After hiring a permanent head coach in February, the Mexico Under-23 Women’s National Team is holding its first-ever camp, which got underway on Monday, March 31, at its federation’s High Performance Center.
In charge of the Mexico U-23s is Vanessa Martínez Lagunas (LinkedIn profile), who played collegiate soccer at the University of Texas and was capped by the senior Mexico Women’s National Team. Prior to being hired by the Mexico Football Federation, she served as the head coach of the women’s soccer program at Canada’s University of Manitoba (coach bio). Martínez has a doctorate degree in sports science from Leipzig University in Germany.
The 26-player roster for this camp, which runs through Tuesday, April 8, includes six players currently based in the United States. The remaining 20 athletes all play professionally in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil.
The only NWSL professional is Angel City FC goalkeeper Breanna Norris, who was signed by ACFC on a roster relief contract that runs through the end of June (ACFC press release). The 5’10” Norris played four seasons of NCAA soccer at the University of Portland (player profile) where she was the West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year in her final two seasons.
Five players called up are currently on collegiate teams: Maribel Flores, USC Trojans; Isabella Gutiérrez, East Carolina Pirates; Xcaret Pineda, Oklahoma State Cowgirls; Giana Riley, Florida State Seminoles; and Val Vargas, UCLA Bruins.
In 2024, Riley was a member of the United States Under-20 Women’s Youth National, which claimed third-place at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup and defeated Mexico 3:2 in the Round of 16 at that tournament.
Riley is not the only player on the roster with significant U.S. youth national team experience. The Ohio-born Ella Sanchez, who went pro after high school and signed with Pachuca, played in the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup for the USA.
Another player born in the United States is Giselle Espinoza, who also forewent a collegiate career and signed with Pachuca in 2023.
At least three of the players called up have already been capped by the senior Mexico WNT. Of those, the most notable is Club América’s Natalia Mauleón. Mauleón has scored twice for the senior WNT and has about a dozen senior caps to her name. Midfielders Ana Mendoza and Daniela Monroy have also made appearances for the senior Mexico WNT.
Most of the other players have significant Mexican youth national team experience. At least 20 of the 26 players have been named to either a FIFA youth WWC or a Concacaf qualifying roster, with over half having at least two such tournaments under their belts.
During this camp, the Mexico U-23 WNT will scrimmage against Liga MX Femenil side Deportivo Toluca on Saturday, April 5.
Alphabetical Roster, By Position
Goalkeepers (4):
- Acuña, Natalia (Club León)
- Manrique, Paola (C.F. Monterrey)
- Martínez, Valeria (Club Necaxa)
- Norris, Breanna (Angel City FC / NWSL)
Defenders (7):
- Cázares, Carol (C.F. Monterrey)
- Gutiérrez, Jana (Club América)
- Espinoza, Giselle (FC Juárez)
- Esquivias, Isabela (C.D. Guadalajara)
- Mendoza, Ana (Pumas UNAM)
- Monroy, Daniela (C.F. Monterrey)
- Sánchez, Tanna (C.F. Monterrey)
Midfielders (10):
- Chavero, Paola (Pumas UNAM)
- Delgado, Daniela (C.D. Guadalajara)
- González, Ivonne (C.D. Guadalajara)
- Gutiérrez, Isabella (East Carolina / NCAA)
- Gutiérrez, Michelle (Atlético San Luis)
- Lomeli, Alejandra (Atlas F.C.)
- Mauleón, Natalia (Club América)
- Sanchez, Ella (C.F. Pachuca)
- Vargas, Valerie “Val” (UCLA / NCAA)
- Vazquez, Anette (Atlético San Luis)
Forwards (5):
- Flores, Maribel (Southern California / NCAA)
- García, Paola (Atlas F.C.)
- Pineda, Xcaret (Oklahoma State / NCAA)
- Riley, Giana (Florida State / NCAA)
- Román, Mariel (Deportivo Toluca F.C.)
Note: Future roster releases for the Mexico U-23 WNT will not be covered, unless they will be facing the U.S. U-23 WYNT in friendlies or such.
FMF: “La Selección Nacional de México Femenil Sub-23 tendrá su primera convocatoria” (1-Apr-2025)
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