Mia is a tenacious and inquisitive sixth-grader who emigrated from China to Southern California. She and her family manage and co-own the Calivista Motel. A passionate writer who runs her school newspaper and writes a column for students in China, Mia constantly works to overcome internal fears rooted in her family's past financial struggles. She faces challenges balancing her hybrid Chinese American identity during the 1999 Women's World Cup.

Michael Yao is the former owner of the Calivista Motel who sold the property to the Tang family. Known for being a hypercritical and penny-pinching boss, he continues to micromanage his son's restaurant investments. When Jason and Mia discover his old diary entries, a different side of his personality emerges, hinting at past musical ambitions and heavy family pressure.

Jason is a middle-schooler, Mia's friend, and part-owner of the Calivista Motel. He cooks for the motel's restaurant, creating innovative recipes that blend Chinese and American cooking styles. Despite his culinary talent and drive to achieve his own vision of the American Dream, Jason struggles under the heavy expectations and micromanagement of his father.

Hank is an African American resident of the Calivista Motel who cooks at the East Meets West restaurant with Jason. He prides himself on his original crunch burger recipe, viewing it as his ticket to upward mobility and his own slice of the American Dream. He is determined and protective of his creations, willing to fight back when larger institutions attempt to exploit him.

Lupe is a highly intelligent sixth-grader and Mia's best friend. She takes advanced math classes at the high school and quickly becomes a leader on the Math Cup team. As she manages academic pressures and competitive rivals, Lupe also begins exploring new facets of her identity and developing romantic feelings for her teammate.

Mrs. Tang is Mia's mother and a math teacher at the local high school. While she frequently worries about her English skills and feels marginalized in staff meetings, she is a dedicated educator. She steps up to unofficially coach Lupe's Math Cup team, fiercely advocating for her students when they face unfair treatment.

Mr. Tang is Mia's father, responsible for running and maintaining the Calivista Motel while his wife teaches. He is an optimistic dreamer who views homeownership as the ultimate achievement of the American Dream. He provides a gentle, encouraging presence for Mia, actively supporting her journalistic efforts and newfound interest in soccer.

Bethany is a white classmate of Mia's who frequently makes racist and belittling comments. She creates a hostile environment at school, mocking Mia's body and background while openly favoring peers with wealthy or important parents.

Mr. Antwell is Mia's physical education teacher. He initially misinterprets Mia's fear of the soccer ball as laziness, giving her a low grade that jeopardizes her journalism camp scholarship. He eventually challenges her to conduct a professional sports interview in exchange for extra credit.

Mr. Ingleton is the school guidance counselor who harbors systemic biases. He diminishes Mia's academic achievements by calling her a "homework robot" and insists that true American leaders must excel at sports, making racially charged comments that deeply impact Mia's sense of belonging.

Mr. Wamble is the smug and manipulative manager of the high-end Pasadena Grill. He deceives Hank by expressing interest in his crunch burger recipe, only to steal it and rely on his wealth and legal resources to avoid accountability.

Sun Wen is the star striker for the Chinese National Team. Having left home at a young age to attend a specialized sports school, she represents a powerful role model for Mia, balancing her athletic prowess with a love for singing and writing poetry.

Gao Hong is the skilled goalie for the Chinese National Team. Having previously worked in a factory, she shares her philosophy of silencing her inner critic to pursue greatness, providing Mia with a vital psychological tool for building confidence.

Da-Shawn is a classmate who works alongside Mia on the school newspaper. Athletic and straightforward, he occasionally struggles to understand Mia's deep aversion to physical education but remains a steady collaborator.

Mr. Jammer is an arrogant high school teacher officially assigned to coach the Math Cup team. He frequently talks over his colleagues, shirks his responsibilities to the students, and attempts to steal credit for the team's successes.

Allie is a student on the high school math team. She forms a quick bond with Lupe, offering her validation and prompting Lupe to address new romantic feelings.

Josie is a real estate agent helping the Tangs search for a home. She reveals her own biases when the Tangs walk away from a flawed property, indicating that her colleagues warned her against working with immigrant clients.

Coach Lu is the protective manager of the Chinese National Team. He initially tries to block Mia from interviewing his players, prioritizing the team's focus ahead of media obligations.