Halladay Inks First Pro Contract with Racing Power FC in Portugal
7/5/2026 1:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Star forward Jessie Halladay, the 2025 Big West Championship MVP, has officially signed her first professional contract, inking a deal with Racing Power FC in Setúbal, Portugal, to continue her soccer career.
Racing Power FC, which is located just outside the country’s capital of Lisbon, is a member of Liga BPI, the top division of women’s soccer in Portugal. The club was founded in 2020 and won titles at the third (2020-21) and second (2022-23) divisions in Portugal to receive promotion to the country’s top division in just three years.
Halladay, a 22-year-old from Los Gatos, Calif., will join the club ahead of their 2026-27 season, which should begin in September. One of the most impactful players to come through the Cal Poly women’s soccer program over the last three decades, Halladay wrapped up her collegiate career this fall, leading the Mustangs to their fourth Big West Tournament Championship in program history and first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 21 years.
Halladay said she is extremely grateful for this chance to continue her career on the pitch, and credited the Cal Poly coaching staff for preparing her for this moment.
“It just means the world to me,” she said. “I think the coaching staff has done a wonderful job of setting me up for this opportunity when it comes to helping me find an agent and having real conversations about what I’m looking for and what I see in my future journey as a professional soccer player. I just feel lucky to have a coaching staff like the one here because they are truly special.”
During her three years as a Mustang, Halladay was the leader of Cal Poly’s attack, racking up 19 goals, 11 assists and 149 shots across 55 appearances and 31 starts. Her 49 career points are tied with Jill Nelsen (1997-99) for the 11th most in program history.
“This place 100 percent prepared me to go pro not only as a player, but also as a person,” Halladay said. “Being here taught me how to deal with adversity, and the environment created by the coaches allowed me to be challenged as a player, fail and grow while feeling loved and supported every step of the way. The coaches invested so much time, and their belief in me means everything.”
Halladay, who transferred to Cal Poly in 2023 following her freshman season at Loyola Marymount, shined in her final season as a Mustang in 2025, cementing herself as the most dynamic forward in the conference alongside teammate and 2025 Big West Offensive Player of the Year Annika Smith. The 2024 All-Big West Honorable Mention selection led the conference in goals (10), shots (78), shots on goal (35) and total points (24) this past season. Her 10 goals in 2025 were the most by a Mustang since 2021 and are tied for the 12th most in a single season in program history.
After being named to the All-Big West Second Team following the conclusion of the regular season, Halladay went on a tear during Cal Poly’s postseason run, scoring all three of the team’s goals. She netted the game-winner for the Mustangs in 1-0 victories in both the Big West Semifinals and Big West Championship to secure conference tournament MVP honors, and buried a header just 49 seconds into the NCAA First Round defeat at No. 1 Stanford, the sixth quickest goal to open a match in program history.
Halladay’s stellar senior season earned her United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team honors, becoming the first Mustang in three years to grab a spot on the First Team. Her 24 points this season were also tied for the 13th most in a single season in program history.
Halladay is the seventh Cal Poly women's soccer player in program history to sign a contract to play professionally and the second from this past season’s team, joining Madelyn Dougherty, who signed a mid-year contract in February with ŽFK Vojvodina in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Stepping into this next chapter in her playing career, Halladay can’t wait to get to Portugal and start this new adventure.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said, “even the challenges, and the highs and lows. I’m very aware that it’s not going to be perfect, but I have confidence I can get through anything. I’m really excited to just grow my soccer IQ there too because … I think that’s something I can really add to my game.”
