Diana Ordóñez is an inspiration throughout the Americas

LOS ANGELES -- One of the most inspiring things about young athletes is that they are essential in changing narratives and creating new paths. Just two years after graduating from the University of Virginia, Diana Ordóñez continues to make headlines and serve as an inspiration to young athletes.

I had the chance to chat with one of the NWSL's and la Selección Nacional de México Femenil's Diana Ordóñez as she prepares to create more magic on the pitch and represent her roots. 

At 23, she has completed a list of accolades that few could imagine. From becoming the first-ever NWSL player to compete in an MLS Skills Challenge and a super striker for the Houston Dash to winning the Golden Boot award and recovering from injuries to becoming an Electrolit Athlete, success seems inevitable for Ordóñez. 

Family is everything

Her journey with the sport started long before she stepped on the pitch. The prominent forward spent her early childhood in Riverside, California, before moving to Texas, where she developed her love of the game and community. Her mother, Amanda, grew up in El Monte, California, and was one of Diana’s biggest supporters when she wanted to start playing at a young age. 

Ordóñez credits much of her success to her family’s support. “My family are my biggest supporters, and not definitely my immediate family, but not just them, like my cousins, my uncles, like everybody. They are just so amazing. And they support me so much. They watch all my games, they buy jerseys, they come down here to games. I could have no one else supporting me, but as long as my family's there, like, I'm going to be okay. So yeah, just to have them in my corner, how much my parents have sacrificed to allow me to get to this point. I definitely try and make sure that doesn't go unnoticed, because they had to put a lot of time and money and effort into helping me get here.” 

Her family’s support and connection to the game fueled her passion. Growing up with both Mexican and Ecuadorian roots in Texas, Diana’s upbringing influenced decisions when it came to choosing the best teams for her.  

“I think it's actually interesting, because obviously I represent Mexico on the national team, but growing up, I always felt a little bit more tied to my Ecuadorian culture. I think just because, mostly because of soccer, like my dad obviously is a huge soccer fan, and he's from Ecuador. So for him, he raised us like watching their national team games, and we went there to visit almost every year. So I grew up knowing a lot more about that culture than my Mexican culture, because I didn't have any family left in Mexico, so we never had a reason to visit there. So I was actually visiting Ecuador much more frequently than I was visiting Mexico,” she said. 

It’s a common experience for youth who grow up with multiple national identities to feel closer to one side rather than another at different points in their life. “As I got older, that started to shift a little bit, I think, kind of as I started to understand my Mexican culture a little bit more, and then when it became more of a possibility for me to represent Mexico, I fell in love with it even more. So, yeah, I think they're all quite different, but they share a lot of similarities,” said Ordóñez.

Despite growing up in a state with a large majority, Diana didn't feel completely embraced in her culture until later on. 

 “I feel like growing up in Prosper [Texas] kind of took me away from the culture a little bit, and I didn't really feel it that much or like day to day. It wasn't very prominent in my life, other than like at home, obviously. But even at home, like me and my parents, we speak English to each other, so like, the only people I speak Spanish to were like my grandparents. So honestly, I kind of felt like I had lost some of it from both sides a little bit growing up and then especially in college, being in Virginia, like not a lot of Hispanic people didn't really need to speak Spanish or anything.

Although she grew up rooting for Ecuador, she chose to represent Mexico on the national level rather than the U.S. Women’s National Team. “Once I started playing for Mexico, that whole thing shifted. And even little things like the food I ate, to music, which I had to use my Spanish, like, completely changed.”

The switch allowed her to be immersed in a new way. “Since 2022, when I joined the team, that's been the most that I've been immersed in my culture, probably in my whole life. It's been kind of like waves of feeling like I've been, you know, attached to my culture and not but right now, I'd probably say I am more than ever, and I probably will just continue to grow in that.”

Ordóñez currently has 29 caps and 10 goals for Mexico since her debut in 2022.

She embraces her identity, understanding the ways it intersects with the impact she wants to have on and off the pitch. Ordóñez is one of 26 Latine and Caribbean-identifying players in the NWSL 2025 season. 

“I know that when I was younger, I didn't really have anyone who was in my position that I am now that I can kind of point out and look up to and say, Oh, I'm just like her. We have the same background, or that kind of thing. So obviously, women's sports has just grown so much, even since I was little. So I don't think it's for a lack of people being in that position. I think it's more just like the visibility that we have now is much different than when I was younger.” 

She is proud to be a figure of representation, especially for those with dual identities. “I’m very honored to be able to interact with people and kind of get that reaction of you know that they do look up to me, and they do appreciate my culture, and not just the fact that I'm Mexican, but that I'm Mexican American as well, because that's just as much important.” 

