TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State soccer senior defender Heather Gilchrist has signed with Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, the club announced on Wednesday.
 
Gilchrist joins Bay FC after a four-year career at Florida State, where she helped FSU win two national championships, in 2023 and 2025, along with another College Cup appearance in 2022. A two-time All-American, she added five ACC titles, three tournament and two regular-season.
 
“FSU has truly transformed me on and off the field,” Gilchrist said. “Learning from world-class players and getting to work with an incredibly talented and detailed staff has been a formative experience. It has been an honor to play in front of the Tallahassee community and the amazing fans. I am so grateful for my time at this historic program with amazing teammates, and I am excited to learn and grow in the next chapter of my career.”
 
“Heather is the consummate professional,” FSU head coach Brian Pensky said. “Her vast resume speaks for itself, but it’s truly how she carries herself and goes about her business that separates Heather. Since the day we started working with Heather, (former associate head coach) Bobby Shuttleworth and I joked that we felt we were dealing with a 27-year-old woman. That maturity and professionalism will serve Heather well for many years to come. Bay was smart to sign her. Certainly, it’ll be nice for Heather and Taylor to have each other.
 
Gilchrist will join former Seminole teammate Taylor Huff (FSU 2023-24) on Bay FC’s roster.
 
“I am so excited to be starting my professional career at Bay FC,” Gilchrist said to Bay FC. “The vision, support, and culture at Bay is special, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it. I can’t wait to grow in this environment as a player and person and play in front all the incredible fans of the Bay Area.”
 
From 2022-25, Gilchrist earned Third Team All-America accolades in 2025 and Fourth Team All-America distinction in 2024. This year she also was named to the Scholar All-America First Team and the Academic All-America First Team. Gilchrist is just the third player in team history to receive CSC Academic All-America and United Soccer Coaches All-America distinctions in the same season.
 
Gilchrist was bestowed with All-Region and All-ACC honors in both 2024 and 2025 and was named to the 2025 College Cup All-Tournament Team. She was recognized on the 2025 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List and is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team, two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll and two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree.
 
A native of Boulder, Colorado, Gilchrist played in 81 career games in four years at Florida State with 79 starts totaling almost 7,000 minutes on the back line. She scored four goals with five assists for 15 points on 24 shots, 13 on goal. Three of Gilchrist’s goals were game winners.
 
In her senior season, Gilchrist scored a career-best four goals, three of them game winners, with one assist for a career-high nine points in a team-leading 1,825 minutes. She anchored a back line that posted 13 shutouts, including four in the NCAA Tournament and both contests in the College Cup.
 
Gilchrist graduated from Florida State in the fall of 2024 with a bachelors degree in finance, and is currently pursuing a masters degree in business administration.
 
For more information on Florida State soccer, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUSoccer) & Instagram (@NoleSoccer).