When you hear the name “Brady,” you think of the legendary 28-3 comeback, Super Bowl rings, and NFL domination. The Brady dynasty, however, is making a daring move onto the softball pitch and is no longer confined to football fields. Tom Brady’s family had strong ties to the competitive sports world long before he ever raised a Lombardi. His sister, Maureen Brady, was an All-American pitcher at Fresno State, leading her team to the Women’s College World Series and setting the family standard for excellence.

And now, another Brady joins that wall of fame. Maya Brady is tightening her batting gloves to be the next Brady prodigy.

The USA Softball dropped the announcement this weekend: “The moment we’ve all been waiting for! 🎉 Check out the official roster for the U.S. Women’s National Team as they gear up for the World Games in Chengdu, China! 🇺🇸✨” And yes, Maya Brady is officially on the squad. Uncle Tom’s flex game just got even stronger. Maya is more than Tom Brady’s niece. She amassed 71 career home runs (second-most all-time), 246 RBIs, 550 total bases, a .757 slugging percentage, and a .384 career batting average while she was at UCLA. Peak Brady energy.

Oh, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Maya went on to win three Softball America All-American honors (2021, 2023, and 2024), two Pac-12 Player of the Year awards, the Pac-12 batting title in 2023, and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist two years straight.

And Tom Brady’s support extends beyond the stands. He has been the loudest hype man for Maya. He remarked nonchalantly back in 2021, “The most dominant athlete in the Brady family… by far.” Imagine winning the Super Bowl seven times and acknowledging that your niece is actually the real boss. And again, in March 2024, Tom couldn’t help but say, “Sorry peeps, it just runs in the family. LFG!!!” after Maya hit her 62nd home run. Now, after this, it’s just going to get better because she will be hitting home runs at the 2025 World Games. Safe to say: The Brady empire is expanding.

There, however, is a part that goes beyond any stat sheet. Maya’s upbringing was not the typical two-parent home. Maya and her sister Hannah were raised by their mother, Maureen Brady. Uncle Tom was another silent guardian keeping watch over Maya while Maureen played superhero at home.

Tom and Maya’s bond: The real MVP connection

Maya’s words sum it up perfectly: “I have an amazing relationship with my uncle. He’s like a father figure to me.” Maya regarded Tom Brady as family first, while the rest of the world saw him winning Super Bowls. She went to all ten of his Super Bowls, so she wasn’t merely observing from a distance.

“Watching you play football has been one of the greatest joys of my life… The greatest to ever do it! I love you so much,” Maya wrote on social media after Tom eventually retired, a remark so sweet it could make Belichick smile (if that’s possible). The Brady family just pulled off the rarest flex of all: They kept the fire burning, not with trophies, but with love, mentorship, and resilience.

As Maya said best: “It’s an honor to carry on the legacy of the Brady name. My family is everything to me.” So, Tom Brady might have hung up his cleats. But the Brady legacy? Yeah, it is ongoing. And it’s Maya who has the opportunity to create history this time.