Chai Cortez

Chai Losalea Cortez (born July 18, 1998) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left back. She played college soccer for the Oregon Ducks before spending two professional stints with San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early life Cortez grew up in Kahului, Hawaii, alongside three sisters. Cortez's oldest sister, Kylie, was a college soccer player who starred for the Chaminade Silverswords. As a teenager, Cortez attended Lokelani Intermediate school and Maui High School. She led Maui High School in scoring during her last three years of education and was named to the all-league first team. Cortez also played club soccer for the Hawaii Surf, where she helped the team win two club championships. She scored her only collegiate goal against California on March 26, 2021, converting the match-winner directly off of a corner kick. Cortez finished her college career in 2022 with 79 appearances and 1 goal recorded. Her 11 assists tied for the seventh-highest in program history. She ended up sustaining an injury during the Dash's training camp and did not sign with Houston.

On July 27, 2023, Cortez signed her first professional contract with San Diego Wave FC as a national team replacement player, becoming the first Maui Interscholastic League graduate to sign in the NWSL. Cortez also started in the Wave's very next game, an NWSL Challenge Cup defeat to Portland Thorns FC. Later in July, Wave players who participated in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup returned to the club. Subsequently, Cortez moved from a national team replacement contract to an injury replacement contract. She made one more appearance for the Wave before getting released on October 7.

With five Wave players out for the summer in order to compete in the 2024 Olympics, Cortez again signed a national team replacement player contract on July 18. She did not appear for the Wave before she was released in August 2024.

International career As a middle schooler, Cortez received her first youth international call-up in 2014 to the U-14 national team. She later went on to represent the United States at various other youth levels, including U-16, U-17, and U-18.

Personal life Cortez gave birth to her first child, a daughter, on June 26, 2026.

Career statistics

Club

Honors San Diego Wave NWSL Shield: 2023