Getting to Know Forward Lena Silano

Drafted by the Spirit in the 2023 NWSL Draft, forward Lena Silano is in her second season with the Washington Spirit. The Agoura Hills, California native logged her first career NWSL regular season goal on May 4 against Portland. In 2023, Silano appeared in 12 matches (three starts), playing 303 minutes and adding one assist. She also became the third Spirit player (Kelley O’Hara & Trinity Rodman) to have multiple assists in a single Challenge Cup.  

 

What is your favorite music genre? 

I like John Mayer, slower songs, singer-songwriter vibes. “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” by John Mayer is one of my favorites. I’ve got to shoutout Adele, too. I love her and listen to her before games. Adele’s 21 album is my favorite.  

 

What is your most memorable Spirit moment? 

I would have to say scoring my first regular season goal was my favorite moment. But I want to say that every day here in the facility is a great time. We have a great comradery between staff and players, and it makes coming to work so fun.  

 

What are your matchday superstitions? 

I wear the same color spandex sliders every game. I don’t wear them to practice, only games. I also have a scrunchie that I wear, and I need to eat a Honey Crisp apple before every game.  

 

Who is your soccer GOAT? 

I think Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) is nasty. He’s a GOAT. Abby Wambach is a GOAT, too.  

 

Do you have any pets? 

I have three cats at home: Bruce, Clyde, and Frank. None of them are my passwords to anything, so I’m chilling.  

 

What’s always in your fridge?  

I always have Yerba Mate in my fridge. They are an energizing tea, it’s not like kombucha but I love those too. I keep tofu or ground turkey on hand too, just in case I need to cook something quick.  

 

What are your travel essentials? 

Is it nerdy to say that I always bring a Squishmallow with me? It’s a stuffed animal, a little matcha. I always bring my journal and a book, as well. I like to write down my thoughts, stay level. Journaling is definitely a pre-game practice of mine.   

 

Do you collect anything? 

If I see a penny faced up on its head, I take it home and line them up on my wall seals. They are my little lucky pennies.  

 

Do you have a hidden talent? 

I would say I’m very good at doing eyebrows. I do my own and sometimes other peoples, too. I do my eyebrows all the time. It started when I was young. I went through phases – the very thin eyebrow phase to the very much not thin eyebrow phases. I know what I like now. My friends hit me up to do their eyebrows, and even Andi (Sullivan) asked me to do her eyebrows. I’ve cut her hair, too. I’ve given tips to Lyza (Bosselmann) and Aubrey (Kingsbury) on types of tools to use for eyebrows.  

Also, if you hype me up enough, I can do a back handspring, but there is more risk than reward for that.  

 

What’s your favorite movie? 

Aquamarine. If I had to choose a different one, I really like the Harry Potter movies, too. I went through a weird binge phase with those.  

 

What was your first job? 

Starbucks, when I was 20. I was a barista for a year during COVID. I’ve done coaching jobs, but that was my real “first job,” and I worked at the YMCA before getting drafted.  

 

What was your first dream job? 

If it wasn’t playing soccer, I wanted to be an activities coordinator at a senior living facility. That was the route. I interned and volunteered at a lot of facilities as a recreational therapist throughout college.  

 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? 

I’m not sure, but I have a lot of quotes in my notes. I don’t have one specific piece of advice, but my wallpaper recently has been, ‘Your life is as good as your mindset.’ That’s been my quote for a few years, and I truly try to live by that. I feel that if your mindset is good, life will be just as good. I try to take care of my mental health and make sure I’m doing well mentally. 

 

What’s on your travel bucket list? 

I think Italy would be awesome to go to. I am Italian, and I really want to see where my roots come from. It looks like such an awesome place to visit.  

 

What song gets you out on the dance floor? 

Mine would be “Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj. I love Nicki, and I am a Barb.  

 

Did you play any other sports?  

I played roller hockey for a couple of years with my older brother. I did cheer, track, and gymnastics, as well.

 

What’s your favorite food? 

My favorite food is ramen. There’s a place back home in LA called Tatsu Ramen. Me and my friends go to it all the time, and it’s SO good. Shoutout Tatsu. Y’all gotta get me sponsored by them.  

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