Alanna grew up in Dallas, Texas. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Arturo Castaneda and has one older brother. Alanna began playing soccer when she was 3 years old and continued to play into high school. She was a starter on varsity and made the first team All-Conference all 4 years as a center midfielder at Hebron High School. During her junior year she helped her team win their first ever State Championship, beating their rivals in penalty kicks.

Alanna continued her soccer career at Montreat College in Asheville, North Carolina where she pursued a major in Youth and Family Ministry. She played 3 seasons with Montreat then transferred to MNU to finish off her degree and collegiate soccer career. Throughout Alanna’s four years, she received 1st team All-Conference her freshman through senior years; All-Region her sophomore year; Newcomer-of-the-Year her senior year; and All-America Honorable Mention her senior year. She helped the MNU women’s team to a 15-3-1 record, the best record in program history. Her senior season came to an end in the second to last conference game due to an ACL tear in her knee. She is scheduled to graduate in December, 2019 with a degree in Youth and Family ministry.

Alanna has earned a USSF 11v11, 7v7, and 4v4 grassroots diplomas. She is also in the process of obtaining her USSF "D" License which she is expected to receive in August 2019.