Girls Academy

Girls Academy (GA) is a soccer league and development platform for female soccer players in the United States. Formed in 2020, the league features youth academies and youth clubs from various organizations, including National Women's Soccer League.

Girls Academy
PredecessorU.S. Soccer Development Academy
Founded2020
Key people
Members80+
Websitegirlsacademyleague.com

History

Citing the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced it was ending the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, leaving top boys and girls clubs to look for a new home.[1] Former Development Academy clubs had a few options, choosing to move to either the already established Elite Clubs National League (ECNL),[2] or the Girls Academy,[3] founded by a group of leaders from the Development Player League (DPL).[4]

Former University of Washington women's soccer coach Lesle Gallimore serves as commissioner of the Girls Academy. She accepted the position in the summer of 2020, after the conclusion of her 26-year tenure as head coach of the women's soccer team at the University of Washington.

In October 2020, Girls Academy announced a strategic relationship with Major League Soccer and a partnership with USYS.[5] According to the press release, Girls Academy will work in coordination with MLS Next, to “deliver a true pyramid for female youth players in the US, with the GA serving as the USYS premier girls platform in conjunction with MLS.” The partnership will focus on establishing academy standards for coaching and player development, improving talent identification partnerships, enhancing coaching education, and creating competitions to showcase players. While GA will maintain full autonomy over its league, they will also benefit from advice from the leaders of MLS and USYS as it aims to become the premier league for elite female soccer players in the United States.

Competition format

Girls Academy features age groups starting at U-13 through U-19.[6] During the regular season, teams play other members from their respective conferences. The league includes eight conferences (Northwest, Southwest, Frontier, Mid-America, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West, and Southeast).[7] Top teams from each conference will participate in Playoffs, and National Finals for qualifying teams based on playoff performance. Non-playoff teams will also participate in a season-ending showcase.

Different age groups will also have a varying number of national events throughout the year to provide additional talent showcase opportunities in front of college and professional scouts.

National champions
U-13 U-14 U-15 U-16 U-17 U-19
2020-2021[8] Oklahoma Energy FC Cincinnati United Premier NEFC Cincinnati United Premier Nationals Bay Area Surf
2021-2022 Colorado Rush Nationals TSJ FC Virginia Albion SC[9] Oakwood SC Bay Area Surf

Notable players

Since its founding in 2020, the league has had players join the ranks of U.S. Women's Youth National Teams.

U20 Youth National Team
  • Mia Justus[10] (2022, IMG Academy)
  • Neeku Purcell[11] (2022, OL Reign Academy)
  • Ayo Oke[12] (2022, Tophat)
  • Lilly Reale[13] (2022, South Shore Select)
  • Evelyn Shores (2022, Tophat)
  • Emily Colton[14] (2022, City SC)
  • Carina Lageyre[15] (2022, Florida United)
  • Michelle Cooper[15] (2022, IMG Academy)
  • Andrea Kitahata[16] (2022, Bay Area Surf)

U17 Youth National Team

U15 Youth National Team
  • Molly Vapensky[20] (2022, Chicago FC United)
  • Jocelyn Travers[20] (2022, Bay Area Surf)
  • Kimmi Ascanio[20] (2022, Florida United)
  • Atehortua Montes[20] (2022, New York Soccer Club)
  • Kennedy Zorn[21] (2022, SC del Sol)
  • Ashlyn Puerta[21] (2022, Albion SC)

References
  1. Carlise, Jeff (April 16, 2020). "USSF ends academy; MLS announces youth league". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Straus, Brian (April 16, 2020). "The Development Academy's Demise and What it Means for U.S. Soccer's Youth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. Nilsson, Ryan (April 25, 2020). "U.S. Soccer shutters Development Academy, but elite athletes have plenty of options". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. Wharton, Chuck (April 26, 2020). "U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Girls league launches counter". Fansided. Retrieved February 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "MLS to collaborate with the Girls Academy, largest all-girls youth soccer organization in USA". Major League Soccer. October 22, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Events | Girls Academy League". girlsacademyleague.com. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  7. Clark, Travis (May 8, 2020). "DPL announces new Girls Academy League". Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Girls Academy Finals conclude in North Carolina, league champs crowned". SoccerWire. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  9. "Albion SC U16 wins Girls Academy National Championship". FOX 5 San Diego. July 28, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  10. "U-20 Women's National Team | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. "OL Reign Academy Player Neeku Purcell Called Up to U-20 U.S. Youth National Team". OL Reign. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  12. "Ayo Oke Called Up To U.S. U-20 Roster". California Golden Bears Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  13. "Lilly Reale named to U.S. U-20 roster for Concacaf championship". New England Soccer Journal. February 16, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  14. "Four UNC Women's Soccer Players To Play With USA U-20 Team". Chapelboro.com. June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  15. "Cooper, Lageyre Tabbed to U.S. U-20 National Team for Trip to France". Duke University. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  16. "Enge, Kitahata Picked for National Team Matches". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  17. "NEFC's Nicollette Kiorpes reflects on her latest Youth National Team camp". New England Soccer Journal. February 23, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  18. "Villarreal stars in U17 WNT victory". Prep Soccer. April 25, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  19. Friend, Phil. "Lansing teen soccer standout Amalia Villarreal shines for U.S. in U-17 World Cup qualifiers". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  20. "SC soccer talent Jocelyn Travers named to Team USA's U15 Youth National Team". Santa Cruz Sentinel. June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  21. "Eighteen Players Set To Represent USA At Concacaf Girls' Under-15 Championship". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
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