” she said in an interview with Togethxr in 2021, where she affectionately referred to him as ‘Uncle Tommy.’
Maya, who turns 23 on Saturday, was born in San Mateo, California, and was named 2020 Softball America Freshman of the Year.
Maya Brady is competing for UCLA in the ongoing College Softball World Series
Brady comes from an elite sporting background – his uncle is none other than Tom Brady.
Brady, who turns 23 on Saturday, wants to be known for her own success in her sport.
Her parents are Maureen Brady, Tom’s sister, and Brian Timmons, and while Tom is the most important person with a sports pedigree she follows, he’s not the only one.
Her mother was an All-American pitcher at Fresno State and Maya’s aunt, Julie Brady, is married to two-time World Series winner Kevin Youkilis, who won both of his titles with the Boston Red Sox.
And while those two are the most obvious examples of role models for her, Brady is also said to idolize Serena Williams “for her lion-like attitude and her will to win.”
She told Togethxr: ‘When I was 10 I watched the UCLA World Series and ever since then I wanted to go to UCLA. That was the school I went to.
She also admires Amanda Lorenz, a softball star who won gold for the United States at the 2022 World Games and the 2023 Pan American Games.
However, Brady has made no secret of how close she is to her uncle. When he retired for good last February, she posted an emotional tribute to him on her Instagram.
“Watching you play football has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” he wrote.
‘I can’t even begin to tell you how many lunch arguments I’ve had over the last 20 years of my life, lol.
Brady is in his fifth year at UCLA and has big plans for life after college in the coming years.
He had previously hinted that he would like to compete for the United States in the 2028 Olympics.
‘The biggest one ever! I love you a lot.’
She told Togethxr that Brady is a bigger influence on her than just a guy.
“I would definitely consider him more of a father figure than my uncle,” she said. ‘After everything the critics have said about him, I just learned from him that you don’t really need to prove anything to anyone.
“He doesn’t listen to people when they tell him he’s not good enough or that he’s too old.”
Brady, in his fifth year, is also studying hard to earn a master’s degree in transformational coaching after earning his bachelor’s degree in sociology.
For now, the studies are on hold. The College Softball World Series will be extended to June 7 if the finals last three games.
But if all goes to plan, Maya will take her game to the biggest sporting stage of all, and one her uncle Tommy never got to compete on, when the Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028.
“Yeah, I’ve definitely thought about it,” he said in an interview with UCLA Athletics in January.
“There really is nothing that can compare to being an Olympic athlete. I think the ultimate goal of every athlete is to have that Olympic status.
Maya pictured with her ‘Uncle Tommy’, who she previously described as a ‘father figure’
Maya, who grew up in California, is aiming for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
‘It’s an incredible opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity. “I think I’m definitely considering it, considering playing after this (UCLA) and extending my time.”
In that same interview, Brady also talked about how eye-opening it has been to explore the world of sponsorships allowed through NIL agreements.
She hasn’t been as aggressive about it as athletes like Olivia Dunne, but she has an ever-growing portfolio of endorsements with companies like Dove and American Eagle, as well as hotel chain Marriott Bonvoy.
He also signed a partnership with Absolutely Ridiculous, a sporting goods brand for baseball and softball players.
It’s unclear what his future will look like after June, but one thing is certain: Brady isn’t going anywhere.