Alex Freeman family tree: Meet NFL dad, sister and more about USMNT star's athletic roots

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At the 2026 World Cup, USMNT defender Alex Freeman has made quite a name for himself. In his country's second group-stage match against Australia, Freeman scored his first-ever World Cup goal.

After Freeman's stepsister, Diamond Spaulding, commented on a TikTok video that her brother (#16) was on the team, many users flocked to the Freeman fandom bandwagon and showed their support for "Diamond's little brother."

With the U.S. set to begin its 2026 knockout stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina, even more eyeballs will be on Freeman and his USMNT teammates.

Here's the rundown on Freeman's family and the plethora of athletic prowess present.

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Alex Freeman dad: Antonio Freeman

Freeman's father is former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman. While the father-son duo has two different definitions of football, Freeman has supported his son throughout his career. When the defender made his professional soccer debut with Orlando City SC, Alex scored his first-ever goal.

Here is Freeman celebrating his son's back-of-the-net effort:

During his own time as an athlete, Antonio was a prominent wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers. He was taken with the 90th overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, and remained on the Packers for eight of his nine seasons (Philadelphia Eagles: 2002).

In a 2025 interview with The Athletic, the USMNT player opened up about how being a soccer player gives him more breathing room on his own path.

“It’s kind of good to create my own story,” Freeman said, per The Athletic. “To be able to maybe step away from the fact that my dad was a professional football player and just try to create my own narrative.”

Antonio Freeman NFL career

After being drafted in 1995, Freeman joined the Brett Favre-led Packers. Alex's father was on both of Green Bay's Super Bowl appearances in 1997 and 1998, and was able to lift the Super Bowl 31 trophy.

Across nine seasons in the NFL, Freeman played in 132 games while pulling in 477 receptions for 7,251 yards and 61 touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference.

Here is one of Freeman's best plays during his NFL career:

— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) November 6, 2018

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Alex Freeman mom: Rochelle Hinkle

Rochelle Hinkle gave birth to her son, Alex, with her husband, Antonio, by her side. While the future U.S. defender was born on August 9, 2004, Hinkle and her husband, Antonio, split up shortly after their son's birth, according to ESPN.

Freeman's mother remarried to Jake Hinkle after she separated from Antonio. Once remarried, Antonio, his ex-wife, and her new husband all lived nearby in Tamarac, Fla., per ESPN.

While his father may have had a major impact on his son's desire to play a sport, Rochelle was the parent to show Freeman soccer when he was only four years old.

Alex Freeman stepdad: Jake Hinkle

Freeman's birth mother remarried Jake Hinkle sometime after her son was born. While some stepfamilies have complicated dynamics, the USMNT defender told ESPN that Hinkle was anything but.

"I feel like as a stepdad, it's kind of hard to step into that role of being there for a son that's not biologically yours," Alex said, according to ESPN. "And I feel like he kind of made that step to, not only do I treat you like my son, I'm going to take you in and treat you like you're the world."

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Alex Freeman brothers: Tyler and Josh Freeman

Freeman has two younger brothers named Tyler and Josh. In 2026, Tyler is 16 years old, while Josh is 14. According to the USMNT defender, both of his brothers are also soccer players, and he wants to make sure he sets a great example for them.

"I feel like they're really the ones that I play for the most because they're the ones who look up to me as an example. And I feel like for them, it's just being able to be that good role model," he said to Fox Sports in June 2025.

Alex Freeman sister: Diamond Spaulding

Freeman's older sister, Diamond Spaulding, was quite the track and field athlete during her collegiate days. While running for Texas A&M in 2017 as a sophomore, Spaulding was a member of the sprint medley relay that set a collegiate record of 3:39.04, according to her athletics page.

In June 2026, Spaulding helped her brother go viral on TikTok. One user, theloftwife, posted a video that highlighted USMNT facts to know ahead of the team's first match of the World Cup. Spaulding commented on the video, saying, "My lil brother playing for the US so cheer for #16."

"I was rushing because I was late and just thought, let's bring in some fans to cheer for him," Spaulding said in an interview with People.

After her comment went viral, garnering over 11,000 likes and 97 comments, many users showed their support in the U.S. defender, and Freeman's fanbase grew across social media. Even the USMNT posted their own take of "wishing Diamond's little brother good luck."

Spaulding was born on September 29, 1996, in Memphis, Tenn., making her 29 years old.

Diamond Spaulding track and field career

Spaulding grew up as an avid track and field athlete. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. During her time in the Sunshine State, she competed in the 100, 200, 4x1, 4x2 and 4x4 events.

During her senior campaign, Spaulding won the state title in the 200m race and finished third in the 100m. She also partook in the state championship's 4x100 and 4x400 relay events.

After high school, she ran collegiate track for four years at Texas A&M. Here are some of her career bests during her time with the Aggies:

60m: 7.46
100m: 11.37
200m: 22.92, No. 10 performer on Aggie all-time list
200m (indoor): 22.94, No. 6 performer on Aggie all-time list

Where is Alex Freeman from?

Freeman is from Baltimore, Md., according to his Transfermarkt page. He was born there on August 9, 2004, making him 21 years old.

This past January, Freeman joined Villareal in the Spanish La Liga. He made his senior U.S. national team debut on June 6, 2025. Since then, he has accumulated 20 caps and three goals.

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