Ella Sanchez

Ella Ryan Sanchez (born March 8, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Liga MX Femenil club Pachuca. She has represented the United States at the youth international level. An academy product of Racing Louisville FC, she signed with Pachuca at the age of 18. She also holds Mexican citizenship. Her full name in that document is Ella Ryan Sánchez Stickel.

Early life
Sanchez was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, the second oldest of four children born to Shana (née Stickel) and Mario Sanchez. Her father played professional soccer before becoming a soccer coach, and her mother played college soccer at Cal Poly. Her older brother, Sebastian, turned professional with Louisville City FC.

She attended Ballard High School, where she set the school's scoring record with 144 goals and 60 assists in three seasons and twice received first-team all-state honors. She was named the Kentucky Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2021–22 for her junior season when she scored 64 goals, helping her team get to the regional tournament semifinals.

Sanchez played for Racing Louisville's academy team while her father was the director of Louisville City FC and Racing's academy programs. She was named an ECNL All-American in 2020–21. She was listed on the Racing first team's roster for one game, dressing for the Women's Cup final against Bayern Munich on August 21, 2021. She played for Racing's USL W League side in 2022 and 2023.

Pachuca
Sanchez signed with Mexican club C.F. Pachuca on July 3, 2023.

International career
Sanchez was called into virtual training camp with the United States national under-17 team in February 2021. She was selected to represent her country at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India, where the U.S. team won their group but lost in the first knockout round on penalties. She was invited to train with the United States combined under-18/under-19 team in April 2023.