VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Rise FC had plenty to celebrate during last Friday’s “Champions Night” match against AFC Toronto, but one thing that fans may have been surprised to celebrate was the explosive debut from newly-added Colombian midfielder Camila Reyes.  

The 23-year-old dynamo announced herself to the fan base with an incredible strike to level the match in the 18th minute, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box and firing a first-time effort off the crossbar and in. 

Fans watching across Canada will certainly remember the name, but who really is this energetic midfielder from Colombia, and what can we expect from her? 

A Star is Born  

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Reyes was surrounded by ‘futbol’ as soon as she opened her eyes. Her family was heavily into the sport; national team game watchalongs and family kickabouts at her grandmother’s farm were common occurrences, especially in the summers.  

“I would spend every vacation at her farm, and we would all play together as a family, so it was very family-oriented,” recalled Reyes.  

When she was old enough to walk, she was old enough to hit the pitch.  

Fast forward to her adolescence, Reyes began taking it more seriously, going from kicking around with her cousins to representing her city at the academy level with Kapital Soccer Club. After winning a national tournament as a teen, Reyes realized that the path was open for her to pursue a career in soccer.  

“Once I realized that,” she explained, “I knew I wanted this for the rest of my life, and I was going to give everything for it. 

A Bright Beginning 

At only 17-years-old, Reyes burst onto the Colombian soccer scene when she joined Deportivo Cali in the budding Colombian Women’s League. Cali went on to win the league championship with an undefeated season. Reyes played 12 matches and scored two goals. But despite the dominant campaign, it wasn’t always easy for Reyes in her rookie season.  

“It was tough to adjust to,” she admitted. “I was surrounded with people much older than me, some almost double my age, so it was a bit of a shock for me. But it ended up being for the best.” 

The midfielder’s performances grabbed the attention of fellow Colombian side Santa Fe, who signed her the following season as a key piece for their project.  

That proved to be a smart investment as Reyes went on to play for four seasons at Santa Fe, making 63 appearances and scoring an impressive 21 goals, including four goals in their knockout matches and one in the final of their title-winning campaign in 2023.  

At the international level, her star continued to shine as she made her debut with Colombia’s senior women’s national team and was on the roster at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.  

By the time she left for Vancouver at the start of 2026, Reyes was the beloved captain of Santa Fe at just 22-years-old, proving her abilities and leadership quality.  

A New Challenge 

It’s a brave choice for any footballer to move away from their home country. But it’s even braver to move to a new league, with only one season under their belt, as she is in joining Rise FC in Canada’s fledging Northern Super League (NSL). Yet for Reyes, she saw it as an opportunity to bring some Latin flavour to this growing league. 

 “There weren’t really many Latinas in the league,” she reasoned. “So I saw it as an opportunity not only for me to prove myself somewhere new, but to showcase to the fans the grit and flair that Latinas like me can bring.” 

It did not take long for that flair to show, as Reyes’ wondergoal quickly spread across social media in both Canada and back home in Colombia.  

Reyes was elated that she was able to celebrate with a raucous sold-out crowd at Swangard Stadium. While it was a new environment, the feeling was familiar. 

“The atmosphere reminded me a lot of home,” she explained. “The fans were passionate and loud, and I was able to see a lot of young girls cheering on their idols. I saw them getting their faces painted and making signs, and it showed me that there is a clear desire for women’s soccer in this country, which surprised even me.” 

Eyes on the Prize 

Reyes may have put herself on the map with her NSL debut, but her attention is clearly fixed on the team. Rise FC have ambitions to retain the NSL Championship, and go for the Shield, and that’s exactly what Reyes wants to help deliver to the club.  

“The championship, absolutely,” Reyes responded when asked for her goals this season. “The team did a great job to win the championship last season, and I want to be able to carry that over this season. We know that we can do it, so I want to help the team get there again.”  

If Reyes can continue to shine as she did in her opening match, then there will be many more moments of celebration to come.