SAN DIEGO – San Diego State women’s soccer alum Denise Castro (2021-24) will be making her debut with the Mexican 23U National Team next week, when the team travels to Europe for a pair of matches.
Castro and the 23U Mexican National Team will face the 23U National Teams from Norway on June 5 and Sweden on June 8.
Professionally, Castro is a member of Chivas Femenil, in Jalisco, Mexico, and played a total of 577 minutes across nine matches during the season, scoring one goal.
A regular starter during all four years at SDSU, Castro ranks third in program history in both points (84) and goals (35). She was an All-Mountain West First Team selection every year from 2022-24 as well as making the All-Mountain West Second Team and All-Mountain West Freshman Team during the 2021 season. Castro led the Aztecs in goals in each of her four seasons.
This is not Castro’s first time representing her country on the global stage. Prior to her time at San Diego State, Castro competed with the 17U Mexican National Team as a 15-year-old, playing in matches against the United States, Colombia and England before competing in the 2019 17U World Cup, helping the team to an appearance in the Final, scoring in the 29th minute of a 2-1 loss to Spain. She also competed with the 15U Mexican National Team, playing against the United States, Russia, Portugal, North Korea, Canada, Ghana and Spain.
In the professional ranks, she is joined by fellow San Diego State alumnae Emma Gaines-Ramos (2020-24) and Hannah Keane (2011-14). Gaines-Ramos is under contract with the Washington Spirit, of the NWSL. Last Saturday, she received a silver medal for the Spirit's title match appearance in the CONCACAF Women's Champions Cup. During the 2025-26 season, Gaines-Ramos was on loan to the Tampa Bay Sun, from the USL Super League. She saw 328 minutes of action and started two of her 11 matches with Tampa Bay, attempting five shots with one on goal. Gaines-Ramos is tied for tenth in program history in goals with 19, ranks fourth in assists with 25 and is tied for eighth in points with 63. She was named twice each to the All-Mountain West First Team and All-Mountain West Second Team.
Meanwhile, Keane is also with the Sun. A 12-year pro, she won the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Golden Boot awards with Western United FC in Australia before suffering a brutal knee injury. Following surgery, she returned to the United States for her triumphant return to soccer with the Sun, where she started twice in 2025-26, appearing in five total matches. She also finds her name in the Aztecs' program record book in goals (sixth, 29), assists (tied for ninth, 16) and points (sixth, 74). Keane was a two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection, an All-Mountain West Second Team honoree and the 2013 Mountain West Tournament MVP.
In addition, Louis Hunt, who served as an assistant coach with San Diego State in 2025 has made his return to the NWSL ranks. Hunt was the Head of Goalkeeping for the San Diego Wave in their first three seasons, helping the squad to Semifinals appearances in each of the first two years of the franchise's existence as well as a Challenge Cup title in 2025. Hunt is now headed north to coach with Angel City FC.