ABOUT THE GIRLS ACADEMY

The Girls Academy is the leading youth development platform for the best female soccer players in the United States. We are the only national youth soccer platform that represents the collective vision of member clubs and actively engages the voice of the players to take real ownership of the league. We embrace the desire of club members and players to maintain an unrivaled standard of excellence in coaching, competition, and regional and national showcase events throughout the year.

We are 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.

Girls Academy Launches ASPIRE: A New Competitive Platform to Elevate Player Development and Club Progression

We are 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.

The GA’s top-tier status is the pinnacle of elite girls’ soccer and ASPIRE serves as a proving ground for clubs and players striving to reach the highest level of play.

“The launch of ASPIRE marks a significant step forward in our commitment to player development and competitive success by promising the same GA standards of excellence to a much larger ecosystem. By introducing a tier two league, we are expanding opportunities for young women to challenge themselves, grow within a structured pathway, and prepare for the highest levels of play,” Patricia Hughes, Girls Academy Commissioner, said. “ASPIRE will not only elevate the standard of competition but also strengthen the foundation of youth soccer by fostering long-term sustainability and creating new opportunities for players, coaches, and clubs. We are excited to see the impact the Girls Academy ASPIRE pathway will have in shaping the
future of the game.”

A Unified Vision: Strengthening the Competitive Landscape

ASPIRE introduces a performance-driven model where clubs must apply and meet specific criteria for acceptance, ensuring that every team competes at the appropriate level while upholding the highest standards of player and club development. By implementing this rigorous evaluation process, ASPIRE guarantees that only clubs meeting competitive, operational, and developmental benchmarks gain entry, preserving the integrity, ambition, and purpose of the league.

THE PLAYERS' VOICE MATTERS

What makes the GA unique and different is the active role the league’s players have in shaping the direction of the league. How? Introducing the Advisory Panel, which affords the players the opportunity to nominate and maintain a player-led board that represents the thoughts, opinions, and vision of the players. The Advisory Panel is active in suggesting ways to improve the league, engaging in sponsor opportunities, organizing charitable initiatives, shaping league merchandise offerings, and more.

IDENTIFYING TALENTED PLAYERS

Our mission is to highlight, identify, and improve top talent competing in the Girls Academy, while exposing players to opportunities to succeed at the highest level. To accomplish this, Talent ID events are hosted at Conference, Regional and National levels.