Maya Neal

Last updated
Maya Neal
Personal information
Full name Maya Camille Neal
Date of birth (1996-12-22) 22 December 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Naperville, Illinois, United States
Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2015–2019 Tennessee Volunteers 79 (3)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2021 Le Havre 5 (0)
2023 UMF Afturelding 18 (7)
2024-Present BIIK Shymkent
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Maya Camille Neal (born 22 December 1996) is a footballer and athlete. [1] Born in the United States, she represents Liberia internationally.

Contents

Early life and education

Neal was born on 22 December 1996 in Naperville, Illinois. [2] She competed in her first triathlon at the age of nine. [3] Neal attended Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville. [4]

Neal attended the University of Tennessee, where she majored in political science. [5] She was a multi-sport athlete for the Lady Vols, competing for the varsity soccer and track and field teams. [6] She was regarded as one of the soccer team's most important players. [7] She tore her meniscus in her collegiate soccer debut. [8]

Neal represented Liberia at the 2016 African Championships in Athletics. [9]

Style of play

Neal has been described as having an "attack-minded defending style". [10]

Personal life

Neal is the daughter of Michelle Neal, an immigration attorney who was born in Liberia. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers</span> University of Tennessee athletic teams

The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In January 2021, Danny White was introduced as the Volunteers' Director of Athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianna Bartoletta</span> American track and field athlete

Tianna Bartoletta is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the long jump and short sprinting events. She is a two-time Olympian with three gold medals. At the 2012 Summer Olympics she placed fourth in the 100m race then won her first gold by leading off the world record-setting 4 × 100 m relay team. At the 2016 Summer Olympics she won two more golds, first with a personal best to win the long jump then again leading off the victorious 4 × 100 m relay team.

Bearden High School is a Knox County, Tennessee, high school located in the Bearden area in the city of Knoxville.

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is a retired American athlete, who mainly competed in the women's 100 metres hurdles event. Currently, Benita is a CEO of the company Multiplying Good with their mission being "to inspire greatness through service to others."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Brothers Buccaneers and Lady Buccaneers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Christian Brothers University

The Christian Brothers University Buccaneers and Lady Buccaneers are the athletic teams that represent Christian Brothers University, located in Memphis, Tennessee, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Buccaneers have primarily competed in the Gulf South Conference since the 1996–97 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhian Wilkinson</span> Canadian soccer coach and former player

Rhian Emilie Wilkinson is a Canadian professional soccer coach and former player, who currently coaches the Wales women's national team. She was previously the head coach of Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she led the team to the 2022 NWSL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carson–Newman Eagles</span> Athletic teams for Carson-Newman University

The Carson-Newman Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Carson–Newman University, located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Eagles compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference for all 21 varsity sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field</span> American college track and field team

The Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field program represents the University of Tennessee in the sport of track and field. The indoor and outdoor programs compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Vols host their home outdoor meets at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, located on the university's Knoxville, Tennessee campus. Their rich tradition of success features 4 national titles, 7 finishes as national runner-ups, 62 NCAA individual champions, numerous All-Americans, 25 Olympians, 43 SEC championships, and 109 combined scoring appearances in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. The team is led by current head coach Duane Ross who took over the program after Beth Alford-Sullivan in May 2022.

Kia Davis is a Liberian-American sprinter. She is a multiple-time national record holder in the sprint and hurdles, a three-time USA Track & Field national indoor finalist for the 60 m hurdles, and holds a dual citizenship for Liberia and the United States in order to compete internationally for her categories. She also won the silver medal, as a member of the U.S. team, in the women's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow, Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brianna Rollins-McNeal</span> American track and field athlete

Brianna Rollins-McNeal is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100 metres hurdles. She is the 2016 Olympic champion and the 2013 World champion in the 100 metres hurdles. Her time of 12.26 ties her as the seventh-fastest 100 metre hurdler in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nia Ali</span> American track and field athlete

Nia Ali is an American track and field athlete, who specializes in the 100 m hurdles, heptathlon, and other events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lennie Waite</span> British track and field athlete (born 1986)

Lennie Waite is a British track and field athlete. She represented Great Britain in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 3000m Steeplechase. She holds a personal best of 9:35.91 in the 3000m Steeplechase, achieved on 12 June 2016 at the Portland Track Festival. She is the sixth fastest British Steeplechaser of all-time.

Randy Jenelle Givens is an American former track and field athlete who competed in sprinting events. She set personal bests of 11.06 seconds for the 100-meter dash and 22.31 seconds for the 200-meter dash. Givens was a 200 m finalist at the 1984 Olympic Games and represented her country at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics. She was the 200 m gold medalist at the 1983 Pan American Games and returned to win a silver medal at the 1987 edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keturah Orji</span> American triple jumper (born 1996)

Keturah Orji is an American track and field athlete specializing in the triple jump. She has set a new US triple jump record twice.

Dedra Davis is a retired Bahamian athlete who specialised in the long jump and sprinting events. She represented her country at the 1993 World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebony Morrison</span> American hurdler (born 1994)

Ebony Leea Morrison is a Black American hurdler. Her paternal ancestry was traced to Liberia, which allowed her to gain citizenship and compete for the country. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she represented Liberia. She ran a time of 12.74 in the women's 100m hurdles and was a semi finalist. She also competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abby Steiner</span> American track and field athlete

Abby Kathryn Steiner is an American track and field sprinter. She is the U.S. indoor record holder in the 200 m and 300 m, and the NCAA record holder in the 200 m. Steiner holds personal bests of 10.90 seconds over 100 m and 21.77 seconds over 200 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rae Burrell</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Rae Burrell is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers after attending Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where she was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Destiny Smith-Barnett</span> American sprinter (born 1996)

Destiny Smith-Barnett is a Liberian-American sprinter specializing in the 60 metres and 100 metres. She was the bronze medalist at the 2023 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 60m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maia McCoy</span> Liberian athlete (born 1996)

Maia Alyse McCoy is an American sprinter, who currently represents Liberia.

References

  1. "Maya Neal Ready to Play for Lone Star". frontpageafricaonline.com. 9 December 2022.
  2. "Maya Neal". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. "Maya Neal not satisfied, but takes third at Arcadia". Chicago Tribune . 16 April 2015.
  4. "Maya Neal: The Final New Balance Indoor Nationals Journal". milesplit.com.
  5. "Maya Neal a leader on defense, advocate for the people of Liberia". knoxnews.com.
  6. "Maya Neal, Gives 11 Pieces of Advice on Recruiting and More". 2adays.com.
  7. "Nothing gets past Maya Neal". espn.co.uk. 15 November 2018.
  8. "Maya Neal is a 'rock' for Tennessee women's soccer". knoxnews.com.
  9. 1 2 "Dual Athlete, Dual Citizen".
  10. "Maya Neal is a willing and vocal supporter of her homeland". andscape.com. 16 November 2018.