Avery's Dream Come True
By Camryn Edens
Avery McBride’s return to soccer has been anything but easy. A challenging three-year span of consecutive injuries has not only tested her determination, but also showcased her resilience.
The Boise native has always loved soccer, inspired by her sister Payton, who played for the Broncos 2020-23. Payton has been a significant role model for Avery, influencing her in countless ways.
Avery's middle school years were pivotal for her soccer career. She played for the local ECNL club, which provided opportunities to travel across the country for tournaments. These experiences fostered a competitive spirit that she quickly grew to crave.
Fast forward a couple of years, and Avery and Payton had the chance to play soccer together in high school. This experience solidified their desire to compete together at the Division I level.
“Payton is an amazing example. She did everything right and carried herself so well. Even though she's not at Boise State anymore, I try to carry on her example because she was just an amazing teammate and such a hard worker.”Avery McBride
In 2021, Avery tore her left ACL, forcing her to miss her senior year of high school.
“I felt like I was kind of naive about my first ACL tear,” Avery said. “I kept telling myself that it was such a fluke accident and we were just going to move on from it. We were going to work hard for 12 months, and then we’ll never have to deal with anything like this ever again.”
It took Avery 13 months to rehab and fully recover from that injury. She returned at the start of her freshman year at Boise State, but three weeks after she got cleared, she tore her MCL in the same knee.
Avery was disappointed with the diagnosis, but determined to make her return. She put her focus on recovering and was back in action for spring ball in 2023.
Payton was a huge support system for Avery during this hard time and helped her stay positive. She was a supportive teammate and sister that Avery could lean on. Little did they both know that Avery’s recovery journey was far from over.
A familiar feeling returned five weeks into the spring season: Avery tore her ACL in her right knee.
This injury hit her hard, leaving her feeling defeated and frustrated. All her previous hard work felt pointless.
“(Boise State Soccer Head Coach) Jim (Thomas) and I talked about how there's negatives and positives to this injury mentality, but I really just looked back on the player that I used to be before my injuries,” Avery said. “Specifically, how much fun I had playing soccer, the friendships that I made, and just how amazing of an environment that I got to compete in. I just told myself every day I was going to one day get back to her and get back to that level.”
Avery had to find ways to motivate herself, and the most meaningful one was to play for the little girl who fell in love with the sport.
“I just really thought about the old games that I played and the goals that I scored,” Avery said. “I was wanting so badly for that version of myself to have success because I wanted so badly to compete at a Division I level and to make a difference in the program. I couldn't give up on that.”
More hardship came when Avery experienced severe tendonitis in both knees in the summer of 2024. She realized she wasn’t in the best shape heading into the season, leading to a tough conversation with her dad about the possibility of medically retiring.
“My dad and I talked about possibly medically retiring because rehab was just such a heavy toll on my heart and on my body trying to gear up for this season. Ultimately, we ended the conversation where I couldn't give it up. I couldn't not give it my all one more time.”Avery McBride
Determined, Avery committed to putting in the work. She promised herself to make all the time and energy spent rehabbing worthwhile.
Every night last summer, she practiced on the field, went on extra runs, and did additional track workouts. She believed in herself and aimed to make the past three years worth it.
Before the intrasquad match a week before the season started, her trainer emphasized that the primary goal was to stay healthy; they weren’t looking for big minutes. Avery was prepared to fulfill whatever role the team needed, whether on or off the field.
To her surprise, when she arrived at Boas Soccer Complex for the intrasquad match, her jersey was grouped with the starters.
“I was absolutely floored,” Avery said. “I was so surprised and grateful that I was going to be on the starting team. A part of my heart was healed by that.”
The soccer season kicked off a week later, along with the weekly starter presentations. The coaches created a slideshow to announce each starter, featuring a photo and GIF that panned and shook with each click.
Thomas noted at this point in the season, it might not be as memorable for some starters. For Avery, however, when she saw her picture on the starter slide for the first time, it was a testament to her dedication and self-trust.
“I can full-heartedly say that every time my photo flips around and shakes on that screen, I'm so grateful and so excited for that,” Avery said. “Every time it's my photo, I am in disbelief because of where I was at mentally and physically just a few months ago. I never would have thought I would be in this position.”
Avery’s photo and GIF have now shaked for that first match and every one since. She has recorded six goals and four assists for 16 points so far this season, the second-most on the team. She has earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week twice and has helped lead Boise State to the top of the current conference standings.
“I'm just so proud of the version of myself that showed up because I knew that if I would just keep showing up and keep giving it my all that there was going to be a version of myself that got to sit here today,” Avery said. “I'm just so grateful for that and grateful for the people who held me accountable to get the work done to be here. I just never, never would have thought that I was going to be a consistent starter and have the impact that I do today.”
Thomas highlights Avery’s greatest asset: her resilience. This applies not just physically, but mentally. She has fought against the doubts that told her she wasn’t good enough.
“To now have this player that's found her aura again, is that consistent player, is strong and effervescent, that really is one of the most inspiring things I think people can draw from this because the physical challenges are only just the tip of the iceberg,” Thomas said. “It's the emotional journey that's the tricky part. She navigated that superbly.
She is one of the most powerful, resilient, athletic players we've had come through these doors,” Thomas added. “But I think what really makes her unique is that energy that she brings and the noise-figuratively and literally-that she brings to our program.”
The noise does not stop with Avery, though. She has a large fan club, composed of family and friends at every home match. Their support means the world to her, and she can’t imagine playing for any other program.
Even people who aren’t physically able to make it show so much love for Avery on match days. Her grandma sends her a good luck text before each match and her grandpa calls her afterwards to tell Avery how proud he is of her.
Currently, Avery is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies, combining three minors into one major. She’s studying political science, the history of law, and rhetoric and advocacy, while also earning a minor in Spanish.
After graduating in 2026, Avery plans to attend law school with aspirations of becoming a prosecuting attorney.
