How Filipinas midfielder Ryley Bugay juggles football and med school

Pinay midfielder, 27, is an aspiring doctor
Aug 4, 2023
Ryley Bugay Filipinas med school
PHOTO: PWNT photo | ryleybugay11 on Instagram

A MEMBER of the Philippine women’s football team who recently competed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup is also an aspiring doctor.

Filipinas midfielder Ryley Bugay was part of the team’s historic campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup squad while doing a balancing act after recently making at medicine school at Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville.

Ryley Bugay's life outside football

Bugay just completed her first year in medical school prior to the gear-up of the Filipinas in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Despite her busy schedule and missing a few Fifa windows with the team, Bugay came to camp fit and eventually made it to the final 23 roster. She also played in their final match against Norway in Auckland.

The West Lafayette, Indiana native is one of the four players in the Filipinas roster who does not have a club team at the moment because of her commitments in medicine school.

“I was in a pretty unique situation. I got accepted into medical school. It was definitely a big challenge, balancing the rigor of being an elite athlete and obviously the stress of medical school,” said Bugay on Thursday during media availability.

Ryley Bugay Filipinas arrival

Bugay isn’t the only person in their family that pursued medicine.

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According to a story by the Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville page, Bugay’s Filipino maternal grandfather migrated to the United States in 1954 for his medical training.

Bugay, who played for Marquette in college from 2015 to 2018, was part of the Filipinas team that competed in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the tournament that saw the country booking a ticket to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

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Football had to take a backseat for the meantime after she was accepted at medical school. Still, she was determined to play in the World Cup, balancing her time with school and training to be fit and ready for the camp after being named to the pool.

Bugay, 27, is thankful that she made the team, while also being allowed by the staff to pursue both fields.

“It was also about timing and balancing. I’m really thankful to the team for welcoming me back with open arms and the staff for allowing me to pursue both,” said Bugay, who has been playing for the national team since 2018.

Bugay said the experience of balancing everything and playing in the World Cup was definitely worth it.

“If you could get close ups of all of us when we were signing the national anthem, I think you could see a lot of us either in tears or just have so much emotion. I think that moment embodies how everyone was feeling at that particular time,” she said.

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Ryley Bugay Filipinas vs Norway World Cup

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    Following the World Cup, Bugay said she still wants to pursue both academics and football. This early though, she already has something in mind as far as her specialization is concerned.

    “Plans are still up in the air. I do continue both. As of the moment, I’m still doing both. We’ll see where the road takes me,” said Bugay.

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    “Right now, my top two choices are either orthopaedics or general surgery,” Bugay added.

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    PHOTO: PWNT photo | ryleybugay11 on Instagram
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