Ben Bender’s Family: Wife, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Siara Costa

Ben Bender is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. Born Benjamin Bender on March 7, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland, he grew up in a close-knit and highly soccer-oriented family before becoming the first overall selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

Family has been central to Bender’s development both on and off the field. His parents are Mark and Mindy Bender, while his two older brothers are Jacob and Josh Bender. Both brothers played college soccer at Messiah University, and Jacob later became a professional player. Ben is also married to Hannah Leubecker, an accomplished former University of Maryland lacrosse player whom he has known since childhood.

Who Is Ben Bender’s Wife?

Ben Bender is married to Hannah Leubecker, a former standout lacrosse player for the University of Maryland.

Their relationship has unusually deep roots. Hannah has been described as Ben’s childhood sweetheart and a longtime family friend whom he had known since approximately four years old. Their relationship therefore began long before either became a prominent college athlete.

Ben and Hannah eventually attended the same university, although they competed in different sports. Ben starred for Maryland’s men’s soccer program, while Hannah became one of the most productive attackers in the history of Maryland women’s lacrosse.

The couple married on June 11, 2023, during an MLS international break while Ben was playing for Charlotte FC.

Only days after the wedding, Bender scored twice against the New York Red Bulls. During his celebration, he kissed his newly acquired wedding ring, providing a public acknowledgement of one of the biggest moments in his personal life.

Who Is Hannah Leubecker?

Hannah Leubecker is a former University of Maryland lacrosse star from Forest Hill, Maryland.

She developed into one of the leading attackers of her generation during her college career. Maryland records show that she finished her career with more than 200 goals and received multiple All-American and All-Big Ten honors.

Among her achievements were IWLCA All-American selections, First Team All-Big Ten recognition and appearances on the Tewaaraton Award watch list.

Hannah studied communications and family science at Maryland and completed an extended collegiate career with the Terrapins.

Her own experience as a high-level athlete gave her and Ben a shared understanding of the demands associated with competitive sport, training and travel.

More recently, reporting about Ben’s move to Philadelphia indicated that Hannah works remotely for a small accounting firm. Her ability to work remotely helped make the couple’s relocation from Charlotte to the Philadelphia area easier.

How Did Ben Bender Meet Hannah Leubecker?

Ben Bender and Hannah Leubecker knew each other long before they became college athletes.

They have been described as family friends who had known one another since they were about four years old. Both grew up in Maryland and eventually became elite athletes in their respective sports.

Their paths later came together again at the University of Maryland, where Ben played soccer and Hannah played lacrosse.

The pair also share a strong Christian faith, something they have discussed publicly as an important part of their lives and relationship.

After years of knowing one another and later dating, they married in June 2023.

Does Ben Bender Have Children?

As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Ben Bender and his wife Hannah have children.

Recent reporting from 2025 identified Hannah as Bender’s wife but did not describe the couple as parents.

Ben did, however, become an uncle recently. A report following his move to Philadelphia stated that one of his two brothers had welcomed a baby boy, making Ben “Uncle Ben” for the first time. The report did not specify whether the child belongs to Jacob or Josh, so that detail should not be assumed.

Who Are Ben Bender’s Parents?

Ben Bender’s parents are Mark Bender and Mindy Bender.

The University of Maryland’s official player biography identifies Ben as the son of Mark and Mindy, while Ben himself named both parents when discussing the people who helped him reach professional soccer.

The couple raised Ben and his two older brothers, Jacob and Josh, in the Baltimore area. Soccer became a major part of family life, largely because of Mark’s passion for the game.

Ben has repeatedly described his relatives as his closest friends and said that maintaining strong family relationships is one of the most important things in his life.

Ben Bender’s Father: Mark Bender

Mark Bender is Ben Bender’s father and one of the most important influences on his soccer career.

Mark played soccer during high school and continued participating in various leagues around Maryland, although he did not play college soccer.

His enthusiasm for the sport eventually transferred to all three of his sons.

Mark coached Jacob and Josh before eventually coaching Ben at Lutherville-Timonium Soccer Club. Ben has explained that his father introduced the brothers to the game and helped establish the sporting environment in which they grew up.

Beyond technical soccer development, Ben credits his father with instilling values including discipline, loyalty and excellence.