When it comes to young stars, there is often a label attached to them: a role model for even younger audiences. With the title comes influence and power, two things that some may find it hard to navigate and maintain. Ordóñez embraces it. 

“It’s a really big honor, and something that I take with a lot of responsibility, and I just, I'm super grateful to be in a position where I can, you know, have an influence, and hopefully a positive one at that.”

In recent years, there has been a rise in levels of representation and opportunity in women’s soccer, partly due to increases in media attention and funding. With the increased global investment in women’s soccer, some players are transitioning from the pitch to the boardroom, choosing to invest and work behind the scenes to expand the game. 

But she recognizes the importance of pacing and development that she’ll need before joining the investment side. 

“I think right now, just as young of a player as I am, I think my biggest role and responsibility is to just play the best soccer that I can. I think, yes, it is growing. There's so much investment, there's so much buzz outside of what's actually happening on the field, but I think as someone who's still kind of coming up in the league, it's really important for me to just try and get to be playing my best soccer every year. I think the hardest thing to maintain as a professional is consistency,” she says.  

“My role right now is to just play and entertain and try and be, you know, as entertaining as possible, to get people to fill stadiums and to come to our games,” she adds, highlighting the way she feels she is contributing the best to the game’s rise in popularity. 

Lacing up with the Houston Dash

Diana joined the Houston Dash in January 2023 from the North Carolina Courage in exchange for $100,000 and a 1st Round NWSL Draft pick after making a transfer request to be closer to home. Her rookie season was impressive, where she scored 11 times in 19 league games, a record total for goals by a first-year pro in the NWSL. 

She made history last year, competing in the 2024 MLS Skills Challenge alongside legends like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets- an opportunity that highlighted her and the NWSL. 

“That was an incredible experience, I would say, probably like my top other than playing for my national team, my top soccer moment in my career, just getting to to be out there and represent, obviously, my club, my community, my culture, my national team, all of that, but also the players that I was participating with are players that I grew up admiring. I mean, just like all these incredible names that had the MLS, which I think is so cool how that's growing. But to get to do the thing that I love with players that I've looked up to and watched my entire life, was like, second to none. It was like, such a cool experience,” she said looking back on the experience.  

“I'm so grateful to MLS. I think it was really cool that they wanted to get some women in there and try and help us and help the buzz around our leagues as well. I think that was super special. So, yeah, to be the first was just an honor.”

Ordóñez’s time with the Dash ended in late May after both parties announced her transfer to play in Liga MX Femenil for an undisclosed fee, but her mindset has remained the same as it’s been since her debut against Racing Louisville on March 26, 2023- she’s prepared to win. 

During her time in Houston, Ordóñez appeared in 44 games throughout the regular season, scoring eight goals. She netted two goals for the Dash last year in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil. She won the Houston Dash's Golden Boot award in 2024. 

Road to Recovery

Alongside her tremendous success on the pitch, Ordóñez faced setbacks with a shoulder injury that cut her 2024 season short. It was the second time she faced a shoulder injury and underwent surgery. 

“Thankfully, it was my shoulder, and not like, you know, a knee or an ankle or things like that that take a little longer for soccer players to come back from,” she said.  

Each injury affects a player in different ways. From recovery time to mental healing, Diana’s recovery this time around looked different from her rookie season injury. 

“The first time I was kind of just everything was like brand new, so I didn't really know how to navigate it very well. I think I went through a pretty hard time mentally. I just had never gone through something like that before, so it's just kind of one of those things that you take as it comes because you just don't know what to expect. But I would say the second time around, I was pretty happy with the way that I took care of myself. I think that was something that lacked the first time, I didn't realize how important you know your nutrition and things like that are when you are recovering from a surgery,” said Ordóñez, reflecting on how she navigated her most recent injury. 

She leaned on the medical team and her faith to motivate herself during the rehab process. “I had incredible surgeons and PTs here to help me. So I give so much credit to them for just making so many sacrifices because they had to be here all off-season to help me get back. So I'm super appreciative to them, and I just thank God that, you know, it's not worse. So even though I was out for about six months, you know, try to see the glass half full, like it could be so much worse.” 

She also created her support system, continuing to stay involved with the team. “Injuries can be quite isolating, because you do have to come in on a separate schedule from the team and things like that, to do your rehab and stuff. I think something that I did that helped was like being in all the team meetings, even though I wasn't playing and I didn't have to be in the meetings, just giving myself those extra kind of moments where I could still be connected to my team, because at the end of the day, being connected to people is what's going to help you kind of get through it.”

