This Former Niceville Soccer Standout Signed With Mexican Pro Team

In Brief:

Liliana Fernandez signed with Deportivo Toluca in the Mexican Premier League after graduating from the University of Tulsa.
Her twin sister, Kayla Fernandez, plays for Atlas, and they will face each other in their first competitive match on September 12, 2024.
Fernandez shares insights into her journey, the support from her family, and advice for aspiring soccer players.

The drive from Niceville to Toluca, just outside of Mexico City, would take you 26 hours. You’d hit your halfway mark around Corpus, Christi Texas.

That small town, high in the mountains to the West of the biggest city in North America, is where Niceville Native and soccer standout Liliana Fernandez starts her professional soccer career with Deportivo Toluca.

Her twin sister, Kayla, also plays in the league for Atlas – a five-and-a-half hour saunter from her new home. Their first competitive match against each other is set for September 12, 2024, at Toluca’s home ground – a game their parents will visit to watch and cheer them both on. “We’ve never played on a different team. This is the first time ever,” Fernandez noted. The game, set to take place in Guadalajara at Atlas’s stadium, will be a surreal experience for both sisters, and their family plans to be there to witness the historic match. They’ve played soccer together since they were on the same Niceville PAL team together almost 20 years ago – now they will compete to win for the first time outside of a practice ever.

Fernandez’s soccer roots run deep in Niceville, Florida, where she and her sister grew up playing under the guidance of their parents. Their journey took a pivotal turn when they tried out for the Mexican national team in high school, forging a connection to Mexico that would shape their professional aspirations. Despite the limited opportunities in the United States, with only 14 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teams at the time, the Fernandez sisters saw potential in Mexico’s burgeoning league.

“We both knew that afterwards we wanted to play professional soccer,” Fernandez recounted. “We had this connection down here, and so we were like, why don’t we try Mexico?” Their supportive parents encouraged them, and after completing their college education at the University of Tulsa, Liliana signed with Deportivo Toluca, while Kayla joined Atlas.

Toluca has been a welcoming environment for Fernandez, who appreciates the city’s mild weather and small-town charm. “It’s very beautiful. The weather is perfect,” she said, highlighting the city’s proximity to Mexico City and the convenience of having essential amenities nearby.

Fernandez is awed by the passionate fans and the grand stadiums. “It’s crazy…just having that many people there yelling and cheering for their teams,” she shared. The experience has been overwhelming but thrilling, providing her with a glimpse of the high-energy atmosphere that defines professional soccer in Mexico.

Looking ahead, Fernandez aims to secure more playing minutes, integrate fully into her team, and learn Spanish to connect better with her teammates and the local culture. Her ultimate goal is to return to the United States eventually, but for now, she is focused on making the most of her two-year contract with Toluca.

Fernandez’s advice to aspiring soccer players in Niceville is simple but profound: “Just keep working. Put yourself out there and try to make a name for yourself.” Her journey from a small town in Florida to the grand stadiums of Mexico underscores the importance of perseverance and seizing opportunities, no matter where they may lead.

As Fernandez continues to make her mark in the Mexican Premier League, her story serves as an inspiration to young athletes everywhere, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, dreams can become reality.