Tigres UANL (women)

This article is about the women's association football team. For the men's association football club, see Tigres UANL.

Tigres UANL Femenil, also known simply as Tigres Femenil or Tigres, is a Mexican professional women's football club based in the city of San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico that competes in the Liga MX Femenil. The club has been the women's section of Tigres UANL since 2016.^[2] The team plays its home matches at the Estadio Universitario.

Tigres UANL Femenil

Full name	Club de Fútbol Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Femenil
Nickname(s)	Las Amazonas (The Amazons) La U de Nuevo León (The U of Nuevo León) Las Auriazules (The Golden-blue ones) ^[1]
Founded	December 5, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-12-05)
Ground	Estadio Universitario San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
Capacity	41,886
Owner	UANL CEMEX (through Sinergia Deportiva)
Chairman	Mauricio Culebro
Manager	Mila Martínez
League	Liga MX Femenil
Apertura 2023	1st (champions)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Commonly known as Las Amazonas (The Amazons), Tigres Femenil is one of only four clubs that have won the Liga MX Femenil title, and the most successful one with a record six league titles, four more than city rivals C.F. Monterrey.^[3]

History

Founding and First League Tournament

Club de Fútbol Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Femenil was founded on December 5, 2016, the same day that Liga MX Femenil was announced.^[4] In preparation for the first season of Liga MX Femenil in the second half of 2017, the team participated in a preparation tournament, the 2017 Copa MX Femenil under the management of Miguel Razo.^[5][6] On July 13, 2017, previous to the start of the league, Former Tigres player and club legend, Osvaldo Batocletti, was appointed as manager of the team with the previous manager Miguel Razo becoming his assistant.^[5] Tigres Femenil's first league match in history was a 0–0 draw against Querétaro on July 29, 2017.^[7][8]

In its first Liga MX Femenil tournament (Apertura 2017), Tigres ended the regular phase of the tournament 2nd with 34 pts, but they would eventually be eliminated in the semifinals of the play-offs by Pachuca.^[7]

First Title and Continuous Success

Tigres Femenil obtained its first league title by winning the Torneo Clausura 2018. For this tournament, Tigres ended the regular phase of the tournament 3rd with 31 points. In the semifinals of the playoffs, Tigres defeated América with an aggregate scoreline of 5–1 to advance to the final against crosstown rivals Monterrey which would be the first of many Clásico Regiomontano finals in Liga MX Femenil. Tigres would end up defeating Monterrey in the final on penalties (2–4) after a 4–4 draw on aggregate.^[7] The second leg of this final at Estadio BBVA was at the time the highest attended club match in women's football history.^[9]

On May 7, 2018, just a few days after the Clausura 2018 final, Osvaldo Batocletti decided to step down from the position of manager in order to receive treatment for a Cancer.^[10][11] Ramón Villa Zevallos was appointed by the club to take over the position of manager with Batocletti becoming his assistant.^[12]

Under Villa Zeballos management the team once again reached the league final in the Apertura 2018 tournament after finishing 1st in the regular phase with 40 pts. In the playoffs Tigres eliminated Atlas in the quarter-finals (2–1), and Guadalajara (5–3) the semifinals. In the final, Tigres was defeated by America on penalties (1–3) after a 3–3 draw on aggregate.

In the Clausura 2019, Tigres ended the regular phase of the tournament 3rd with 36 pts. In the playoffs, Tigres was once again able to reach the final. In the final Tigres defeated Monterrey once again with an aggregate scoreline of 3–2 to crown themselves league champions for the second time.

Ramón Villa Zevallos left his position of manager on May 30, 2019 just after one season in order to take the position of manager of C.D. Guadalajara.^[13] The club announced former Mexico women's national football team manager, Roberto Medina, as the new manager of the team on May 31, 2019.^[14]

With Medina at the helm, the team once again reach the league final in the Apertura 2019 after ending the regular phase of the tournament 2nd with 43 pts. In the final, Tigres once again faced Monterrey on the third Clásico Regiomontano femenil final. Unlike in the previous two finals, Monterrey was able to win this final after defeating Tigres 2–1 on aggregate.^[15]

On October 5, 2019, Tigres hosted the first ever international friendly between clubs from Liga MX Femenil and the NWSL when it played against Houston Dash in the Estadio Universitario. Tigres won that match 2–1.^[16]

Although the Clausura 2020 tournament was canceled by the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tigres Femenil successful run continued in the Guard1anes 2020 and Guard1anes 2021 tournaments in which Tigres was able to win both tournaments back to back after defeating Monterrey and Guadalajara respectively. By doing this, Tigres Femenil became the first team in the league to be able to win back-to back league titles. By winning the titles of the Guard1anes 2020 and Guard1anes 2021 tournaments, Tigres also automatically won the first edition of the Campeón de Campeones of the Liga MX Femenil.^[17][18]

