Girls Academy
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football league
| name = Girls Academy
| logo = Girls Academy logo.png
| country = United States
| confed = CONCACAF
| founded = 2020
| level =
| conferences =
| teams = 95 (2023-24 Season)
| feeds =
| promotion =
| relegation =
| levels =
| domest_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions = TopHat Gold (U13)
Nationals Blue (U14)
Chicago FC United (U15)
Lou Fusz Athletic (U16)
Lonestar Red (U17)
SC del Sol (U19)
| most_champs =
| tv =
| website = {{URL|https://girlsacademyleague.com/}}
| current =
}}
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.
Competition format
Girls Academy features age groups starting at U-13 through U-19.{{Cite web |title=Events {{!}} Girls Academy League |url=https://girlsacademyleague.com/events/ |access-date=February 12, 2022 |website=girlsacademyleague.com}} During the regular season, teams play other members from their respective conferences. The league includes ten conferences (Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Frontier, Mid-America, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain West, Southeast, and Southwest).{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Travis |date=May 8, 2020 |title=DPL announces new Girls Academy League |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/dpl-announces-new-girls-academy-league_aid47955 |access-date=February 12, 2022 |website=Top Drawer Soccer}} 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.
= Champions League =
Two members of each conference are selected for Champions League, a separate competition for the most competitive clubs in Girls Academy.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-18 |title=GA announces Champions League details |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/ga-announces-champions-league-details_aid50424 |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=TopDrawerSoccer.com |language=en}} Participants qualify based on final league standings. For the U14 through U19 age groups, the highest-ranked wildcard teams at the National Playoff from each age group are added to the mix for a total of 20 teams per age group.
= National events =
Girls Academy hosts five national events each season — Winter Showcase, Champions Cup, Spring Showcase, Summer Showcase, and National Playoffs, plus two U13/U14 events: East and West regionals.{{Cite web |last=Langone |first=Matt |date=2023-04-19 |title=Girls Academy Spring Showcase: Which teams shined brightest in North Carolina? |url=https://www.nesoccerjournal.com/girls-academy-spring-showcase-which-teams-shined-brightest-in-north-carolina/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=New England Soccer Journal |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Carlise |first=Jeff |date=April 16, 2020 |title=USSF ends academy; MLS announces youth league |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usa/story/4085801/us-soccer-ends-development-academy-as-mls-announces-youth-league |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Former Development Academy clubs had a few options, many choosing to move to the Girls Academy,{{Cite magazine |last=Straus |first=Brian |date=April 16, 2020 |title=The Development Academy's Demise and What it Means for U.S. Soccer's Youth |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/04/16/us-soccer-development-academy-closing-mls-youth-future |access-date=March 2, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Nilsson |first=Ryan |date=April 25, 2020 |title=U.S. Soccer shutters Development Academy, but elite athletes have plenty of options |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/sports/ct-mun-soccer-academies-closed-coronavirus-tl-0430-20200426-a6lztiptifh47ihrrpyg5krrim-story.html |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=Chicago Tribune}} founded by a group of leaders from the Development Player League (DPL).{{Cite web |last=Wharton |first=Chuck |date=April 26, 2020 |title=U.S. Soccer Development Academy: Girls league launches counter |url=https://mlsmultiplex.com/2020/04/26/u-s-soccer-development-academy-girls-league-launches-counter/ |access-date=February 12, 2022 |website=Fansided |language=en}}
Former University of Washington women's soccer coach Lesle Gallimore served as its founding 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.{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2022 |title=MLS to collaborate with the Girls Academy, largest all-girls youth soccer organization in USA |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-partners-girls-academy-largest-all-girls-youth-soccer-organization-usa |access-date=February 12, 2022 |website=Major League Soccer |language=en}} 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.
