Emergency crews responded shortly after 9:30am on July 22 after a bystander reported an unresponsive woman floating in shallow water near the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier at La Jolla Shores. Lifeguards recovered Waite from the water, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The San Diego County Medical Examiner has listed her cause and manner of death as pending, with the San Diego Police Department continuing its investigation. Authorities have not disclosed how Waite entered the water, whether she had been reported missing, or whether foul play is suspected.
Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Waite graduated from Service High School before playing defender for Central Washington University during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. She appeared in 15 matches, earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic honors, and was remembered by teammates and friends as a thoughtful, compassionate person who loved animals, the outdoors and the beach.
Friends say Waite had recently relocated to San Diego and was preparing for a new chapter in her life after becoming engaged just weeks earlier. Her June 15 Instagram post announcing the engagement was captioned simply, "He Promises." Just three days before her body was discovered, she shared another post with the caption, "It only gets better."
Her father, Brian Waite, described his daughter as "incredibly thoughtful and loving and kind and selfless," adding that she had a passion for working with children with special needs and possessed a warmth that immediately made others feel welcome.
The tragedy comes just weeks after another unexplained death involving a former collegiate athlete shocked San Diego's sports community.
Her father, Brian Waite, described his daughter as "incredibly thoughtful and loving and kind and selfless," adding that she had a passion for working with children with special needs and possessed a warmth that immediately made others feel welcome.
The tragedy comes just weeks after another unexplained death involving a former collegiate athlete shocked San Diego's sports community.
On June 18, Summer Nash, 34, was found floating in the Pacific Ocean near Ocean Beach Pier. Nash had starred as a volleyball player at San Diego State University and Florida International University before coaching at programs including Stanford, San Diego State, MiraCosta College, Torrey Pines High School and WAVE Beach Volleyball Club.
Like Waite, Nash was remembered as an exceptionally kind and beloved person whose sudden death stunned friends, former teammates and coaches. Her cause and manner of death also remain pending as the San Diego Police Department continues its investigation.
While there is no indication whatsoever that the two cases are connected, the similarities are difficult to ignore. Within just over a month, two accomplished former NCAA athletes - both widely described as vibrant, compassionate young women - were discovered deceased in San Diego's coastal waters. In both investigations, authorities have released few details beyond confirming that the deaths remain under investigation.
At this point, investigators have not publicly identified any evidence linking the two incidents, nor have they announced findings regarding what led either woman into the ocean. With both medical examiner investigations still ongoing, many questions remain unanswered.
As friends, family members and former teammates continue mourning the losses of Bryn Waite and Summer Nash, two separate investigations remain active, and authorities have not yet determined the causes or manners of death in either case.
Originally published on July 28, 2026.
Like Waite, Nash was remembered as an exceptionally kind and beloved person whose sudden death stunned friends, former teammates and coaches. Her cause and manner of death also remain pending as the San Diego Police Department continues its investigation.
While there is no indication whatsoever that the two cases are connected, the similarities are difficult to ignore. Within just over a month, two accomplished former NCAA athletes - both widely described as vibrant, compassionate young women - were discovered deceased in San Diego's coastal waters. In both investigations, authorities have released few details beyond confirming that the deaths remain under investigation.
At this point, investigators have not publicly identified any evidence linking the two incidents, nor have they announced findings regarding what led either woman into the ocean. With both medical examiner investigations still ongoing, many questions remain unanswered.
As friends, family members and former teammates continue mourning the losses of Bryn Waite and Summer Nash, two separate investigations remain active, and authorities have not yet determined the causes or manners of death in either case.
Originally published on July 28, 2026.
