Bryn Waite, 26, was found floating offshore near Scripps Pier, and authorities have not determined how she died.
SAN DIEGO, CA — A woman found unresponsive in the ocean near Scripps Pier has been identified as Bryn Waite, a 26-year-old former Central Washington University soccer player from Anchorage, Alaska, authorities and university officials said.
Waite was spotted floating offshore near La Jolla Shores Beach on the morning of July 22. Lifeguards brought her to shore, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to information released by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. Her cause and manner of death remained pending as officials continued their investigation.
Authorities have not publicly explained how Waite entered the water or how long she had been there. The Medical Examiner’s Office listed the location associated with the death as the ocean and said the time and circumstances of the incident were undetermined. No finding of homicide or other cause had been announced.
Waite played defender for Central Washington University’s women’s soccer team during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. She appeared in 15 games, made eight starts and recorded two assists while playing 723 minutes, according to the university’s athletics department. She also earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team recognition.
The Anchorage native attended Service High School before joining the NCAA Division II program in Ellensburg, Washington. Central Washington said she graduated in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and remained interested in serving others after college.
The university said Waite had been preparing to begin a new chapter in San Diego with her fiancé. It remembered her as a caring teammate whose influence reached beyond athletics.
“Bryn was a very talented student-athlete excelling on the field and in the classroom,” Central Washington athletic director Dennis Francois said in a university statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryn’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Her father, Brian Waite, told Alaska’s News Source that his daughter was thoughtful, loving, kind and selfless. He said people who knew her considered her a true friend who made others feel welcome. Her sister, Aislinn Waite, remembered her as a determined athlete, a hard-working defender and a strong supporter of the people in her life.
Relatives said Waite loved animals, art, children and community work. Her sister said Waite had considered a future connected to art therapy. Family members also received messages from people Waite had met during her brief time in San Diego, reflecting what they described as her ability to form meaningful relationships quickly.
The investigation remained open as of Saturday. Officials had not released a final autopsy finding or announced additional circumstances surrounding Waite’s death.
Author note: Last updated August 1, 2026.