Mark also played an important role when Ben faced difficult decisions as a young player. At approximately 14, Ben joined Philadelphia Union’s academy and temporarily moved away from his normal school and home environment.

Mark would travel to Philadelphia and stay with his son during part of the week while Ben adjusted to academy life. The family eventually decided that returning to Baltimore was the best option at that stage of his development.

Years later, Mark and Mindy continued traveling regularly to watch Ben during his professional career with Charlotte FC.

Ben Bender’s Mother: Mindy Bender

Mindy Bender is Ben Bender’s mother.

While Mark has received more attention because of his direct involvement in coaching the three brothers, Ben has emphasized that Mindy was equally important to his development.

When Charlotte FC selected him first overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Ben specifically thanked his mother for remaining alongside him throughout his journey.

Mindy and Mark continued providing support after Ben became a professional. During his first season in Charlotte, his parents regularly traveled from Maryland to attend his home games.

That support remained particularly important because Ben was still adapting to independent adult life after leaving college early to become a professional player.

Ben Bender’s Siblings

Ben Bender has two older brothers, Jacob Bender and Josh Bender.

Both played soccer at a high level and had a major influence on their younger brother.

Ben has said that his brothers pushed him throughout childhood and helped him become the player he eventually developed into. Growing up as the youngest of three soccer-playing brothers gave him constant opportunities to compete against older players.

Jacob Bender

Jacob Bender is Ben Bender’s older brother and the sibling with the most extensive professional soccer background.

Jacob attended Messiah University, where he developed into one of the outstanding NCAA Division III players of his generation.

During his senior season in 2016, Jacob was named the NSCAA Division III National Player of the Year and earned First Team All-American honors.

He recorded 13 goals and eight assists during that season and completed his college career with 21 goals and 15 assists across 86 appearances.

Jacob subsequently signed professionally with Charlotte Independence in the USL in 2017.

His time in Charlotte later became particularly relevant when Ben was selected by Charlotte FC with the first overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

Before Ben moved to North Carolina, he spoke with Jacob about what living in Charlotte would be like because his older brother already knew the city from his professional career.

Ben has also credited Jacob as an important soccer influence. He watched his older brother throughout childhood and studied elements of his game, including his work rate, understanding of space and ability to influence matches in midfield.

Josh Bender

Josh Bender is Ben’s other older brother and also played college soccer at Messiah University.

Josh primarily played as a defender and competed for Messiah for four seasons.

Before college, he gained experience with elite youth programs including D.C. United and Baltimore Bays academy teams.

Josh attended Calvert Hall College High School, as did Jacob and later Ben.

Although Josh did not develop the same public professional soccer profile as Jacob or Ben, he was another important influence in the competitive household where the three brothers developed their passion for the game.

The Bender Family’s Soccer Background

Soccer was a central feature of the Bender household throughout Ben’s childhood.

Mark coached his sons, while Jacob and Josh became accomplished players before their younger brother reached high school.

Ben therefore grew up with two older examples to follow. The brothers competed against one another and regularly practiced together.

Ben has recalled doing passing drills with Jacob for extended periods, helping improve his technique and understanding of the game.

By the time Ben began attracting attention from elite youth programs, his parents had already experienced the demands of high-level youth and college soccer through Jacob and Josh.

Ben Bender’s Family Values

Bender has been unusually open about how much he values his relationship with his family.

During his first professional season with Charlotte FC, he described his family members as his best friends and said he spoke with his parents and brothers almost every day.

He also said he remained very close to his grandparents.

That attachment influenced something as simple as his housing decision in Charlotte. Instead of choosing a smaller apartment like many young players, Bender rented a house because he wanted enough space for his relatives and friends to stay when they visited.

His parents attended virtually every home match they could, while Jacob and Josh joined them when their schedules allowed.

Ben Bender’s Childhood in Baltimore

Benjamin Bender was born on March 7, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland.

He began playing youth soccer with Fewster FC before entering Philadelphia Union’s academy as a teenager.

At around 14 years old, Bender temporarily lived near Philadelphia while participating in the Union academy program. The experience represented one of his first extended periods away from his normal family home.

He later returned to Maryland, attended Calvert Hall College High School and played club soccer for Baltimore Armour.

