Deyna Castellanos, Venezuela’s Rising Soccer Star, Is Giving Girls a Shot at the American Dream
Deyna Castellanos has never been one to follow the typical playbook. At just 25, the Venezuelan soccer star has earned her crown as “queen” of the sport in her home country and is now making waves in the U.S. professional league. Earlier this year, Castellanos signed a historic four-year, $1.8 million contract with Bay FC, making her the highest-paid foreign player in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), as reported by NBC News.
But Castellanos’ journey to global stardom wasn’t paved with ease. Before playing for Atlético de Madrid, Manchester City and breaking records with the Venezuelan national team, her career turned a corner at Florida State University. There, she racked up 47 goals in 77 games, proving herself not just as a star athlete but as a pioneer for young women in sports.
“Being a student-athlete in the United States changed my life,” Castellanos told Noticias Telemundo. She credits her time at FSU for instilling the discipline and principles that define her game today.
The Queen Deyna Program: Paying It Forward
Growing up in Venezuela, opportunities for female soccer players were practically nonexistent. Castellanos reflected, “When I was little, they didn’t help you apply for an academic and sports scholarship in the United States. That was practically impossible.” But instead of accepting that reality, she decided to change it.
Through her foundation, the Queen Deyna Program: The Legacy, Castellanos is now opening doors for the next generation of athletes. According to NBC News, the program has already helped 50 girls from around the world secure scholarships to play and study in the United States.
“Obviously, it is more focused on helping girls from Venezuela, but we have European, African, [and] Latin players,” Castellanos shared. Her pride in the initiative is palpable, but her ambitions go even further. “We have to keep looking for funds that can change our goal of sending 15 to 20 players to the United States each year, and maybe even 20 to 40. We want to change things.”
Deyna Castellanos: A Leader on and Off the Field
For Castellanos, success is bigger than personal accolades. Her dream is to take the Venezuelan women’s national team to the FIFA World Cup—something the country has yet to achieve. “My biggest dream is to qualify with the Venezuelan women’s team for the World Cup,” she told Noticias Telemundo. “The goals may change, but the dreams remain the same.”
Her leadership extends beyond the pitch. The Queen Deyna Program highlights not only Castellanos’ commitment to sports but also to education and equity. For young players like Marianyela Jiménez, who now studies at FSU, the program has turned what once felt impossible into reality. “I always wanted to go to the United States and play at a university, but obviously I didn’t know how to do it,” Jiménez said. “I saw it as something impossible until Deyna helped me a lot.”
Fighting for Equality in Women’s Soccer
While Castellanos’ Bay FC contract is groundbreaking, it also underscores the gender pay gap that persists in soccer. When asked about equal pay, Castellanos remains realistic but hopeful. “I don’t know if we will ever see that equality in salaries. Let’s hope so,” she told Noticias Telemundo, adding, “Women’s soccer has evolved a lot and will continue to grow, and salaries will be better every year.”
Her success is part of a larger movement to elevate women’s soccer, a sport that—despite its challenges—offers a safe and inclusive environment for many players. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Castellanos praised the culture of acceptance within the game. “We have always felt at home. We have not felt judged, whether you are heterosexual, bisexual, gay — I think women’s football does that very well.”
Deyna Castellanos: Changing the Game for Venezuela
Castellanos’ impact reaches far beyond U.S. soccer fields. She remains deeply connected to her roots in Venezuela, even as the country faces ongoing economic and social crises.
“It’s difficult because Venezuela doesn’t have a formal, competitive professional league,” Castellanos explained. That’s one reason her foundation focuses so heavily on Venezuelan girls—giving them the tools to dream bigger and achieve more. “We want to help Venezuelan players see something different, to open their minds, learn another language, and have the opportunity to be seen,” she said.
As Venezuela prepares for Copa América next year—a competition that could qualify the team for the 2027 World Cup and the Olympics—uncertainty looms. Still, Castellanos remains unwavering in her mission to change lives through soccer.
