Tigres Femenil lose key starter after Sabrina Enciso undergoes surgery

It’s the kind of headline that leaves a locker room divided between relief and worry. Tigres Femenil confirmed that defender Sabrina Enciso underwent successful spinal surgery, a crucial procedure that ensures her long-term health, but effectively rules her out for the remainder of the Apertura 2025.

Enciso herself broke the news through Instagram, posting a reassuring message and a photo from her hospital bed:

“Everything went really well! Thank God,” she wrote, easing fans’ fears but hinting at the long recovery ahead.

A vital player lost at the worst time

Enciso’s operation was no routine fix. The defender was dealing with a complex disc issue caused by a previous implant, an injury that forced doctors to intervene immediately. For both player and club, her health came first.

But the timing hurts. Pedro Martínez Losa loses one of his most versatile and consistent defenders just as Tigres were fine tuning their shape for the Liguilla.

Enciso, who joined this season from Club América, had quickly cemented her place in the lineup. She appeared in 12 of 16 matches, starting eight, and logging 611 minutes. Her ability to play both center-back and full-back made her indispensable in a defense that has conceded just eight goals all season, the fewest in the league.

Numbers don’t lie

• 12 games played

• 8 starts

• 611 minutes on the pitch

• 1 defensive system now missing her presence

Those numbers highlight just how important Enciso became in such a short time. Her defensive timing and leadership helped stabilize a backline that blends youth with experience, a balance now at risk heading into the knockout stage.

What’s next for Enciso and Tigres

The club confirmed that Enciso will begin her rehab process soon, though a return before the end of the year looks highly unlikely. With the Liguilla approaching, Martínez Losa’s staff will need to find tactical alternatives, likely relying on Rebeca Bernal or Anika Rodríguez to fill the defensive gap.

For Tigres, the mission continues, but for Enciso, the goal has shifted: full recovery over fast returns.

Her absence is a blow to the champions’ plans, but her successful surgery is a victory in itself, a reminder that health comes before heroics.