Long journey yields profitable outcome for Mexican celebrity Lizbeth Ovalle, securing a lucrative record deal after a ten-hour commute
Lizbeth Ovalle, a rising star in women's soccer, has made a significant move that sets a new record in the sport's history. The Mexican striker has transferred from UANL Tigres to Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for a fee of $1.5 million, surpassing the previous record set by Rebeca Bernal's transfer to the Washington Spirit in 2024.
Ovalle, who made her debut in the then-nascent Liga MX Femenil and the U17 World Cup in 2016, has had an impressive career with Tigres. She won six league titles with the club, including the 2018 and 2019 Clausura, 2020 and 2021 Guardianes, and 2022 and 2023 Apertura.
Despite the opportunity to stay and become the highest-paid player in Mexico, Ovalle chose to seek the international challenge. Her desire to test herself in the NWSL, a league she follows closely, led her to Orlando Pride.
In Orlando, Ovalle will join her idol, Marta, and striker Barbra Banda. Known for her speed and one-on-one skills, Ovalle chose Orlando Pride after six NWSL teams tried to sign her.
Orlando Pride owner Mark Wilf announced that the club is deeply committed to building championship-caliber teams, and the acquisition of Ovalle is a significant step towards that goal.
Guillermo Zamarripa, an agent who was key in Ovalle's jump to the NWSL, described the move as the most important for Mexican women's soccer and highlighted the growth of the league. Jorge Rodríguez, Ovalle's agent, stated that this is a historic event and a turning point in Mexican soccer.
Before Ovalle's transfer, the most expensive transfer in women's soccer was that of Canadian Olivia Smith from Liverpool to Arsenal for $1.34 million. In January, American Naomi Girma was transferred from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea for $1.1 million.
Ovalle, who was discovered during trials for the Mexican national team and played in the 2016 U17 World Cup in Jordan, where she scored two goals, expressed excitement about playing with her new teammates, stating, "It's going to be a great opportunity in my soccer career."
Remarkably, at the age of 15, Ovalle traveled alone by bus for up to nine hours to play for the Mexican national team, with no payment other than the cost of her ticket. Now, she is set to make her mark in the NWSL.
With this move, Lizbeth Ovalle continues to redefine women's soccer, not just in Mexico, but globally. Her journey is a testament to her dedication, talent, and ambition, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for this extraordinary player.
