DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis women’s soccer assistant coach Janae Braun and current midfielder Viet-Thy Tran are usually recognized throughout Davis for their efforts on Aggie Soccer Field. That all changed this summer when the pair became the only representatives from the same college to participate in the first-ever full United States Women’s Futsal National Team training camp, held in Rome, Georgia, from July 28 to Aug. 2.
Braun and Tran were two of 18 players selected, representing just two of six California athletes to take part in the U.S. training camp, after making it through a talent identification process that lasted over a year and a half to finalize the training camp roster.
In December 2022, FIFA announced the addition of a FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup to its slate of international competitions, with the inaugural edition set to take place in 2025 in the Philippines.
“This first full U.S. Women’s Futsal National Team camp is a milestone for women’s futsal in the United States,” U.S. futsal head coach Tafarel stated. “Along with helping us take our first steps toward international competition, it is also a big step in promoting the sport and laying the groundwork for developing a competitive National Team to inspire future generations of female futsal players. We look forward to the work ahead with this group as we maintain our focus on qualifying for next year’s Futsal World Cup.”
Braun, formerly Janae Gonzalez, was a standout for two seasons with the Aggies. A two-time Big West All-Academic selection, she earned All-Big West First Team honors during her senior year after leading all Aggies in points (13), shots (34), and goals (6).
In her current role as an assistant coach, Braun has brought all of her international and professional playing experiences to help uplift UC Davis women’s soccer, aiding Coach Tracy Joyner’s staff in putting together their best start within the Division I era.
For Braun, the roots of her futsal journey were planted during her youth. “My club coach who I had from age 13 to 18, we did one futsal practice a week,” she shared. “For five years, I did futsal at least once a week. But tournaments and leagues didn’t start in my area until I was already in college.” Braun later sought out futsal tournaments, balancing her passion for both soccer and futsal throughout her college career.
Tran’s introduction to futsal came from her family, playing on a boys’ team due to the lack of girls’ teams in her area. “My parents put me on the boys team when I was maybe six or seven,” she explained. “I played all the way up until COVID, and then around 11th grade, I started back up again and really refound my love for the game.”
Both players experienced the highest-level of competition they’ve ever faced at the camp, which Braun described as a revelation. “Futsal is the number one sport in a lot of South American countries, and it’s super popular there, even more than soccer,” she noted. “Being around women who love futsal maybe more than soccer was the best experience.”
Tran echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the excitement of representing the West Coast, where futsal is less established compared to the East Coast and South America. “Growing up, there wasn’t a futsal program backed by U.S. soccer,” she said. “Now being part of this program and seeing where it can go is super exciting.”
Despite the camp occurring during the critical first week of UC Davis’s preseason training, both Braun and Tran felt an overwhelming sense of support from their teammates and coaching staff to represent their country. Braun reflected, “I didn’t feel guilty because I felt the support of knowing that there’s nothing greater than representing your national team. Although we missed out on that first week, you wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Tran added, “My teammates were like, ‘Whoa, what is futsal? That’s so sick!’ Just having the support of our coach, Tracy, who allowed us to go to this camp, was really exciting.”
Even though their absence during an important part of UC Davis’ preseason training lingered on their minds, Braun and Tran’s unique dynamic as coach and player transformed during the training camp. Braun remarked, “We went into it as equals… It’s super important to know that you’re just equals on the court. It helps build a better relationship in general.” Tran felt the same way, describing how playing alongside Braun elevated her understanding of coaching. “Watching her play and seeing her do all the right things made me realize she knows what she’s talking about,” Tran said with a little smirk.
What makes this story even more special for UC Davis is how both Braun and Tran, though scouted from different paths, came together to represent the Aggies on a national stage. “It was super cool just to both represent UC Davis because we were scouted at different places,” Braun noted. “The coaches didn’t even know we were from the same school or knew each other. That just shows our level—we showed up ready to go and both got to represent Davis. It was super special.”
Tran relayed this, highlighting the pride in their shared journey. “To compete together at such a high level, while being part of the same university, is an honor. It highlights what UC Davis is building in women’s soccer and futsal. It shows that our program is growing and that we can compete with the best in the nation.”
Tran, Braun, and the Aggies have demonstrated they can compete with top teams, securing a historic win against LSU earlier this season. Boasting a 9-4-1 record, UC Davis will return to Aggie Soccer Field on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m. PT, to host UC Riverside for Pride Day.
This story is an example of UC Davis Athletics’ commitment to the Ignite Strategic Plan Pillar of “Assess and Value Personal” by developing diverse personnel that contribute to a positive experience and meaningful impact. Read more about our strategic plan here; IGNITE
