Alyssa Nichols

This article is about the soccer referee. For the actress and DJ, see Indigo (actress).

Alyssa Nichols (born January 15, 1996) is an American soccer referee.

Early life

Nichols was born on January 15, 1996, in Jackson, Mississippi, to Pearl and Andrew Pennington.^[1] She attended Murrah High School in Jackson, where she was a member of the school soccer team.^[2] Nichols went on to earn her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Jackson State University, joining the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and graduating magna cum laude.^[2]

Career

Nichols started refereeing at the age of 17.^[3] She became the first woman from Mississippi to receive a national referee license from the United States Soccer Federation when she was 23 years old.^[2] In January 2023, Nichols became the youngest Black woman, as well as the first woman from Mississippi, to earn a FIFA referee badge.^[2][4]

Personal life

Nichols has lived in Tampa, Florida, United States.^[4] Her husband, Philip Nichols, was a college soccer player.^[1][2]