Orlando Pride Sign Mexican International Midfielder Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle from Tigres for Record Fee

The Orlando Pride made a bold statement today, signing Mexican international midfielder Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle from Tigres UANL of Liga MX Femenil. Reports of the Pride finalizing a deal for the star attacking player — nicknamed “La Maga” (the magician) — surfaced Monday evening, with national reporters like Sandra Herrera and others citing confirmation from multiple sources that the deal would be for a women’s soccer transfer record fee. Orlando officially announced the signing today through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. Ovalle will be available once her P1 visa and international transfer certificate are received by the league.

Although the club did not specify the transfer amount, reports have placed the total at $1.5 million with a possibility of it escalating to $2 million. The Pride’s announcement included mention of a new world record. For perspective, Chelsea acquired USWNT defender Naomi Girma from the San Diego Wave for $1 million and Canadian international Olivia Smith signed with Arsenal for $1.34 million, so the acquisition of Ovalle would surpass those numbers. Along with the previous signing of Barbra Banda, the Pride have paid two of the six highest transfer fees of all time.

“We are deeply committed to building championship-caliber teams year after year and this landmark signing is a reflection of that focus,” Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said in a club press release.“Jacquie is a world-class talent and a proven winner, and her arrival in Orlando marks another step on our journey to position the Pride among the elite clubs in global women’s soccer. We’re proud to lead the way in investing in the women’s game, not just for today’s success, but to shape the future of the sport for generations to come.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Jacquie to Orlando Pride and make history together with this record- breaking transfer,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in the club’s release. “This move represents our unwavering commitment to elevating women’s football and investing in world-class talent. We extend our sincere gratitude to Tigres Femenil and The Marketing Jersey agency for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this process. We are deeply grateful to Jacquie and her agent, Jorge Rodriguez, for believing in our vision and putting their trust in what we have built and are continuing to grow here in Orlando. This signing signals our ambition to compete at the highest level while also advancing the women’s game on a global scale.”

Ovalle, 25, has been with Tigres throughout her professional career, racking up nine trophies and 136 goals and 103 assists in 294 appearances across all competitions. Tigres has won six Liga MX Femenil titles and three Campeón de Campeonas trophies during Ovalle’s stay in Nueva Leon with Las Amazonas. She has logged 13 goals in 23 matches across the 2025 Clausura and Aperatura seasons.

On the international stage, the native of Aguascalientes City, Mexico, has represented her country since the U-17 level, scoring 29 international goals across three levels of play. She has racked up 20 goals in 81 appearances with the Mexico Women’s National Team at the senior level, with nine goals spread across 17 appearances at the U-17 and U-20 levels. She was a part of the team that won the 2018 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship and a gold medalist at the 2023 Pan American Games. She won Goal of the Tournament at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and was named to the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Best XI.

“I’m very happy to join Orlando Pride,”Ovalle said in the club’s release. “I’m coming with the clear objective of winning titles and leaving a mark with the club. I’m ready to give it my all and help Orlando Pride continue to be a leading team.”

Ovalle, who will wear jersey No. 13 with the club, will conclude her Tigres career Friday in the Liga MX Femenil All-Star Game in her current club’s home stadium.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride’s offense has been mostly stagnant since the team’s 6-0 opening day win over Chicago. Orlando has scored just four goals in its last six games and one of those was an own goal that Racing Louisville’s Ary Borges directed into her own net. The Pride have failed to score a goal for themselves in three of the last four games and have not scored more than one goal in any game since Barbra Banda’s hat trick May 23 at Utah.

All of that preamble is a lengthy way of saying that offensive help was badly needed if the club is going to make a run at trying to repeat as Supporters’ Shield winners or claiming a second straight NWSL Championship. To make matters worse (potentially), Banda went down with an injury Saturday night at Kansas City. Only three Pride players other than Banda have found the net more than once this season. Ovalle should help with that.

Beyond the obvious offensive help Ovalle can provide, this signing is a statement of intent by the Pride that the club isn’t content to rest on the two trophies it won in 2024. As Carter stated, the Pride are showing their ambition in no uncertain terms, which can’t be seen as anything other than encouraging for the Orlando fanbase. Other teams throughout the NWSL have improved since the end of the 2024 campaign, and Carter and her team have been working behind the scenes to improve the roster. While Kansas City has made the most high-profile moves since the end of 2024, this is a seismic event that serves notice that Orlando doesn’t intend to go away quietly after winning the NWSL’s two trophies a year ago.

Here’s a look at what Ovalle can do in this video.