Ana Mayoral is the Youth Programs Director for the Washington Spirit, where she builds partnerships with youth soccer clubs across the DMV, coordinates mentorship for female coaches, connects girls' varsity teams with the professional training environment, and develops clinics and community experiences that turn young players into lifelong supporters of the game. Her connection to that mission is personal: Ana's daughter, Brenda María Alemán Mayoral, grew up meeting the Spirit's original players after the club launched in 2013 and now plays professionally for Mazatlán Femenil in Liga MX Femenil.
Connecting Youth Soccer to the Professional Game
Ana's work at the Washington Spirit begins with relationships across the DMV soccer community. She partners with youth clubs, coordinates a mentorship program designed to keep female coaches in the game, brings girls' varsity teams into the Spirit's training environment, and develops clinics and matchday experiences. Her goal is larger than attendance: she wants children who play every week to follow players, watch matches, and grow into adults who share soccer with the next generation.
When a Role Model Changes a Life
Ana witnessed the power of access through her own daughter, Brenda María Alemán Mayoral. As a young Spirit supporter in 2013, Brenda stayed after matches for autographs and formed connections with players including Ali Krieger, who knew her by name. Brenda later played four collegiate seasons at Mount St. Mary's, began her professional career in Guatemala, and reached Mexico's Liga MX Femenil with Mazatlán. That family journey now informs Ana's belief that young athletes need visible, approachable examples of what is possible.
Soccer Came Home
Ana grew up in Mexico but said she did not begin regularly watching soccer until she moved to the United States and watched her children fall in love with the game.
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Why role models matter
Ana Mayoral · The Sideline
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Ana Mayoral on The Sideline
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The Sideline Interview: Washington Spirit's Ana Mayoral on Growing Women's Soccer
Overview In this episode of The Sideline Podcast, Mark, Zack, and Scotty welcome Ana Mayoral, Youth Programs Director for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL. The group discusses the massive growth of women's soccer in the DMV, the Spirit's journey from the…