After months of rehab, Ordóñez was taken off the Season Ending Injury list in March and cleared to play by doctors. Now, she’ll take her talents to La Liga MX’s side Tigres UANL Femenil, where she’ll join fellow national team teammates, including Lydia Nayeli Rangel and Jimena López. 

Regardless of her performance on the field, Diana remains committed to creating a positive impact in various communities through partnerships and community outreach. While with the Dash, Ordóñez focused on helping address issues of food insecurity in the Houston area. 

“From what I understand, Houston is one of the worst cities in the country in terms of food insecurity. That's something that I'm really passionate about, and trying to reach my community and make sure that community and the families and kids specifically have access to healthy meals on a regular basis. That's something that we're definitely in conversation about, just trying to reach where there's a need, because I think every city and every demographic has different needs, but in Houston, that one is very prevalent,” said Ordóñez. 

A New Era With Electrolit

Ordóñez's passion for creating change will follow her where she goes. The young star recently became the newest Electrolit Athlete, the global hydration brand founded in Mexico and focused on maintaining hydration for elite performance and health. 

“I'm super grateful to partner with them. It's a product that I've actually used for a long time, so to get the opportunity to work with them is incredible, I think, for as for the product in and of itself, amazing. As an athlete who lives in a very hot city, training every day, you lose, like, pounds of sweat at a time in training. And so to be able to come home and have the fridge stocked with Electrolit, and to have what I need to recover and to get my electrolytes back, and all that is just such a game changer as an athlete.” 

With this partnership, Ordóñez hopes to expand her impact in the community. “I've seen how many partnerships they do with different athletes, the way they help them start foundations and all these different things. We have so many ideas kind of bouncing around that I won't touch too much on yet, until they become a reality, but I'm just so honored and grateful that they're passionate about what I'm passionate about, and that we can work together to reach my community and to help more people. I think that's the most important so, yeah, it's been great so far, again, still really early in the process, but I'm really excited to see what we come up with.”

Since embarking on her second shoulder injury recovery, Ordóñez understands the importance of dismantling harmful expectations of “toughing it out” when it comes to sports injuries, especially at youth levels. It’s something that aligns with the new partnership as Electrolit centers itself around maintaining a healthy body and mindset. 

“I think it's a tough thing to balance being on both sides of it. Now I'm a little bit older, and I know how to take care of my body and just be a little bit more cognizant of what I need and when I need a break and when I need to take time off. When you're younger, it seems like the stakes are really high and that you need to kind of tough it out through injuries.” 

Around 412,607 injuries occur in young soccer players each year with 44% of all injuries happening to athletes under the age of 14. The majority of youth injuries were sprains or strains (35 percent), fractures (23 percent) or soft tissue injuries (22 percent) according to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Overexertion and playing through injuries are leading causes. 

“For younger generations, it's important to be as safe as possible and to take care of your body. Because if you do want to have a career, you know, at 25, 30, 35, 40, you need to take care of your body when you're younger. So I think it's important to just make sure you're listening to those things and take care of yourself,” says Ordóñez. 

Playing for the Future

Having accomplished quite a bit as a young player, Ordóñez is looking towards the future. In the next five years, her goals are clear: make an impact in the community, lift trophies and earn a spot on the Mexican National Team World Cup roster. 

“I think, hopefully, lifting a trophy at some point. Obviously, that's the goal no matter what team you're on. I think my main goal right now is to put myself in the best position to be selected for a World Cup team. That's the dream. I get chills just talking about it like the potential of playing in a World Cup and representing your country at the absolute highest level. That's what every kid dreams of when they grow up playing.” 

There's no doubt that Ordóñez is on the way to making those dreams a reality. Mexico will need to earn one of the four slots available for the CONCACAF federation and secure one of the two playoff slots for the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship. Her new move to Tigres will hopefully get her in the rhythm needed to earn a call-up to the national team, and get her back to scoring goals. 

"My main goal, is to just be the best teammate that I can be on and off the field, and hopefully, if the opportunities come, just get back to scoring goals, that's when I'm having the most fun," says Ordóñez when asked about what she looks forward to showcasing the most. 

Tigres finished 5th in the most recent LigaMX Femenil season before they were eliminated in the playoff quarterfinals for the first time in club history. The Nuevo León side boasts six league titles since the league was formed in 2017. Ordoñez's arrival comes at the perfect time as pre-season for the 2025 Torneo Apertura starts in mid-July.

It's inspiring to see young talent continue to lead on and off the field. In recent years, there's been a new wave of talent. Alongside other young stars like Angel City's Alyssa Thompson and Riley Tiernan, Diana is leading a new generation of women's footy- one that will continue to motivate rising athletes.