Strategic alliance with Girls Academy offers parallel pathways for top boys and girls teams in youth soccer
NEW YORK (Tuesday, December 17, 2024) – MLS NEXT today announced a strategic alliance with the Girls Academy (GA), a leading youth development platform for female soccer players in the United States. MLS NEXT and the GA will collaborate on membership opportunities, event integrations, and technical standards to enhance player development throughout North America.
“Through this strategic alliance with the Girls Academy, MLS NEXT is supporting a unified and accessible path for young boys and girls players aspiring to reach their highest potential,” said MLS NEXT General Manager Kyle Albrecht. “We believe this is a crucial step in aligning youth soccer in North America, as the collaboration between both programs will greatly benefit clubs and families to better the future of our game.”
Founded in 2020, the Girls Academy provides elite competition and player development opportunities for female athletes, featuring 114 clubs and over 16,000 players, including 48 clubs that already have a boys team in MLS NEXT. GA member clubs compete in U13 to U19 age groups split into 11 conferences across the country. MLS NEXT will integrate select GA clubs into a girls competition at the 2025 Generation adidas Cup, creating a high-level showcase at the prestigious tournament.
“The Girls Academy is thrilled to partner with MLS NEXT as we share a vision for elevating players and standards to the highest level,” said Girls Academy Commissioner Patricia Hughes. “MLS NEXT is a leader in the North American ecosystem and together we will focus on key areas to drive the game forward. Our collaboration will prioritize player-centric development, emphasizing the individual growth of each athlete. This alliance represents a significant step toward ensuring players, coaches and clubs have the resources they need to reach their full potential.”
MLS NEXT and the GA will also work together on various technical innovations and coaching education programs. The two programs will look to host various regional showcase events in which teams from MLS NEXT and the GA can both attend. These events will ensure boys and girls teams can compete at centralized locations in front of college, professional, and national team scouts.
About MLS NEXT
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite platform for youth player development in North America. With a commitment to innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Throughout a season, MLS NEXT hosts four marquee events across the country, including the Generation adidas Cup, which features MLS academies playing against the top international clubs. Membership for the 2024-25 season included 29 MLS academies, 122 Elite Academies (151 total clubs), 753 teams and over 16,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate, and DoorDash. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
About Girls Academy
The Girls Academy is the leading youth development platform for the best female soccer players in the United States. The GA consists of over 114 member clubs with teams in the U13 to U19 age groups split into 11 conferences across the country. Senior leadership at the GA is committed to cultivating an environment that empowers each player to reach their best potential as an exceptional athlete and human being by celebrating the player’s journey with a lifelong love of the game through competition, showcases, and camaraderie. For more information, visit girlsacademyleague.com
