University of Memphis Athletics
Against the Odds and Against the Grain, the Tigers are Still Dancing
Nov 19, 2025 | Women's Soccer
BROOKS MONAGHAN RETURNED from his family vacation to the remains of his soccer field bleachers.
It was a warm July morning when the demolition crew arrived at Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex to pave the way for the new Liza Wellford Fletcher Stadium – the real construction begins after the 2025 season – but the project’s biggest crusader wasn't there to see it.
Now in his 26th season as the Tigers’ women’s soccer coach, Monaghan’s servitude to Memphis was outdone only by those bleachers at the Track and Soccer Stadium. It was one of the last artifacts of the original South Campus.
“I picked up a piece of rubble and wrote the date it went down and wrote ‘B.C.’ - Before Christ,” he joked.
And so began a season as easy as ever to label a “transition year.” The future – a state-of-the-art locker room and team facility, high-capacity bleachers and a press box – was brighter than ever, but with just a few sets of temporary bleachers, the atmosphere was going to look different than it ever had since moving back to campus in 2019.
No reason to flinch. Monaghan was at the forefront of starting the bleacher wipeout as early as possible.
“I’ve seen people bring their lounge chairs, and the city has recognized what we’ve done over time and embraced us. That support brings you confidence.”
The on-field expectations were similarly murky. Despite a 13-2-4 record in 2024, the Tigers’ three-year NCAA Tournament run came to an end, and this year’s squad was comprised of 25 underclassmen and three upperclassmen.
Still, no panic. The championship expectations are in place for a reason. Memphis was picked first – by two votes – in the conference coaches’ poll and received a few votes in the national rankings. Unproven, sure. But it was a team without any care for expectations, behind home crowds without any care for luxury or even regular seating.
“It’s Memphis, man. We don’t make excuses,” said Monaghan.
Perhaps they didn’t know any better. But they knew, or quickly learned, how to win. Against rivals. Against nationally ranked competition. In tense road atmospheres. By the time No. 2 Tennessee came to town, and a record 2,218 fans piled in with their lounge chairs, there were no more excuses to find. It was two of the best teams in the country going toe-to-toe for 90 minutes, a signal that this season could be every bit as special as it was unique.
It's Memphis, man. We don't make excuses.Brooks Monaghan
“The crowd is a big advantage for us,” said junior captain Finley Lavin following the Tigers’ first-round win over Illinois last weekend behind a crowd of 1,801, the third-largest ever. “They get so close that it feels like they are part of the game. I think it really messes with the other team.”
Attendance saw a 93% increase in 2025, fueled by Tiger Nation’s embrace and a team with a knack for the big game. The youngest team in program history isn’t that young anymore. They’re conference champions, they’re the only undefeated team in the country, and most importantly, they’re still dancing.
In college athletics – and beyond – the bad surprises tend to outweigh the good ones. Mystery is viewed as alarming; intrigue as a question mark. The women’s soccer team has turned every question into a statement. The future is bright, but they have forced us to remember the present. And they’ve done it the Memphis way.
“There are teams where, this time of year, they are just happy to be there, and there are teams that look at it and say, ‘this is what we work for,’” said Monaghan. “Every player on this team is all in, and they are players and people that want to be at Memphis, which is all you can ask for in today’s world.”
The story is still being written, with a tough road test against No. 2 seed TCU this Thursday, November 20, at 7 p.m. It won’t be another rowdy home game, but the Tigers will still feel the support of the city that has embraced them, with their own chair in hand and without any excuses.
Because who doesn’t love a winner?