In the Apertura 2021, Tigres once again reach the league final for the seventh consecutive time. In the final, Tigres was defeated for the second time by Monterrey by losing (1–3) on penalties after 2–2 draw on aggregate.^[19]

In the Clausura 2022, Tigres was eliminated in the semi-finals of the playoffs by C.D. Guadalajara, ending a run of seven consecutive league finals.^[20]

A few weeks following Tigres elimination in the playoffs of the Clausura 2022, the club decided to sack manager Roberto Medina on June 2, 2022 after more than three years at the role. During Medina's tenure the team obtained 3 titles and reach 4 league finals.^[21] Former Canadian international player Carmelina Moscato was appointed as manager of the team on June 9, 2022.^[22] After winning the 2022–23 Apertura with Tigres and finishing in the semi-finals of the Clausura Liguilla, Moscato resigned from Tigres.^[23]

Grounds

Main article: Estadio Universitario (UANL)

 

Estadio Universitario during the Apertura 2022 semi-final between Tigres Femenil and Monterrey.

The Estadio Universitario ("University Stadium") is the official home ground of Tigres Femenil.^[24] This 42,000-seat stadium built in 1967 is colloquially known as El Volcan ("The Volcano"). The stadium is located at the campus of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León in the city of San Nicolás de los Garza.^[25][26]

Tigres Femenil play its first match in history at the Universitario on August 5, 2017, in a game against C.D. Guadalajara for match day 2 of the Apertura 2017. The match ended in a 2-0 victory for Tigres Femenil with goals from Blanca Solís and Carolina Jaramillo.^[27]

Personnel

Club administration

Position	Staff
Chairman	Mauricio Culebro
Sporting Director	Hugo Ayala

Source: Club Tigres

Coaching staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Mila Martínez
Assistant manager	Mario Ibáñez
Fitness coaches	Héctor Arriaga
	Jesús García
Physiotherapist	Linda Montemayor
Team doctor	Tania Torres

Source: Liga MX Femenil

Players

For a list of all former and current Tigres UANL Femenil players with a Wikipedia article, see Category: Tigres UANL (women) footballers.

Current squad

As of 3 February 2024^[update][2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   MEX Cecilia Santiago 2 DF   JAM Konya Plummer 3 DF   MEX Bianca Sierra 4 DF   MEX Greta Espinoza 5 FW   MEX Fernanda Elizondo 6 MF   MEX Nancy Antonio 7 MF   MEX Liliana Mercado (captain) 8 MF   MEX Alexia Delgado 9 MF   MEX Stephany Mayor 10 FW   ESP Jenni Hermoso 11 MF   MEX Nayeli Rangel (vice-captain) 13 GK   MEX Mariángela Medina 14 MF   MEX Lizbeth Ovalle 15 DF   MEX Cristina Ferral

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 FW   RSA Thembi Kgatlana 17 DF   MEX Natalia Villarreal 18 MF   MEX Belén Cruz 19 FW   MEX Tatiana Flores 20 GK   MEX Ofelia Solís 21 MF   MEX Lizeth Contreras 22 DF   MEX Anika Rodríguez 23 DF   MEX Jana Gutiérrez 24 MF   MEX Maricarmen Reyes 25 MF   MEX Joseline Montoya 27 DF   MEX Athalie Palomo 30 FW   MEX Alison González 32 DF   MEX Blanca Muñóz

Out on loan

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF   MEX Michel Ruíz (at Santos Laguna)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW   SWE Evelyn Ijeh (at Milan)

Managerial history

Manager	Years
Miguel Razo	2017
Osvaldo Batocletti	2017–2018
Ramón Villa Zevallos	2018–2019
Roberto Medina	2019–2022
Carmelina Moscato	2022–2023
Mila Martínez	2023–

Seasons

Season	Tournament	League record									Playoffs record								Top goalscorer
		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Rank	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Result	Player	Goals
2017–18	Apertura 2017	14	11	1	2	51	7	+44	34	2nd	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1	SF	Carolina Jaramillo	9
	Clausura 2018	14	10	1	3	38	16	+22	31	3rd	4	1	2	1	8	6	+2	W	Belén Cruz	9
2018–19	Apertura 2018	16	12	4	0	51	19	+32	40	1st	6	3	3	0	10	7	+3	RU	Katty Martínez	13
	Clausura 2019	16	11	3	2	36	12	+24	36	3rd	6	5	1	0	12	4	+8	W	Katty Martínez	11
2019–20	Apertura 2019	18	13	4	1	41	14	+27	43	2nd	6	2	2	2	9	5	+4	RU	Katty Martínez	13
	Clausura 2020	8	7	1	0	22	5	+17	22	1st^[a]	Tournament canceled								Stephany Mayor	6
2020–21	Guardianes 2020	17	15	1	1	50	11	+39	46	1st	6	5	0	1	11	3	+8	W	Katty Martínez	18
	Guardianes 2021	17	12	4	1	39	12	+27	40	1st	6	5	1	0	19	7	+12	W	Stephany Mayor	10
2021–22	Apertura 2021	17	15	2	0	52	7	+45	47	1st	6	3	2	1	15	4	+11	RU	Stephany Mayor	13
	Clausura 2022	17	11	6	0	43	11	+32	39	3rd	4	3	0	1	11	3	+8	SF	Stephany Mayor	11
2022–23	Apertura 2022	17	12	2	3	48	13	+35	38	3rd	6	5	1	0	15	4	+11	W	Mia Fishel	17
	Clausura 2023	17	12	2	3	48	13	+35	38	2nd	4	2	0	2	7	2	+5	SF	Mia Fishel	13

