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Girls Academy

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by DarthFlappy (talk | contribs) at 21:39, 21 July 2022 (→‎top: RM mission statement (per the reasoning in the essay WP:MISSION) and a list of all the age groups U13 and up.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Girls Academy (GA) is a soccer league and development platform for elite 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
Lesle Gallimore, Commissioner

Amy Griffin, President

Haley Carter, Executive Board
Websitehttps://girlsacademyleague.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]

The Girls Academy currently consists of 80 clubs spread across eight conferences (Northwest, Southwest, Frontier, Mid-America, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West, and Southeast).[5] 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.[6] 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 State.

Competition Format

Girls Academy features age groups starting at U-13 through U-19.[7] During the regular season, teams play other members from their respective conferences. 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 Oakwood SC Bay Area Surf

Member Clubs

Frontier Conference

  • BVB International Academy NTX (TX)
  • Houston Dynamo Dash Youth Soccer Club (TX)
  • Kansas Rush Soccer Club (KS)
  • Lonestar SC Academy (TX)
  • Lou Fusz Athletic (MO)
  • Renegades SC (TX)
  • RISE Soccer Club (TX)
  • SA City Soccer Club (TX)
  • Sporting St. Louis (MO)
  • TDP Elite (LA)

Mid-America Conference

  • Beadling SC (PA)
  • Central Illinois United (IL)
  • Century United (PA)
  • Chicago FC United (IL)
  • Cincinnati United SC (OH)
  • FC Evolution (OH)
  • Indy Premier United (IN)
  • Lexington Sports Club (KY)[9]
  • Michigan Jaguars FC (MI)
  • Nationals-Blue (MI)
  • Nationals-Grey (MI)
  • Salvo Soccer Club (MN)
  • SC Wave (WI)
  • Sockers FC Chicago (IL)
  • Tonka Fusion Elite (MN)
  • VSA Rush (IA)

Mid-Atlantic Conference

  • Baltimore Armour (MD)
  • Baltimore Celtic (MD)
  • Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth (NJ)
  • Metro United (VA)
  • PA Classics (PA)
  • Real Jersey FC (NJ)
  • SJEB FC (NJ)
  • Skyline Elite SC (VA)
  • Sporting Delaware Soccer Club (DE)
  • TSJ FC Virginia (VA)
  • Ukranian Nationals SC (PA)

Mountain West Conference

  • Albion SC Las Vegas (NV)
  • Albuquerque United FC Thorns (NM)
  • Broomfield Soccer Club (CO)
  • Colorado Rush (CO)
  • Las Vegas Sports Academy (NV)
  • Rio Rapids SC (NM)
  • SC del Sol (AZ)
  • Utah Celtic (UT)
  • Wasatch Soccer Club (UT)

Northeast

  • Cedar Stars Academy Bergen (NJ)
  • Empire United (NY)
  • Long Island Soccer Club (NY)
  • NEFC (MA)
  • New York Soccer Club (NY)
  • Oakwood Soccer Club (CT)
  • Seacoast United (NH)
  • South Shore Select (MA)
  • STA (NJ)
  • Syracuse DA (NY)

Northwest

  • Breakers FC (CA)
  • Bridge Soccer Academy (OR)
  • Clovis Crossfire (CA)
  • Eastern Washington Surf (WA)
  • Euguene Timbers FC (OR)
  • FC Bay Area Surf (CA)
  • ISC Gunners (WA)
  • Lamorinda Soccer Club (CA)
  • Los Gatos United (CA)
  • OL Reign Academy (WA)
  • Pacific FC (OR)
  • San Francisco Elite Academy (CA)
  • Santa Clara Sporting Club (CA)
  • Sacramento United (CA)
  • Silicon Valley Soccer Academy (CA)
  • Spokane Sounders (WA)
  • Washington Timbers FC (WA)
  • West Coast Soccer Club (CA)

Southeast

  • AFC Lightning (GA)
  • Florida United (FL)
  • IMG Academy (FL)
  • Palm Beach Gardens Predators Soccer (FL)
  • South Carolina Surf Soccer Club (SC)
  • Southern Soccer Academy (GA)
  • Tophat Gold (GA)
  • Tophat Navy (GA)
  • United Soccer Alliance (FL)
  • Wake FC (NC)
  • West Florida Flames (FL)

Southwest

  • Albion SC San Diego (CA)
  • City SC (CA)
  • FC Tucson (AZ)
  • FRAM (CA)
  • LA Surf (CA)
  • Murrieta Soccer Academy (CA)
  • San Diego Soccer Club Surf (CA)
  • West Coast FC (CA)

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, FC Bay Area Surf)

U17 Youth National Team

  • Nicollette Kiorpes[17] (2022, NEFC)
  • Keegan Schmeiser[18] (2022, Chicago FC United)
  • Amalia Villarreal[19] (2022, Michigan Jaguars)

U15 Youth National Team

  • Molly Vapensky[20] (2022, Chicago FC United)
  • Jocelyn Travers[20] (2022, FC Bay Area Surf)
  • Kimmi Ascanio[20] (2022, Florida United)
  • Atehortua Montes[20] (2022, New York Soccer Club)

References

  1. ^ Carlise, Jeff (2020-04-16). "USSF ends academy; MLS announces youth league". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2022-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Straus, Brian (2020-04-16). "The Development Academy's Demise and What it Means for U.S. Soccer's Youth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  3. ^ Nilsson, Ryan (2020-04-25). "U.S. Soccer shutters Development Academy, but elite athletes have plenty of options". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  4. ^ Wharton, Chuck (2020-04-26). "U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Girls league launches counter". Fansided. Retrieved 2022-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Clark, Travis (2020-05-08). "DPL announces new Girls Academy League". Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved 2022-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "MLS to collaborate with the Girls Academy, largest all-girls youth soccer organization in USA". Major League Soccer. 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2022-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Events | Girls Academy League". girlsacademyleague.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  8. ^ "Girls Academy Finals conclude in North Carolina, league champs crowned". SoccerWire. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  9. ^ Rosen, Kristina (2022-04-11). "Lexington Sporting Club to join Girls Academy for 2022-23 season". NBC Lexington WLEX. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  10. ^ "U-20 Women's National Team | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  11. ^ "OL Reign Academy Player Neeku Purcell Called Up to U-20 U.S. Youth National Team". OL Reign. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  12. ^ "Ayo Oke Called Up To U.S. U-20 Roster". California Golden Bears Athletics. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  13. ^ "Lilly Reale named to U.S. U-20 roster for Concacaf championship". New England Soccer Journal. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  14. ^ "Four UNC Women's Soccer Players To Play With USA U-20 Team". Chapelboro.com. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  15. ^ a b "Cooper, Lageyre Tabbed to U.S. U-20 National Team for Trip to France". Duke University. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  16. ^ "Enge, Kitahata Picked for National Team Matches". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  17. ^ "NEFC's Nicollette Kiorpes reflects on her latest Youth National Team camp". New England Soccer Journal. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  18. ^ "Villarreal stars in U17 WNT victory". Prep Soccer. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  19. ^ Friend, Phil. "Lansing teen soccer standout Amalia Villarreal shines for U.S. in U-17 World Cup qualifiers". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  20. ^ a b c d "SC soccer talent Jocelyn Travers named to Team USA's U15 Youth National Team". Santa Cruz Sentinel. 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
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