Tom Brady's niece Maya upstages NFL icon with her own major sporting achievement
Tom Brady's niece has proven sporting skill continues to run in the family after she was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in a professional softball league.
It is in stark contrast to her iconic uncle, who famously fell all the way to the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft before being selected by the New England Patriots.
Maya, the daughter of Brady's oldest sister Maureen, was selected by the Oklahoma City Spark with the opening pick of The Athletes Unlimited Softball League expansion draft on Monday.
Having represented UCLA in her college career, Maya had been playing for the Talons after going 19th in the league's initial draft earlier this year.
But following the expansion of the league to six teams, Oklahoma City spark have recruited her to their new franchise.
Shortstop Maya impressed in her first season as a pro, averaging .500 and hitting a home run with five RBI across eight games to help the Talons win a championship.
Tom Brady's niece Maya was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in a professional softball league
Having graduated from UCLA, Maya played her first season as a professional earlier this year
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, has previously described his niece as 'the most dominant athlete in the Brady family… by far.'
Maya's mom Maureen was an impressive softball pitcher in high school while her aunt, Julie, played college soccer at St. Mary's and went on to marry Boston Red Sox star and two-time World Series champion Kevin Youkilis.
Tom has posted about Maya on his Instagram several times in the past, congratulating her on milestones and victories.
'Even though I don't mind being known as Tom Brady's niece, at the end of the day I would love to just be known as Maya Brady,' she said in an interview with Togethxr in 2021, where affectionately referred to him as 'Uncle Tommy'.
She has made no secret of how close she is with her uncle, though.
When he retired for good in February 2023, she posted an emotional tribute to him on her Instagram.
'Watching you play football has been one of the greatest joys of my life,' she wrote.
When Brady retired, Maya said: 'Watching you play football has been one of the greatest joys of my life'
Brady previously described his niece as 'the most dominant athlete in the Brady family… by far'
'I can't even begin to tell you how many lunch arguments I've gotten in over the last 20 years of my life, lol. The greatest to ever do it! I love you so much.'
She told Togethxr that Brady is a bigger influence on her than just an uncle.
'I would definitely consider him more of a father figure than my uncle,' she said.
'After all the critics have said about him, I've just learned from him that you don't really have to prove anything to anyone.
'He doesn't listen to people when they tell him that he's not good enough or he's too old.'
