Cal’s star forward Karlie Lema, who won ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors after the Golden Bears’ first year in the conference, signed a three-year contract with Bay FC, it was announced Monday.

The addition of Lema, a former Live Oak High star who scored 16 goals for Cal in 21 games last season, is a significant move for Bay FC as it took advantage of the abolition of the NWSL draft to secure one of the nation’s top women’s collegiate soccer players.

The NWSL’s recent CBA not only allows players to sign with any team it chooses by eliminating the draft, it’s one of the most progressive pro-player deals of any professional league in the country. Guaranteed contracts and no trades unless approved by the player are other perks for players in the deal signed in August.

“We are thrilled to announce the signing of Karlie Lema, a dynamic and talented player who embodies everything we strive for at Bay FC,” said head coach Albertin Montoya. “Adding a local talent of her caliber to our roster is incredibly exciting.”

Lema, whose contract includes an option year for a fourth season in 2028, will be reunited with Montoya, her coach while she played for the Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club before heading to Cal.

Lema joins a Bay FC squad that qualified for the playoffs while setting an NWSL record for most wins by an expansion team (11). She’ll also join an attack led by Racheal Kundananji, Asisat Oshoala and Penelope Hocking.

-- Jon Becker

Tennis

Osaka wins her 1st match of new season >> Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the court after an almost three month absence in the first round of the ASB tennis classic in Auckland, undeterred by protests outside the stadium against her Israeli opponent.

Osaka beat qualifier Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 in a tight contest in her first match since October when a back injury at the China Open ended her season.

All the hallmarks of Osaka’s game were present Monday: the powerful serve, forceful ground-strokes particularly from the forehand side and the aggression.

Ko becomes a Dame in New Zealand >> Hall of Famer Lydia Ko has been made a Dame in the New Year’s honors list in New Zealand for her services to golf.

A damehood is the female equivalent of a knighthood and she’s become Dame Lydia Ko after receiving one of New Zealand’s highest civil honors.

Ko is the youngest New Zealander at age 27 to receive the honor.

The Korean-born Ko won the women’s tournament at this year’s Paris Olympics and also in 2024 became the 35th and youngest inductee to the LPGA Hall of Fame. Ko won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and a silver medal at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

MLB

Sasaki may make visits before signing >> Prized Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki may visit one or two teams before deciding which club he wants to sign with.

Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, said that 20 teams expressed interest in the 23-year-old right-hander, who listened this month to presentations from clubs with a two-hour limit at the office of Wasserman Media Group in Los Angeles.

Sasaki returned to Japan and is considering how he wants to proceed ahead of the signing window, which runs from Jan. 15-23. Wolfe said Sasaki is likely to narrow the field but may meet with one or two more clubs.

“He is definitely driving the ship and calling the shots,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe said Sasaki did not appear concerned with whether a team he was considering already had Japanese players. He asked that teams not have current players attend the meetings, which included general managers, managers, pitching coaches and biomechanics and performance training staffs.

Because Sasaki is under 25, he is subject to a minor league contract under the 2025 international signing bonus pools.

Pederson, Rangers finalize deal >> Palo Alto’s Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers finalized a $37 million, two-year contract after the designated hitter-outfielder successfully completed a physical.

The left-handed hitter’s introduction came a week after agreeing to the deal, which includes an opt-out for Pederson after the 2025 season. There is also a mutual option for an additional season in 2027.