Throughout their lives, Sinclaire Miramontez and her older sister Sydney have followed parallel paths.
They played for the same youth club growing up in Lenexa, Kan. They suited up for the same high school team. Sinclaire even attended the University of Nebraska, where Sydney was a senior during her freshman year.
On Sunday, the defenders will finally converge on opposite sides of the ball when Sinclaire’s Racing Louisville FC hosts Sydney’s Kansas City NWSL squad at 3 p.m. inside Lynn Family Stadium.
Aside from Sam and Kristie Mewis, the Miramontez sisters are the only siblings currently competing in the NWSL and the fourth to ever do it. Sunday’s match will mark the first time they’ve competed against one another.
“I think that is such a cool moment that we will get to share,” Sinclaire said. “Even if neither of us gets to step on the field, the fact that we are both in this league together is such a special moment that we will always cherish with our family.”
Growing up, the siblings fell in love with soccer while playing in their backyard with their oldest sister, Sierra. In high school, the two were not only soccer teammates but also tennis partners.
“But that didn’t end as well,” joked Sinclaire, who initially looked at schools other than Nebraska when thinking about college.
“When I was being recruited, that was a reason to not go,” she added. “I didn’t want to go and be Sydney’s younger sister. I wanted to go somewhere and make a name for myself. Then I got over that and thought how cool it would be to play with my sister in college.”
The duo started 22 games together at center back in 2016 as Nebraska went 11-6-5, earning an NCAA tournament berth.
After graduating, Sydney became a trialist with FC Kansas City. She eventually earned a professional contract.
“I was the proud little sister,” Sinclaire said. “I had seen how hard that she worked to get where she was. I was like, ‘That is exactly what I want to do.’”
Four years later, Sinclaire found herself in exactly that position. After trialing with Racing for more than a month, the defender signed a pro deal in May and has made five appearances so far in lavender.
“For us, it is about being available and support systems for one another,” Sinclaire said of her sister. “This lifestyle is hard. There will be days when you have a bad practice and other days when you have an awesome practice and want to tell them about it.
“Sometimes it is easy to call someone who is in the same situation, but separate, someone who understands the demands of being a professional athlete but will also support you no matter what.”
Only a few of Sinclaire’s Racing teammates even knew that her sister was also on an NWSL roster.
“It is funny when they find out,” she said. “They’d say, ‘That’s so cool!’ And it is. It is awesome that we are both going through this experience in our own ways.”
