News

• Name: Alyx Wynn
• Pronouns: She/Her
• Job title: Marketing Director at US Soccer / Nike Football Alum
• Catchphrase: You can’t be it if you can’t see it
• Social media handles: Instagram @wynn_er, Linkedin Alyx Wynn

What’s your favorite soccer memory? 

My favorite soccer memory would have to be when I was around eight years old and got to tag along with my mom to Nike during ‘take your daughter to work day’ (that is how old I am). During this particular ‘take your daughter to work day’ the programming ended before the work day ended so my mom enrolled me in the soccer camp. At that camp, I competed against the older girls to try and win a Mia Hamm poster, and as a surprise, Mia Hamm came out to present the poster to the winner herself. Guess who won…I’ll never forget how little me felt meeting Mia Hamm in person for the first time! Although, don’t show this interview to my wife because I planned a secret ‘tour’ for her at Providence Park that was actually a surprise proposal, which should be my favorite soccer memory ????

What do you think is the greatest thing about women’s soccer or working in soccer?
The greatest thing about working in soccer, specifically women’s soccer, is watching not only the growth of the game but the awareness of the athletes. Having worked on the 2019 Women’s World Cup at Nike, it was incredible to put together not only a massive plan for that moment in soccer history but also to showcase all of the amazing athletes, the platforms they’re pushing, and the representation they stand for. It’s absolutely incredible to watch the rise of women’s sports and the magnitude of the athletes now and know that I was able to play a part in that.

Tell us about why you decided to pursue a career in the game and what a day in life is like for you. 

I’ve always loved the sport, played it during recess in school, and was thrown into camps in the summer when my parents needed a break from me haha. When I got an opportunity to work at Nike in 2013 which just happened to be for the 2014 Men’s World Cup, I couldn’t not take it! Starting my almost decade-long marketing career at Nike during the excitement of a World Cup while I was still trying to figure out my career, really solidified the importance of soccer for me. During my time at Nike, I had the absolute joy of working on the campaign for the 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019 Men’s and Women’s World Cups. Now I’m at U.S. Soccer and we’ve already had the 2022 Men’s World Cup and we’re heading for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, it’s hard for me to imagine a career outside of the game. Not only that but being encouraged to watch soccer for your job is a dream come true!

What inspires you even when things are tough? 

Knowing that there’s a next generation who’s ‘got it’ keeps me inspired when things are tough. I do my best to give back to my communities through mentoring and the relationships I’ve built. The progress I’ve seen through the next generation adapting and fighting for what they believe in helps me keep faith in the future.

Can you tell us about a soccer organization doing work for women/ girls and marginalized folks that you admire? Why?

Right to Dream is an organization that changed my whole perspective on the game. They are an academy in Africa that puts kids into the pipeline of school, soccer, and opportunities beyond. I had the absolute privilege of working with one of their first female graduates when she was my intern at Nike (at the age of 17!). Her story, her journey, and her tenacity were amplified through Right to Dream and I can’t wait to see more little girls in Africa and other parts of the world get the opportunity that she had.

Please tell us about experiences and strengths you’d like to share with the WIS community.

I guess one of my strengths is that I consider myself a ‘utility player.’ In any situation, I can figure out how to get anything done. Which, working in women’s soccer, is very useful as the landscape is ever-changing and growing rapidly. You just have to ‘get sh*t done.’ 

What impact do you think connecting more women, marginalized folks, and allies will have on the equity of soccer?        

I’m a STRONG believer in, ‘You can’t be it if you can’t see it.’ And thinking back to when I was younger and the role models I looked up to, there weren’t a lot of folks that looked like me or that I could relate to. As a Vietnamese-American whose mother was a war refugee and whose father was an immigrant, it was hard to watch mainstream media and feel connected. But now with the rise of social media and interconnectedness, it’s much easier to find those with similar stories and journeys. I think it also helps those outside of different communities to see things from a different point of view. Inviting diverse folks into the conversation means more people can learn, rather than observing from afar, about the intricacies of what it really means to be, for example, a person of color, a woman, or even queer.

What makes you excited about WIS? 

I love the platform that y’all are building. It’s connecting and helping women (or non-cis-men) learn more and grow within the world of soccer (football if we’re being global ????). To have a space for the community that feels safe and approachable is amazing.