Records

Most goals # Player Goals^[b] 1   Katty Martínez 93 2   Belén Cruz 36   Lizbeth Ovalle 36 4   Liliana Mercado 22 5   Carolina Jaramillo 18

Most appearances # Player Apps^[c] Career 1   Liliana Mercado 116 2017– 2   Nancy Antonio 111 2017– 3   Belén Cruz 110 2017– 4   Greta Espinoza 96 2018– 5   Katty Martínez 95 2017–

Honours

National competitions

• Liga MX Femenil
  • Winners (6): Clausura 2018, Clausura 2019, Guard1anes 2020, Guard1anes 2021, Apertura 2022, Apertura 2023
• Campeón de Campeones
  • Winners (2): 2021, 2023

Notes

1. On 22 May 2020, the Clausura tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; in that moment UANL was ranked first.^[28]
2. includes Liga MX Femenil regular season and playoffs.
3. includes Liga MX Femenil regular season and playoffs.

References

1. MX, LIGA MX / ASCENSO. "LIGA MX Femenil – Página Oficial de la Liga del Fútbol Profesional en México .: Bienvenido". www.ligafemenil.mx.
2. MX, LIGA MX / ASCENSO. "LIGA MX Femenil – Página Oficial de la Liga del Fútbol Profesional en México .: Bienvenido". www.ligafemenil.mx.
3. Schöggl, Hans (2022-02-11). "Mexico – List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
4. "México tendrá Liga MX femenil a partir de 2017". El Financiero (in Spanish). 6 December 2016. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
5. Alonso, Javier (2017-07-13). "Histórico de Tigres dirigirá al equipo femenil". ESPNdeportes.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-05.
6. Marshall, Tom (2017-05-03). "Women's Copa MX kicks off in Toluca". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
7. Lugo, Erik Francisco (2019-01-10). "Mexico (Women) 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
8. Madrigal, Luis. "Chispazo de historia". www.oncediario.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-05.
9. "Fútbol Femenil: Las cinco cosas que dejó el Clausura 2018 de la Liga MX Femenil". MARCA Claro México (in Mexican Spanish). 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
10. "Batocletti se hará a un lado de Tigres femenil para luchar contra el cáncer". ESPNdeportes.com (in Spanish). 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
11. Lara, Juan. "Osvaldo Batocletti podrían dejar de dirigir a Tigres Femenil luego de obtener el campeonato de la Liga MX Femenil ante Monterrey". Grupo Milenio (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-05.
12. OnceDiario. "Por el primer zarpazo". www.oncediario.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-07.
13. "Ramón Villa Zevallos nuevo DT de Chivas Femenil". El Universal (in Spanish). 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
14. Univision. "Tigres Femenil anuncia nuevo técnico con la mente puesta en el bicampeonato". Univision (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-09.
15. Rupinski, Eugene (2019-12-07). "2019 Liga MX Femenil Final match recap: Monterrey 1, Tigres UANL 0 (2–1 aggregate)". FMF State Of Mind. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
16. Lloyd-Hughes, Theo (August 26, 2021). "Houston Dash to host Tigres Femenil at BBVA Stadium". TheStriker.com. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
17. Redacción. "Tigres Femenil histórico consuma el bicampeonato". El Economista. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
18. "Todas las campeonas de la Liga MX Femenil". MARCA (in Mexican Spanish). 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
19. Martínez, Edgar (2021-12-20). "Monterrey derrotó a Tigres y se proclamó Campeón de Liga MX Femenil". Diario AS (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-17.
20. "Se apaga Tigres Femenil y Chivas las elimina". laprensa.mx. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
21. "Roberto Medina deja de ser el entrenador de Tigres Femenil". www.proceso.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-17.
22. "Canada's Carmelina Moscato joins Mexico's Tigres as technical director". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
23. Univision. "Carmelina Moscato renuncia como directora técnica de Tigres Femenil". TUDN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-02.
24. "UANL". Liga MX Femenil. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
25. "History". Club Tigres. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
26. "Tigres Men's Squad and Tigres Femenil Make history at the Univesitario". Club Tigres. 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
27. Lopez, Hector (August 5, 2017). "Zarpazos en el Universitario". Liga MX Femenil. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
28. Marshall, Tom (22 May 2020). "Liga MX cancels 2020 Clausura season due to coronavirus". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 August 2020.