Calvert Hall was already familiar to the Bender family because Jacob and Josh had attended the school before him.

Ben Bender at the University of Maryland

Bender continued his soccer career at the University of Maryland, remaining relatively close to his family.

He quickly established himself as one of college soccer’s outstanding midfielders.

As a freshman, he earned All-Big Ten honors. His sophomore season was even more impressive, as he recorded seven goals and five assists and was unanimously named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year.

Bender also earned First Team All-American recognition and became one of the leading prospects available for the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

The Bender Family at the 2022 MLS SuperDraft

The Bender family was together for one of the biggest moments of Ben’s career when Charlotte FC selected him with the first overall pick in January 2022.

After being selected, Ben immediately highlighted his parents and brothers.

He credited Jacob, Josh and Mark with pushing him throughout his development and thanked Mindy for remaining beside him during the entire journey.

The selection also created an unusual family connection with Charlotte because Jacob had played professionally for Charlotte Independence five years earlier.

Ben Bender’s Marriage During His Charlotte FC Career

Ben’s years in Charlotte were significant both professionally and personally.

He became an MLS regular after being selected first overall and produced goals and assists during the club’s early seasons.

In June 2023, during his second MLS season, he returned home to Maryland and married Hannah Leubecker.

The timing created a memorable sequence. Shortly after the wedding, Bender returned to competition and scored two goals against the New York Red Bulls, celebrating by acknowledging his wedding ring.

Ben Bender’s Return to Philadelphia

Bender’s career eventually brought him back to the Philadelphia Union organization where he had briefly developed as a teenager.

Charlotte FC waived Bender in April 2025, and Philadelphia Union signed him in May.

The move was particularly convenient from a family perspective because Philadelphia is considerably closer to his parents’ home in Baltimore than Charlotte.

In a 2025 interview, Bender described his arrival in Philadelphia as a full-circle moment and noted that his parents lived only around an hour away.

His wife Hannah was also able to relocate relatively easily because her work could be performed remotely.

Playing for Philadelphia consequently allowed Bender to spend more time around his parents, brothers and extended family after several seasons farther from home.

Ben Bender’s Philadelphia Union Contract

Bender remained with Philadelphia beyond his initial 2025 agreement.

In January 2026, Philadelphia Union announced a new contract for the midfielder that guarantees him through June 2027 and includes an option extending through June 2028.

The agreement gave Bender additional stability close to the Maryland community where he and Hannah grew up and where much of his family continues to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ben Bender’s Family

Who is Ben Bender’s wife?

Ben Bender’s wife is Hannah Leubecker, a former University of Maryland All-American lacrosse player.

When did Ben Bender get married?

Ben Bender and Hannah Leubecker married on June 11, 2023.

How did Ben Bender meet his wife?

Ben and Hannah have known each other since childhood. They were longtime family friends and reportedly knew one another from around the age of four.

Does Ben Bender have children?

As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Ben Bender and Hannah Leubecker have children.

Who are Ben Bender’s parents?

Ben Bender’s parents are Mark and Mindy Bender.

Who is Ben Bender’s father?

His father is Mark Bender, a longtime soccer enthusiast who played the sport in high school and Maryland-area leagues before coaching his three sons during their youth careers.

Who is Ben Bender’s mother?

His mother is Mindy Bender. Ben has publicly credited her with supporting him throughout his journey from youth soccer to Major League Soccer.

Does Ben Bender have siblings?

Yes. Ben Bender has two older brothers, Jacob and Josh Bender.

Who is Jacob Bender?

Jacob Bender is Ben’s older brother and a former professional soccer player. He was named the NCAA Division III National Player of the Year at Messiah University before signing with Charlotte Independence in 2017.

Who is Josh Bender?

Josh Bender is another of Ben’s older brothers. He played college soccer as a defender for Messiah University after competing in elite youth soccer programs.

Is Ben Bender an uncle?

Yes. Reporting after his move to Philadelphia confirmed that one of his brothers had welcomed a baby boy, making Ben an uncle for the first time. The reliable report did not specify which brother is the child’s father.

Where is Ben Bender from?

Ben Bender is from Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in a family with strong ties to soccer in the region.

Where does Ben Bender play now?

As of now, Ben Bender plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. His current contract is guaranteed through June 2027 and contains an option through June 2028.