The LA Galaxy have picked U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Maria Lopez as their Hero of the Match for Sept. 26, 2026, according to LAGalaxy.com.
Lopez joined the Army in July 2018 and now has more than eight years of active-duty service. She is the first member of her family to serve in the military. Her assignments have included Fort Jackson in South Carolina and Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. She's now in Pasadena, California, where she works as an Army recruiter.
Along the way, she has supported fellow soldiers, served communities and grown as a leader, the club says. Her focus on service and personnel readiness has earned her three Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals and the Colonel Robert L. Manning Achievement Medal.
LAGalaxy.com says Lopez is proud of the chances the Army has given her to grow, both personally and professionally. More than anything, she hopes her service shows her daughter and others in her community that they can believe in themselves, chase their goals and build opportunities for their future.