After two seasons with the Wildcats, senior forward and midfielder Cameron Valladares switched sides, joining her previous team's rival in Tempe for the 2024 season.
Following her sophomore year, Valladares was in search of a change. She entered the portal, and her first call was with Sun Devil soccer.
She finished her time in Tucson with four goals and one assist over the course of 26 matches. Hesitant to join the rival at first, she settled on ASU after hearing head coach Graham Winkworth's vision.
"He talked a lot about his offensive style of play, and UA was more a defensive style of play," Valladares said. "As a forward, I wanted to be attacking and getting it behind, which I feel like I'm good at, and it seemed to be part of his game plan."
In her first season with the Sun Devils, Valladares saw the benefit of her change in scenery, fostering connections with her team and improving her accuracy. As a junior, she played in 19 matches, assisting in four goals and scoring seven of her own.
ASU offered Valladares the opportunity to develop her skills on the field, and over the past two years, Winkworth has seen her grow as a Sun Devil. Valladares learned to improve her scoring decisions, creating better chances for herself and her teammates.
The Sun Devils ended the 2025 season with a 10-5-4 record, a conclusion that comes with her graduation. She finished her senior season with three goals and nine assists, marking her second place in the program for assists recorded in a single season.
Despite Valladares parting ways with Sun Devil soccer, the competitive energy she brought to the team will continue to exist through her younger teammates.
"She's very competitive, and that competitive nature spreads throughout the team," Winkworth said. "You've got people that like to win, and Cam's definitely got that."
Freshman Addison Baltodano described Valladares as a "big presence" on the field. Baltodano has seen Valladares' work ethic and consistency, partnered with her leadership skills, bring success to the program.
As a moldable freshman, Baltodano was inspired by Valladares' desire to win balls on the attack and the navigation skills she has to beat a defender.
"Since she's a senior, she has more experience, and she's always talking the freshmen through," Baltodano said. "Which is good, so we get a better understanding of where to be and what coach wants, so she is also a good foundation for the freshmen."
This observed confidence didn't always exist for Valladares — it's something she's rebuilt within herself in Tempe.
At UA, Valladares said she often second-guessed herself and feared making a mistake. This festered into a Wildcat that felt out of place, seeking to reignite her spark.
"When I talk about my spark, I'm talking about my confidence," Valladares said. "Your underclassmen years are hard no matter what, but I really felt like I lost a lot of my confidence there."
The team connections Valladares made at ASU created an environment that was conducive to her skill-building, alongside friendships that will exist for years to come.
"The environment allows me not to be afraid to make mistakes," Valladares said. "That spark and that confidence were able to come back pretty quickly if I feel like my coach trusts me, and I can do what I'm best at without fear of failure."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, George Headley and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
