Claire Palya joins Chattanooga FC Women for the 2026 season!

Player Bio

Name: Claire Palya
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Date of Birth: November 25, 2003
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Citizenship: United States
Previous club: One Knox SC

Deep Dive

What has been your career highlight so far?
"Making an appearance in the 2025 NCAA tournament."

Other career highlights?
"Winning the 2025 OVC tournament and being the 2024/2025 OVC regular season champions with Tennessee Tech."

Off the field

Favorite movie: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Favorite sport (other than football): Swimming
Music on heavy rotation right now: Indie-folk
Favorite football clubs (other than CFC): Chelsea
Recent book you've read: First Lie Wins
Hobbies outside of soccer: Hiking, cooking and traveling
Fun fact most people don't know about you: I've lived in five different cities

Message to Chattanooga FC's fans

"I am really excited to be joining CFC this summer and playing for a club that supports women's soccer. Joining a community-focused club is important to me because it allows me to play for something bigger than myself. Chattanooga has such a passionate community, so I am ready to represent the city with other talented athletes!"