Former Alabama Soccer Star Celia Jiménez Delgado Shares Voyage to NWSL Challenge Cup
7/28/2020 12:56:00 PM | Soccer
The OL Reign defender traveled to Herriman, Utah for 2020 season debut
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama soccer standout Celia Jiménez Delgado made her 2020 season debut in the National Women's Soccer League Challenge Cup earlier this month.
OL Reign defender Jiménez Delgado made her first appearance of the season for the club on July 4, during the NWSL Challenge Cup, subbing in for Allie Long in the 75th minute. The OL Reign was knocked out of the quarterfinals, playing the Chicago Red Stars to a scoreless draw before falling 4-3 in kicks from the penalty mark. The club finished the tournament with a 1-1-3 record and four clean sheets.
The NWSL Challenge Cup welcomed eight teams to Zions Bank Field in Herriman, Utah, for the preliminary round as each team played four opening games to decide bracket seeding.
.@AreaSportsNet asked Celia Jimenez. How did you feel physically playing over 60min an intense game?
— Area Sports Network (@AreaSportsNet) July 9, 2020
@celiajimdel @NWSL #NWSLChallengeCup #NWSL
?? @OLReign pic.twitter.com/jYBGfdUe6U
"I definitely think that the NWSL is the most competitive league in the world right now," Jiménez Delgado said. "The speed of the game is one of the highest. Getting the experience with the game last year forced me to think faster and to develop that mentality of transitional play and thinking how I can be more dangerous than what I had been used to in other leagues. Maybe I had a little catching up to do when I first joined the team in Montana, but getting on the field against Houston has me confident that I'm ready to play at this level."
The Spanish defender capped off the NWSL Challenge Cup with four appearances, including two starts and 172 minutes logged. Before competing in the tournament, Jimenez Delgado had a long journey to Utah so that she could play for the OL Reign squad.
"When we were first warned about COVID-19, the team let the internationals return to their home countries. I am thankful I was able to spend these difficult months with my family. I quarantined for almost three months until the league decided to resume the competition. Then, I flew to Montana to meet the team for preseason. The journey coming back to the U.S. was not easy, it took me more than 40 hours of traveling to return. Seeing my teammates after those months, was a strange experience, I was excited and wanted to hug them, but we were required to keep a safe distance and to limit our physical contact. Once we arrived in Utah, the tournament went by quickly. We had a game every three to four days and were not allowed to leave the hotel besides for training."
It took 40 hours of traveling for @celiajimdel to be a part of the OL Reign 2020 @nwsl Challenge Cup tournament squad.
— OL Reign (@OLReign) July 7, 2020
Learn all about Celia and her journey to Utah: https://t.co/y7eLOkVMtM pic.twitter.com/zxil4DWY1c
The OL Reign selected Jiménez in the fourth round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. Jimenez Delgado became the first player in Alabama history to be drafted into the NWSL and joined the OL Reign after completing her degree in aerospace engineering at the Capstone.
With the No. 36 pick, the @ReignFC select Celia Jimenez-Delgado from the University of Alabama.
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 18, 2018
Chicago Red Stars are now on the clock.#NWSLdraft | Live stream: https://t.co/cmPrhLavnN pic.twitter.com/6Yv6wpOkpf
The Alcaudete, Spain, native transferred to Alabama for her junior season. In her first season playing for the Crimson Tide, she was selected as a member of the All-SEC Second Team. After medically redshirting in 2016, Jimenez Delgado returned for her senior season and led the Crimson Tide to its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history. To cap off her college campaign, Jimenez Delgado snagged First Team All-SEC honors as well as earning Second Team NSCAA All-Southeast Region accolades.
Learn Celia Jimenez Delgado's journey from Spain to playing for @AlabamaSoccer and studying aerospace engineering: https://t.co/pJG9HHTsk0 pic.twitter.com/xgQfMQkkEp
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) October 17, 2017
"My time in Tuscaloosa was amazing, I really felt as a part of the Crimson Tide community, developed lifelong friendships that I will forever cherish, and had the opportunity to compete and study at the highest level in an environment that completely supported me."
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaSoccer on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
