Get to know the LigaMX femenil teams playing in the NWSL's Summer Cup

Ah, the summertime. Unbearable heatwaves sweeping across the United States, natural disasters arriving thick and fast, and, well, lots and lots of footy.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics demanding the presence of 56 players from the NWSL, the American women's league is going on hiatus for a month.

So, what better way to fill that gap than by playing a summer-friendly/not-friendly tournament amongst themselves and six lucky invitees from South of the border?

Yes, welcome to the inaugural NWSL x LigaMX Summer Cup. Or 'Leagues Cup Femenil' as some are calling it. If you have a fun name for it, let me know.

Personally, they should have shortened it to just 'Copa de Verano' and not bothered with the league titles in there. But, I digress...

The NWSL x LigaMX Summer Cup will kick off this Friday, July 19, with 20 teams, split into five groups, all searching for glory. The group stage will run until Friday, August 2nd. You can find the full schedule here.

After the group stage, the best four group winners will qualify for a semifinal, which will be held in Kansas City, MO, on August 6th. The final will be held in San Antonio, Texas, during a FIFA window on October 25th (ironically not in the Summer [shrugs shoulders]).

What does it mean?

No se. What does any cup mean? How competitive this tournament will be remains especially unclear. Whether the players actually want to play more matches outside of the NWSL and LigaMX Femenil league play, when many need more rest is also up for debate. I just hope everyone has fun.

For the players in Mexico, the tournament is coming right after the preseason for their new 2024 Apertura season. For the American-based players, they are currently in midseason.

Personally, we do need players who are further down the squad lists to get experience playing matches, and this is a good opportunity. How do you sell a developmental tournament though? I'm not sure.

Perhaps some unique roster rules for the month could have been put in place to make it known that this was for young/inexperienced players and not fatigued internationals. For example, seven out of 11 players on the pitch must have less than 50 professional appearances. Or maybe even a player cannot start two consecutive matches?

Who are the LigaMX Femenil teams?

For those dear readers not all that familiar with LigaMX Femenil, I thought I would do a quick team-by-team preview to give you a sketch of who these clubs are coming into the Summer Cup.

If this tournament is your first experience of watching Mexican teams, I cannot recommend the league highly enough. I have been watching for the past four years, and it has been an absolute joy to watch. Vamos.

Club Tijuana (Group A)

2024 Clausura finish: 11th | W6-D3-L8 | No playoffs

Head coach: Juan Romo is starting his third season with the club after his well respected predecessor, Andrea Rodebaugh, was poached to be the sporting director for the Mexican national team in 2022. After a strong start to his tenure during his first three tournaments, Xolos missed the playoffs for the first time under Romo last May.

Standout player: Mayra Pelayo – The scorer of THAT stunning knockout punch against the USA at the 2024 W Gold Cup. The right-footed left winger absolutely loves a shot from distance, with five of her 11 league goals from the 2023-24 season coming from outside of the box – including two direct free kicks. Unlike her shooting technique, she hasn’t mastered the art of the tackle, and had the 4th-most fouls (64) of any player. The Mexican-American also was sent off for a clumsy boot to the face of an opposition player in the opening match of the 2024 Apertura against Querétaro.

Identity: Toughness and swing. When compared to the other five sides from LigaMX Femenil in the Summer Cup, Xolos differ slightly because their average possession of the ball is less (48.6%). They offer a more direct 4-2-3-1, and like to get up the pitch fast and counter when teams come at them (5th-most long balls in Mexico). Expect plenty of verticality and crossing, with attacking set pieces also coming in handy.

Club America (Group B)

2024 Clausura finish: 4th | W11-D2-L4 | Runner-up

Head coach: Ángel Villacampa, who is in his third full season with Las Aguilas. The Spaniard arrived in Mexico City after a brief stint with Levante. Previously won Liga F with Atletico Madrid in 2018, and LigaMX Femenil with America in 2023.

Standout player: Karen Luna – Perhaps an underrated star for both America and the Mexican national team, the right-back has brilliant distribution and touch. An essential part of what makes Las Aguilas’ 3-4-1-2 system tick. With seven goals and eight assists in 2023-24, you often found the former Tigres academy product spending as much time on the edge of the opposition box as her own. She ranked 3rd overall for key passes last season with 33. 

Identity: Controlled and expansive. Las Azulcremas are stacked with depth. In the past year, no team has scored more goals (131), taken more shots (17.07 p90) or had more average possession than America (60.8%). There’s always plenty of runners, at wingback and midfield, bombing on and making themselves open too. Despite conceding few chances, America allowed 54 goals during 2024-25. Which was 7.54 over their xGA. With 25% of those goals conceded coming from outside the box, the club decided to address the goalkeeper situation and recruit veteran Sandra Panos from FC Barcelona. 

UANL Tigres (Group C)

2024 Clausura finish: 1st | W14-D2-L1 | Semifinalist 

Head coach: After a stint in Japan and then Juarez in LigaMX Femenil, Mila Martinez took over from Carm Moscato in June 2023. Her first season in Nuevo Leon was a resounding success, winning one championship, topping the regular season table, and losing just four out of 44 matches (including playoffs). 

