Puerta grew up in San Diego, California, and began playing soccer at an early age.[2] She played club soccer for Albion SC, leading her team to the Girls Academy (GA) national championship and being named the GA's most valuable player in 2022.[2] In 2023, she played regularly for the club's MLS Next boys' side.[2] Before college, she also trained with National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club NJ/NY Gotham FC, who offered her professional terms, and European clubs including Benfica and Real Madrid.[3] She was homeschooled through her childhood and graduated early to join Florida State at age 17. Previously ranked by TopDrawerSoccer as the No. 19 recruit in the 2025 class, she became the No. 62 recruit in the 2024 class, part of Florida State's top-ranked incoming class.[2][4]
Puerta played in all 21 games, starting 9, and scored 4 goals with 5 assists for the Florida State Seminoles as a freshman in 2024.[5] She was named the 5th-best freshman in TopDrawerSoccer's midseason rankings and 57th at the end of the season.[6] She helped Florida State win their fifth consecutive ACC tournament and earn a one seed in the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the second round on penalties.[7] After one season at Florida State, she decided to go pro and give up her remaining college eligibility.[8]
Club career
USL Super League expansion club Sporting JAX announced on May 21, 2025, that they had signed Puerta and defender Georgia Brown to their first professional contracts, making them the club's first two signings.[8] She made her professional debut on August 23, playing the entirety of Sporting JAX's inaugural game, a 3–1 loss to DC Power FC.[9] The following week, she scored her first professional goals in a 3–2 victory over defending champions Tampa Bay Sun, netting twice in four minutes through a penalty and a tight-angled shot after a corner kick in the club's first win.[10] On September 28, she scored her first professional hat trick in a 4–3 win over the Carolina Ascent, getting all three goals in the first half.[11] Her strong performances (six goals in five games) led to her being crowned Player of the Month for September.[12]
On November 22, 2025, Puerta became the fastest USL Super League player to reach 10 career goals (11 games), scoring against Fort Lauderdale United to give Sporting JAX their first home victory.[13] On December 20, she scored against the Tampa Bay Sun as Sporting JAX went top of the table going into the winter break.[14] Midseason fan voting showed her leading the race for the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.[15] On March 22, 2026, she recorded an assist against the Dallas Trinity to break the league record for goal contributions in a season (17; 11 goals and 6 assists) previously set by Emina Ekić and Allie Thornton in the inaugural campaign (16).[16] On April 25, she scored her first goal of the year from the penalty spot in a 2–1 loss to title challengers Lexington SC, who eventually edged Sporting JAX for the Players' Shield.[17]
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