In June 2023, Lesle Gallimore announced her resignation as Girls Academy commissioner to become General Manager of NWSL club OL Reign.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=2023-06-06 |title=UW legend Lesle Gallimore takes over as OL Reign's GM |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/reign/uw-legend-lesle-gallimore-takes-over-as-ol-reigns-gm/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} Gallimore was succeeded by Patricia Hughes in September 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=Patricia Hughes Named Girls Academy Commissioner |url=https://girlsacademyleague.com/2023/09/patricia-hughes-named-girls-academy-commissioner/ |access-date= |website=Girls Academy}}
On February 10, 2024, U.S. Soccer approved Girls Academy as a National Affiliate member.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-10 |title=Girls' Academy has also been approved to become a U.S. Soccer member! |url=https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/1756332051504971905 |website=X}}{{Citation |title=2024 U.S. Soccer Annual General Meeting: National Council Meeting |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3qpDIeHnS0 |access-date=2024-02-11 |language=en}}
League Champions
= National champions =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ National Titles Ranking |
| Team
!National Champs !No. of Wins |
|---|
| align="left" |Nationals {{dagger}}
|align="left" |2021 (U17); 2022, 2024 (U14) |3 |
| align="left" |Tophat Gold
| align="left" |2023, 2024 (U13), 2023 (U15) |3 |
| align="left" |Bay Area Surf {{dagger}}
|align="left" |2021, 2022 (U19) |2 |
| align="left" |Cincinnati United Premier
|align="left" |2021 (U14, U16) |2 |
| align="left" |Lou Fusz Athletic
|align="left" |2023, 2024 (U16) |2 |
| align="left" |Albion SC
| align="left" |2022 (U16) |1 |
| align="left" |Chicago FC United
| align="left" |2024 (U15) |1 |
| align="left" |Colorado Rush {{dagger}}
|align="left" |2022 (U13) |1 |
| align="left" |Lonestar {{dagger}}
|align="left" |2024 (U17) |1 |
| align="left" |NEFC
| align="left" |2021 (U15) |1 |
| align="left" |Oakwood SC
|align="left" |2022 (U17) |1 |
| align="left" |Oklahoma Energy FC {{dagger}}
| align="left" |2021 (U13) |1 |
| align="left" |SC del Sol
|align="left" |2024 (U19) |1 |
| align="left" |Sockers FC Chicago
| align="left" |2023 (U19) |1 |
| align="left" |South Shore Select {{dagger}}
| align="left" |2023 (U14) |1 |
| align="left" |TSJ FC Virginia
|align="left" |2023 (U16) |1 |
| colspan="3" align="left" |{{dagger}} Former member club |
= Champions Cup =
| class="wikitable"
! !U-13 !U-14 !U-15 !U-16 !U-17 !U-19 !Club |
| 2022
|South Shore Select |Nationals Blue |Cincinnati United |Colorado Rush |Florida United |Bay Area Surf |Nationals |
| 2023
|Tophat Gold |Cincinnati United |Nationals Blue |Cincinnati United |Albion SC San Diego |Florida United |Tophat |
| 2024
|City SC |Nationals Blue |City SC |Nationals Blue |Cincinnati United |South Shore Select |Nationals |
Teams
For the 2023-24 season, Girls Academy included 95 teams.{{Cite web |title=Girls Academy Members |url=https://girlsacademyleague.com/members/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=girlsacademyleague.com}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Conference !Member Name (Location) |
| Frontier
|BVB International Academy NTX (Carrolton, TX) |
| Frontier
|HTX Soccer (Houston, TX) |
| Frontier
|Lonestar SC Red (Austin, TX) |
| Frontier
|Lonestar SC Black (Austin, TX) |
| Frontier
|Lou Fusz Athletic (St. Louis, MO) |
| Frontier
|Louisiana TDP Elite (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| Frontier
|Renegades Soccer Club (Richardson, TX) |
| Frontier
|RISE Soccer Club (Houston, TX) |
| Frontier
|San Antonio City SC (San Antonio, TX) |
| Frontier
|St. Louis Development Academy (St. Louis, MO) |
| Mid-America
|Chicago FC United (Glenview, IL) |
| Mid-America
|Cincinnati United Premier (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Mid-America
|Indy Premier United (Noblesville, IN) |
| Mid-America
|Lexington Sporting Club (Lexington, KY) |
| Mid-America
|Michigan Jaguars FC (Novi, MI) |
| Mid-America
|Nationals Blue (Detroit, MI) |
| Mid-America
|Nationals Gray (Detroit, MI) |
| Mid-America
|Sockers FC (Chicago, IL) |
| Midwest
|Central Illinois United (Rantoul, IL) |
| Midwest
|Galaxy SC (Naperville, IL) |
| Midwest
|Kansas Rush Soccer Club (Olathe, KS) |
| Midwest
|Salvo SC (Rosemount, MN) |
| Midwest
|SC Wave (Brookfield, WI) |
| Midwest
|Sporting Nebraska FC (Omaha, NE) |
| Midwest
|Tonka Fusion Elite (Plymouth, MN) |
| Midwest
|VSA Rush (Waukee, IA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Baltimore Armour (Baltimore, MD) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Baltimore Celtic (Baltimore, MD) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Beadling SC (Bridgeville, PA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Century United FC (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Keystone FC (Mechanicsburg, PA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|PA Classics (Manheim, PA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Real Jersey FC (Medford, NJ) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|SJEB FC (Pitman, NJ) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Skyline Elite SC (Charlottesville, VA) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|Sporting AC (Wilmington, DE) |
