The death of former Central Washington University women’s soccer player Bryn Waite has left her family, friends, former teammates and the CWU community mourning after her body was discovered in the waters off La Jolla Shores Beach in San Diego on July 22. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office and local reporting, emergency responders were called shortly after 9:30 a.m. after a person was spotted floating in shallow water near the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier. Lifeguards recovered Waite from the water, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have identified her as a 26-year-old woman from Anchorage, Alaska, and the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.

Waite was a defender for the Central Washington Wildcats during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. CWU Athletics said she appeared in 15 games, started eight and recorded two assists while playing 723 minutes during her college career. She was also named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in 2019. After graduating from CWU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Waite remained committed to helping others and had recently moved to San Diego, where she was preparing for a new chapter of her life alongside her fiancé. Central Washington Athletics described Waite as a caring teammate and valued member of the Wildcat community. CWU Director of Athletics Dr. Dennis Francois said her passing was a painful reminder of how precious life is and remembered her as a talented student-athlete who excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Her father, Brian Waite, also remembered his daughter as thoughtful, loving, kind and selfless, saying she had a way of making people feel welcome and happy around her.

The San Diego Police Department is leading the investigation into Waite’s death. The Medical Examiner has listed the place of injury as “Ocean – Undetermined,” while both the cause and manner of death remain pending. Officials have not publicly explained how Waite entered the water, when she was injured, or whether foul play is suspected. The Medical Examiner also has not released an estimated time of death. At this stage, authorities have not announced evidence connecting her death to any criminal act. That uncertainty means many questions remain unanswered, and investigators are expected to continue examining the circumstances surrounding the discovery. While some reports have noted another former collegiate athlete, Summer Nash, was found dead in San Diego waters in June, there is no indication that the two cases are connected, and authorities have not announced any link between them.

For those who knew Waite, her legacy extends far beyond her statistics as a college soccer player. Friends and family have described her as compassionate, welcoming and deeply caring. Reports also noted that she loved animals and the beach, while her public social media showed her enjoying travel and outdoor experiences. Her sudden death has brought renewed attention to the life she was building in San Diego after college and the people she left behind.

Central Washington University Athletics has extended its condolences to Waite’s family, loved ones and everyone grieving her loss. As the investigation continues, the CWU community is remembering a former Wildcat whose time on the field was only one part of a much larger life and legacy. Bryn Waite was 26 years old.

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