Ducks Add Two Transfers

EUGENE, Ore. – Midfielder Paige Nakada, the 2024 Oregon 6A state player of the year, and goalkeeper Gray Willson are transferring to Oregon for the fall season, coach Tracy Joyner announced Friday.

Nakada helped lead Portland's Grant High School to two 6A state championships and was named the 2024 Oregonian/OregonLive girls soccer player of the year.

Willson went 10-4-5 with a 0.89 goals against average and made 60 saves at Colorado State last season.

"We are excited to add two talented and experienced players to our roster," said Joyner. "Gray is an elite goalkeeper and I'm looking forward to seeing what she brings to the team. Paige is a highly skilled defender and one of the best players to come out of Oregon in recent years."

Paige Nakada, So., 5-2, Midfielder, Portland, Ore.
Grant High School | San Francisco

BEFORE OREGON
Played 14 games as a freshman at San Francisco (2025) … Defensive midfielder started six matches … Made first collegiate start against Stanford (Aug. 14) … Played 789 minutes … Attempted three shots … Had one shot against Seattle, Washington State and Pepperdine.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was named the 2024 Oregonian/OregonLive girls soccer player of the year after leading Grant High School to a 17-1-1 record … Helped Grant win 6A state titles in 2021 and 2023 … Team was state runners-up in 2024 … Anchored Grant's defense that allowed just three goals in 18 matches her senior season and led the team with 13 assists … Named to the Oregon All-State first team twice (2023-24) as well as the Portland Interscholastic League first team … Played club soccer for Portland Thorns Academy … Named to the 2024 ECNL Pacific Northwest Conference first team … Picked to play in the 2024 ECNL National Selection Game … 2022 USYNT Regional ID Center attendee … A U-19 Youth All-American … National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Born in Portland, Ore. … Parents are Holly and Chet Nakada … Majoring in kinesiology.

Paige Nakada on Oregon
"I decided to come to the University of Oregon because I wanted to be closer to home. Also, the environment all around campus is unmatched. The soccer program is very competitive and I'm excited to jump right in."

Gray Willson, Jr., 5-11, Goalkeeper, Rocklin, Calif.
Del Oro High School | Miami (Fla.) | Colorado State

BEFORE OREGON
Played one season at Miami, Fla. (2024) and one at Colorado State (2025) … Has an 11-7-8 two-year career record with 81 saves and a 1.15 goals against average in 25 matches … Seven career shutouts … Appeared in six matched for Miami as a freshman in 2024 … Made four saves in a 1-0 shoutout of Florida International (Sept. 1) … Had a career-best nine saves at Stanford (Sept. 26) … Started all 19 matches (1,710 minutes) for Colorado State in 2025 … Posted a 10-4-5 record with a 0.89 goals against average and made 60 saves … That was the second-lowest GAA ever by a Colorado State keeper … Allowed just 17 goals … Six shutouts … Two-time Mountain West defensive player of the week … Blanked Stetson 3-0 on three saves (Aug. 21) … It was the first of four consecutive shutouts … That stretch also included South Florida (1-0, 4 saves, Aug. 24), UTSA (1-0, 6 saves, Aug. 28) and Northern Colorado (1-0, 3 saves, Sept. 4) … CSU started the season 6-0-0 and was ranked as high as No. 24 nationally … Made six stops in a 1-1 draw at Utah State (Sept. 25) … Posted four saves in a 1-0 win versus UNLV (Oct. 5) … Seven saves in a 1-0 loss at Fresno State (Oct. 16) … Made a season-high eight saves in a 2-2 tie against San Diego State (Oct. 23) … Three saves in a 4-0 decision over Nevada (Oct. 30).

HIGH SCHOOL
Three-time all-league first team selection for Del Oro High School and an all-state honoree as a senior … Totaled 73 shutouts in 78 career matches … A 2023 high school All-American nominee … Sacramento Section co-defensive player of the year … Led Del Oro to three Sacramento CIF championships and three appearances in the CIF semifinals … Del Oro was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in 2023 … Played club soccer for San Juan ECNL … ODP West Regional team … All-ECNL goalkeeper was selected to play in the ECNL National Showcase Game … Del Oro High School Golden Eagle student of the year award.

PERSONAL
Born in Rocklin, Calif. … Parents are Susan and Peter Willson … Father Peter Willson played football at Sacramento State … One grandfather, Dan Willson, played football at SMU while her other grandfather, Richard Shelton, was on the rodeo team at Cal Poly.

Gray Willson on Oregon
"The University of Oregon is on the rise and I want to be a part of the foundation of that this program is building on. The coaching staff is amazing and the facilities are state of the art. Playing in the Big Ten means I get to compete against the best players in the country."

- www.GoDucks.com -

University of Oregon Athletics

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