| Mid-Atlantic
|TSJ FC Virginia (Leesburg, VA) |
| Mountain West
|Albion SC Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) |
| Mountain West
|Broomfield Soccer Club (Broomfield, CO) |
| Mountain West
|Colorado Rush (Littleton, CO) |
| Mountain West
|Las Vegas Sports Academy (Las Vegas, NV) |
| Mountain West
|New Mexico Soccer Academy (Albuquerque, NM) |
| Mountain West
|Rio Rapids SC (Albuquerque, NM) |
| Mountain West
|Utah Celtic FC (Highland, UT) |
| Mountain West
|Wasatch SC (Kaysville, UT) |
| Northeast
|Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth (Tinton Falls, NJ) |
| Northeast
|Cedar Stars Academy – Bergen (Teaneck, NJ) |
| Northeast
|Long Island SC (Glen Cove, NY) |
| Northeast
|NEFC (Mendon, MA) |
| Northeast
|New York Soccer Club (Purchase, NY) |
| Northeast
|Oakwood SC (Glastonbury, CT) |
| Northeast
|Rochester NYFC Youth (West Henrietta, NY) |
| Northeast
|Seacoast United (Epping, NH) |
| Northeast
|South Shore Select (Hingham, MA) |
| Northeast
|STA (Morris Plains, NJ) |
| Northeast
|Syracuse Development Academy (Solvay, NY) |
| Northwest
|Almaden FC (San Jose, CA) |
| Northwest
|Clovis Crossfire (Clovis, CA) |
| Northwest
|Lamorinda SC (Orinda, CA) |
| Northwest
|Los Gatos United (Los Gatos, CA) |
| Northwest
|Sacramento United (Sacramento, CA) |
| Northwest
|San Francisco Elite Academy (San Francisco, CA) |
| Northwest
|Santa Clara Sporting (Santa Clara, CA) |
| Northwest
|Silicon Valley SA (Palo Alto, CA) |
| Northwest
|West Coast Soccer Club (Tracy, CA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Oregon Premier FC (West Linn, OR) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Capital FC (Salem, OR) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Columbia Premier SC (Vancouver, WA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Eugene Metro Fútbol Club (Eugene, OR) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Liverpool FC IA Washington (Issaquah, WA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|OL Reign Academy (Tacoma, WA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Seattle Celtic (Seattle, WA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Spokane Sounders (Spokane, WA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Washington Rush (Everett, WA) |
| Pacific Northwest
|Washington East Surf SC (Spokane, WA) |
| Southeast
|AFC Lightning (Fayetteville, GA) |
| Southeast
|Florida United (Miramar, FL) |
| Southeast
|IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) |
| Southeast
|PBG Predators (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) |
| Southeast
|South Carolina Surf (Mt. Pleasant, SC) |
| Southeast
|Southern Soccer Academy (Marietta, GA) |
| Southeast
|Tophat Gold (Marietta, GA) |
| Southeast
|Tophat Navy (Marietta, GA) |
| Southeast
|United Soccer Alliance (Fleming Island, FL) |
| Southeast
|Wake FC (Holly Springs, NC) |
| Southeast
|West Florida Flames (Apollo Beach, FL) |
| Southwest
|Albion SC San Diego (San Diego, CA) |
| Southwest
|City SC (Carlsbad, CA) |
| Southwest
|FC Tucson (Tucson, AZ) |
| Southwest
|FRAM Soccer Club (Torrance, CA) |
| Southwest
|LA Surf SC (Pasadena, CA) |
| Southwest
|Murrieta Soccer Academy (Temecula, CA) |
| Southwest
|SC del Sol (Phoenix, AZ) |
| Southwest
|SDSC Surf (San Diego, CA) |
| Southwest
|West Coast FC (Irvine, CA) |
College athletics
For the 2022-23 season, nearly 600 Girls Academy committed to play college soccer. 62.8% committed to Division I, 19.6% Division II, 13.4% Division III, and 2.6% NAIA.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=Girls Academy Class of 2023 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CsWTTX_LMfN/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Instagram}} This was an increase over the 2021-22 season, which had 551 commitments.{{Cite web |title=Class of 2022 {{!}} Girls Academy League |url=https://girlsacademyleague.com/class-of-2022/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=girlsacademyleague.com}}
Sponsorship
Notable players
As of April 2024
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Player !GA Club !Pro Club !Notes |
| Chloe Ricketts
|Michigan Jaguars |On March 2, 2023, Ricketts signed a three-year deal (with an option for a fourth year) with the team at the age of 15 years and 283 days. The contract made her the youngest ever NWSL signee at the time, breaking the record set by Olivia Moultrie in 2021 (15 years and 286 days).{{Cite magazine |last=Jackson |first=Wilton |date=2023-03-03 |title=NWSL's Spirit Sign Youngest Player in League History |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2023/03/04/spirit-sign-youngest-player-nwsl-history-chloe-ricketts |access-date=2023-06-09 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}} |
| Kimmi Ascanio
|Florida United |In March 2024, San Diego Wave FC signed midfielder Kimmi Ascanio to a three-year contract through the 2026 season. |