By Caden Charpentier
Taylor and Evan Davila have realized a dream thought by many but lived out by few.
Until this season, the brothers never played in a competitive soccer match together — not growing up at youth levels nor in college, where the Sherman Oaks natives just missed one another coming through their home state Cal Berkeley.
After both players signed for Louisville City FC ahead of the 2024 season, they shared the field for the first time back on March 30 in a runaway win over Birmingham Legion FC. In doing so, the Davilas followed Elijah and Josh Wynder as siblings to suit up together in purple.
“It’s just special,” said 23-year-old Taylor, the elder Davila brother. “How many people get the chance to play with their sibling in professional sports? That’s super rare.”
Taylor, a USL Championship All-League First Teamer in 2023, joined LouCity this past offseason after former club Rio Grande Valley FC folded. Evan followed Taylor to Louisville for a successful preseason trial with his college career having just wrapped up.
“We compete on the field every day, and it’s super nice to have him here to support him and him to support me,” Taylor said.
Evan had the benefit of facing uncertainty — would he be able to make a pro roster? — with his brother by his side. It was a whirlwind winter going from the All-Pac-12 First Team to arguably the USL Championship’s most successful club.
“Having Taylor here has been amazing,” said 22-year-old Evan. “Having someone who has been in the league who is also your brother who can give you honest advice really helped me grow and acclimate to this pro lifestyle. Having family here, having my brother here – you just feel so much more comfortable.”
Sports has always been a part of the Davilas’ identities. Their father, Teddy, played soccer at California State University, Northridge from 1989-1993, scoring in the school’s Division I debut in 1990. Their mother was also a Division I athlete at CSUN at the same time, playing tennis under Teddy’s father, Tony.
That pedigree — and quite a bit of commitment — helped the Davilas go from competing in the yard in California to pro careers.
“Soccer was everything to us,” Taylor said. “We did school and we did soccer. That’s what our week looked like. That’s what our year looked like.”
Taylor immediately stepped into a starting LouCity role, where he has scored three goals, assisted two more and played in all 18 games this season. The rookie Evan has appeared in four games and registered his first goal contribution back on March 23 with an assist in City’s home opener.
“There is no other place I’d rather be,” Evan said, “especially since my brother is here.”
