Yuna Aoki

Position: Left Fullback

Jersey Number: 2

Hometown: Shizuoka, Japan

Player Status:

Returning



Instagram Handle

yuna.a26

School: North Carolina State University

Major: Sport Management

What do you want to pursue with your degree?: I want to use my degree to teach soccer to people all over the world.

Who inspires you and why?: My family inspires me. When I told them I wanted to leave Japan to play soccer in the United States, that must have come as a surprise to them since it was completely new to us. However, they allowed me to do so without hesitation. Also, they make sure I always have a place to come back to when I return to Japan. Thanks to their support, I’m able to do what I want.

Favorite soccer memory?: My favorite soccer memory was a game I played in the U.S. against a university in Japan. My teammates from middle and high school were there, and even though we had each chosen different paths, it was an opportunity to prove to one another that our choices were right and that we were all doing our best.

Why did you choose Sioux Falls City FC?: I chose Sioux Falls City FC because I felt it had a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. I would like to compete for and contribute to the team. In addition, because the team goes beyond a soccer club and is committed to women’s empowerment and community service, I believe it would provide me with opportunities to grow as a soccer player, as a woman, and as a person.

Biography

Influenced by my older brother and his coaches, I started playing soccer at a local club when I was seven years old. In middle and high school, I played on my school’s soccer team and had the opportunity to attend training camps for the Japanese national youth teams. Believing that an environment where I could broaden my future options, face challenges, and push myself was essential for my personal growth, I enrolled at Arizona Western College and then transferred to North Carolina State University.