Star player: Lizbeth ‘Jacquie’ Ovalle – Has a good case to be considered the best player in the league and a top 25 player in the world. The Tigres academy graduate has an almost unlimited amount of tools to call upon when attacking opponents. 'La Maga' has a fearless and direct dribbling quality. Gaining speed as she goes, the 24-year-old doesn’t glide across the grass but instead gallops into the box before hitting tantalizing crosses and swerving shots. Selfish and unselfish in equal measure, her 23 goals and 21 assists last season showed off the breadth of her game. 

Identity: Glitzy and relentless. In many ways, Tigres have set the standard when it comes to LigaMX. Their six championships speak for themselves. Right behind America in almost all attacking statistics, where Tigres excel is on the flanks of their forward line. They can slow build, but will quickly opt to get the ball in the box as much as possible. Whether that is dribbling, crossing, or shooting. So much of their attack is generated by Ovalle, Thembi Kgatlana, and Joseline Montoya. No team scored more headed goals (31) than Tigres last season.

Pachuca (Group C) 

2024 Clausura finish: 2nd | W13-D3-L1 | Semifinalist 

Head coach: Formerly the assistant coach, Óscar Torres took over midway through last season after former boss Juan Carlos Cacho saw his team slip down the table before being embarrassed in the 2023 Apertura playoffs 9-2 on aggregate by America. ‘Rambo’, as he’s known, did an admirable job in his first tournament and has continued Pachuca's penchant for being one of the most entertaining teams to watch.

Standout player: Charlyn Corral – There’s something very endearing about the 32-year-old’s resurgence in her home country after a decade away playing professionally elsewhere. Since returning home, and signing for Pachuca, in 2021, Corral has had an extraordinary goalscoring touch. 91 goals in 116 appearances (with 43 coming last season) speaks for itself. While her bread and butter may be peeling away from a defender to find space in the box, she had a streak last season of scoring cheeky chipped shots from the corner of the box. She is never not looking to score.

Identity: Wild abandon. Tuzas always mount to challenge but seemingly do not have the same luster or perseverance as the other big clubs in Mexico. They often fall away. That being said, over the past few seasons Pachuca has had a reputation for being one of the most fun sides in LigaMX Femenil. Torres loves his players to throw themselves forward, get in the box, and be brave. With 22 goals from outside the box, the most in the league, there is a strong culture of having a go. Defensively speaking, this offseason Tuzas made two big additions, Andrea Pereira and Kenti Robles, in an attempt to try and shore up their ailing backline.

Chivas (Group D) 

2024 Clausura finish: 5th | W9-D5-L3 | Quarterfinalist 

Head coach: Joaquín Moreno Ruiz may be brand new to the office marked ‘entrenador’ but he is by no means new to Guadalajara.‘El Quino’ has spent 30 years at Chivas in many different capacities. First as a schoolboy, then a player, an assistant, and an academy coach, on the men’s side, and now as the head coach of the women’s team. Whilst it is impossible to question his love for the club, whether or not he is the man to maximize the potential of this team remains to be seen. He was drafted in as a caretaker before the 2024 playoffs – securing a shock win over Rayadas – and was given the job permanently just a couple of months ago. 

Standout player: Carolina Jaramillo – Either as a ‘Number 10’ behind the striker or as a more box-to-box playmaker, the 30-year-old oozes calm and finesse. Few in the league play as many smart through balls and dynamic weighted passes as the Mexican. Led the league in assists, with 25, last season while adding 10 goals herself. If Chivas are to evolve into a more complete side, then Jaramillo will be at the heart of it.

Identity: Safe and solid. Chivas is famous for its tradition of only fielding Mexican players or players with Mexican heritage. Recently, they can be a frustrating watch. Too much caution and inability to break down teams in mid and low blocks has meant the Rojiblancas often flatter to deceive. Relying heavily on Jaramillo for creativity and Licha Cervantes for goals, their narrow movement can be predictable. Defensively they have been strong, with the second-lowest xGA (43.64) of any team. 

Rayadas Monterrey (Group E)

2024 Clausura finish: 3rd | W12-D2-L3 | Champion

Head coach: Some were skeptical of Amelia Valverde’s ability to transition back to club football after a decade in the international game. But the Costa Rican passed her first test with flying colours by winning the 2024 Clausura. With her predecessor, Eva Espejo, now helping to build the squad as sporting director, there is a feeling that holistically Rayadas is in a good place for even more success.

Standout player: Rebeca Bernal – Captain, leader, rock at the back, and an accomplished penalty taker. The 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength, and adapted her game to play both as a centreback and as an anchor at the base of midfield. Canny under pressure, she played the third-most passes of any player in the league and is always one to ignite her teammates. 

Identity: Measured and opportunistic. Valverde wants her team to be very structured off the ball and with a lead they become very hard to break down. Rayadas have plenty of accomplished passers but often were most effective when going direct. Under Valverde they have also been very successful from set pieces (14 goals). Another positive to Monterrey is their varied attacking department. The club's three main strikers shared the goals last season with 16 (Christina Burkenroad), 14 (Myra Delgadillo) and 14 (Jermaine Seoposenwe). How the new marquee signing of LigaMX femenil’s all-time leading scorer Katty Martinez fits in exactly is unclear. But it's a marvelous player to have.