View source for Maya Neal

{{Short description|Liberian footballer and athlete (born 1996)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Maya Neal
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Maya Camille Neal
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Naperville, Illinois]], United States
| height = {{height|m=1.58}}
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| collegeyears1  = 2015–2019 | college1 = [[Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer|Tennessee Volunteers]]
| collegecaps1   = 79
| collegegoals1  = 3
| years1 = 2020–2021
| clubs1 = [[Le Havre AC (women)|Le Havre]]
| caps1   = 5
| goals1  = 0
| years2 = 2023
| clubs2 = [[UMF Afturelding]]
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2024-Present
| clubs3 = [[BIIK Shymkent]]
}}
'''Maya Camille Neal''' (born 22 December 1996) is a Liberian [[Association football|footballer]] and athlete.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/sports/liberia-french-based-female-defender-maya-neal-ready-to-play-for-lone-star/|title=Maya Neal Ready to Play for Lone Star|date=9 December 2022 |publisher=frontpageafricaonline.com}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Neal was born on 22 December 1996 in [[Naperville, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://utsports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/maya-neal/10349|title=Maya Neal|publisher=Tennessee Volunteers Athletics|access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref> She competed in her first triathlon at the age of nine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/sports/ct-nvs-girls-track-notes-st-0417-20150416-story.html|title=Maya Neal not satisfied, but takes third at Arcadia|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=16 April 2015 }}</ref> Neal attended [[Neuqua Valley High School]] in Naperville.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://il.milesplit.com/articles/148591/maya-neal-the-final-new-balance-indoor-nationals-journal|title=Maya Neal: The Final New Balance Indoor Nationals Journal|publisher=milesplit.com}}</ref>
Neal attended the [[University of Tennessee]], where she majored in political science.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2018/11/07/ut-vols-soccer-maya-neal-leader-defense-advocate-people-liberia-lady-vols-ncaa-tournament/1905715002/|title=Maya Neal a leader on defense, advocate for the people of Liberia|publisher=knoxnews.com}}</ref> She was a multi-sport athlete for the Lady Vols, competing for the varsity soccer and track and field teams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.2adays.com/blog/multi-sport-athlete-from-tennessee-gives-advice/|title=Maya Neal, Gives 11 Pieces of Advice on Recruiting and More|publisher=2adays.com}}</ref> She was regarded as one of the soccer team's most important players.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/video/clip/_/id/25285165|title=Nothing gets past Maya Neal|date=15 November 2018 |publisher=espn.co.uk}}</ref> She tore her meniscus in her collegiate soccer debut.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2016/08/24/maya-neal-is-a-rock-for-tennessee-womens-soccer/91050942/|title=Maya Neal is a 'rock' for Tennessee women's soccer|publisher=knoxnews.com}}</ref>
Neal represented Liberia at the [[2016 African Championships in Athletics]].<ref name="dual">{{Cite web|url=https://giving.utk.edu/s/1341/2/20/adv.aspx?sid=1341&gid=2&pgid=13282|title=Dual Athlete, Dual Citizen}}</ref>
==Style of play==
Neal has been described as having an "attack-minded defending style".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://andscape.com/features/two-sport-tennessee-athlete-maya-neal-is-a-willing-and-vocal-supporter-of-her-homeland-liberia/|title=Maya Neal is a willing and vocal supporter of her homeland|date=16 November 2018 |publisher=andscape.com}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Neal is the daughter of Michelle Neal, an immigration attorney who was born in Liberia.<ref name=dual/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://www.playmakerstats.com/player.php?id=786744&epoca_id=149 Maya Neal] at playmakerstats.com
* [https://utsports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/maya-neal/10349 Tennessee Volunteers soccer bio]
* [https://utsports.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/maya-neal/8024 Tennessee Volunteers track and field bio]
* [https://www.ksi.is/mot/leikmadur/?leikmadur=365691]
* [https://qfl.kz/ru/player/9797/ QFL player profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neal, Maya}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Expatriate women's footballers in France]]
[[Category:American expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:American people of Liberian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Liberian descent]]
[[Category:American women's soccer players]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Liberian <!--women's-->footballers]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate <!--women's-->footballers]]
[[Category:Women's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Le Havre AC (women) players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]