Maya Mendoza-Exstrom
Chief Operating Officer
Maya Mendoza-Exstrom enters her 10th season with Sounders FC in 2023 and second as the club’s Chief Operating Officer.
Mendoza-Exstrom previously served as Sounders FC’s Senior Vice President of Legal and External Affairs, where she oversaw and advised on the legal aspects of all club operations and strategic planning. In addition, she led all external affairs, including government relations, community initiatives, civic and community relations and philanthropic efforts. Prior to joining the Rave Green, Mendoza-Exstrom was in private practice for seven years at Mendoza Law Center, dealing in all manner of business transactions, serving as outside general counsel, and providing assistance with corporate formation and governance, real estate transactions, intellectual property licensing, employment matters, contract negotiation and commercial litigation.
In her current position, she is charged with oversight and strategic leadership over club operations specifically in organizational strategic initiatives, legal and external affairs, people and culture, social justice and philanthropy, government affairs and civic relations, growth and the organization’s impact. Continuing as the chief legal officer for the organization, she further oversees the legal aspects of all club operations, working closing with both the business and technical sides, advising on major projects and transactions, compliance and governance and serving as corporate secretary.
With her extensive background and experience as a player, coach, coaching director, referee and now parent in Washington Youth Soccer, Mendoza-Exstrom also oversees soccer camps, clinics and youth club development activities. She has been a key stakeholder for all civic matters related to the organization, including Seattle’s candidacy to become an official host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, managing the organization’s public benefits, to working with the various jurisdictions on feasibility and development of soccer-specific investments around the region.
A born and raised Seattle Sounders fan, Mendoza-Exstrom grew up watching the club in all its previous iterations, from the NASL, A-League and USL to its current place in MLS. Mendoza-Exstrom serves as board member for RAVE Foundation, the official charitable arm of Sounders FC, working to build 26 small fields and mini pitches, distribute 100,000 soccer balls and deliver 100,000 hours of programs by 2026 around Puget Sound and across Washington State—to ensure every kid has access to play. She serves as current board chair for the Seattle Parks Foundation, as a board member for the Wing Luke Museum, board member for the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Washington State Legends of Soccer. Maya also represents the club as a Board Member for The Seattle Sports Commission. She is also a member of the Advisory Committee for UW-Tacoma’s Sports Enterprise Management Program, and an Emeritus Trustee of the Highline Schools Foundation, as well as serving as a youth mentor and advocate for equity in education and access to sports and the arts. She is a former All-American soccer player at the University of Puget Sound and holds a USSF “B” Coaching License. Mendoza-Exstrom received her Juris Doctor from the University of Washington and currently lives in Burien with her husband, Travis, and their two daughters.