Exploring New Changes in Women's Champions League Format

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00:00Let's move it on to Europe because I know that we talked earlier about Champions League,

00:04but I know that there's also action happening in the female side.

00:08Talk to me. What can we expect from the biggest tournament for women?

00:13Well, so I think at this point right now, as we head into this tournament,

00:16naturally all eyes are going to be on Lyon.

00:19I mean, they got the most titles. They're sitting at eight titles right now.

00:23So if history is going to tell us anything, Lyon is the team to beat.

00:26But let's not discount Arsenal. Obviously, they're the current champions.

00:30So we can't discount them at all.

00:31But I want to ask you, Kami, because for me, looking at this tournament

00:35and how it's changing out that format to go with the league phase,

00:40I'm curious how that's going to change things. Could that open things up?

00:44Can it make it more competitive for the Frankfurt's, for the Barcelonas as well,

00:47to get in there and give Lyon or Arsenal a run for their money?

00:51Yeah, absolutely. So we are saying goodbye to the old four-team group stage,

00:55you know, traditional style of tournament.

00:57And we are seeing an 18-team league style of play.

01:00I think this is going to be amazing.

01:02So each team is going to play six matches, three at home, three away,

01:06similar to the men's style of play.

01:08And I think this is going to really shake things up.

01:10I think this is going to make it maybe a bit more even

01:12and, you know, give those other teams a real chance.

01:14Now, it is moment for us to make a little comparison, right?

01:18And a great example of it, it was just last weekend, we saw Barcelona,

01:23the best team in the world, play against the Mexican League All-Stars.

01:27Now, I want to say, not because I'm Mexican, but what is happening in Mexico

01:31in the women's game is very, very important.

01:34Mexico is growing to be the top league in the world.

01:37They just produced the highest-paid player in the history of the game,

01:43from 1.5 to 2 million, depending on who is doing the accounting.

01:47Now, Camila, talk to me a little bit about that game,

01:49your impressions, and what it means for the Mexican League

01:51to be playing, you know, mano a mano con los mejores.

01:55Yes, this was a super exciting match, lots of goals.

01:58It was a 2-2 draw.

02:00The Mexican team was able to put in a first early decisive goal,

02:04but the manager from Barcelona, he fought back.

02:06You know, he put in his stars, Pute Las Bonmati,

02:09and Bonmati was able to secure another goal, tying up the game.

02:13But yet again, the Mexican team was able to score a second point,

02:17and then Barcelona tied it up last minute.

02:19At them, they went to PKs.

02:21Ultimately, Barcelona won 4-3 in PKs,

02:24but I think this is a great testament that the Mexican League

02:26is really a competitor, and they are a strong league

02:29in, you know, feminine soccer worldwide.

02:33What were the impressions?

02:34I know that Bonmati have beautiful things to say about the level,

02:36and, you know, do we see Mexico competing with NWSL

02:41for the most expensive league in the women's world,

02:45this side of the ocean?

02:46I mean, yeah, absolutely.

02:47Bonmati was saying how much she enjoyed her stay in Mexico.

02:50You know, she said that Mexicans were treating her

02:52like she was Mexican, so I thought that was really beautiful.

02:55But I think, like you said, the huge trade we saw,

02:57$1.5, $2 million, whatever, both extremely just a testament

03:02that this Mexican team, this Mexican League,

03:04is growing exponentially, and I think soon,

03:07or honestly, you can make the argument now

03:08that they are just as competitive as the NWSL,

03:11and I'm excited to see, you know, hopefully we can see

03:13a tournament between these two amazing leagues.

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