Yes, this is an interesting article that did not mention club soccer at all, unless it was to note that a player played in an academy in Europe. That wasn’t the point of the article at all. So, why did OP feel the need to take a shot at ECNL in this post? I did the research for OP because I was interested in the pathway these young ladies took to get to the pros.

This is a list of the young ladies noted in the article, whether they played ECNL or not.

Ally Sentnor- South Shore Select (ECNL)
Claire Hutton - Albany Alleycats and World Class FC (ECNL)
Alyssa Thompson - Real So Cal (ECNL)
Savannah King - Real So Cal and Slammers FC (ECNL)
Olivia Moultrie - Total Futbol Academy and Beach FC (ECNL)
Manama Matsukubo-JFA Academy Fukushima (Japan)
Jaedyn Shaw- FC Dallas and Solar Soccer Club (ECNL)
Kennedy Fuller - Solar FC (ECNL)
Ally Lemos- Legends FC (ECNL)
Gisele Thompson-Real So Cal (ECNL)
Kimmi Ascanio- Florida United SC (Development Player League)
Alex Pfeiffer- St. Louis Scott Gallagher (ECNL)
Riley Jackson- Concorde Fire (ECNL)
Amanda Allen- Woodbridge Strikers (Canada)
Chloe Ricketts- Michigan Jaguars (GA)
Melanie Barcenas-San Diego Surf (ECNL)
Casey Phair-Players Development Academy (ECNL)
Molly Clegg- (New Zealand)
McKenna Whitman-Slammers FC (ECNL)
Lily Yohannes- (Netherlands)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if some 17-18 year old signs a pro contract, they can’t EVER play college soccer? Even after the contract is long over, and no athletic scholarship?

Yep. Same as every other sport. Not sure about how NLI plays into it but once you go pro you aren’t allowed to play college sports.

“College sports” being NCAA?

Uhhhh... where are the "lies and incorrect information"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the issue of pro teams competing with college soccer for young recruits, can’t a teen go pro for a few years and then go to college to play soccer, or are their age restrictions that would make them too old to play in college? Say someone decides at 18 to accept a pro offer instead going to university, then at 21 “retires” from the sport to just go back to school. There are plenty of “nontraditional” undergraduate programs.

This can't happen. You forfeit your amateur status in a sport and cant play it in college when you sign a pro contract. Only way it works is if you play another sport, like when guys wash out of minor league baseball and decide to go play college football, basketball, etc.

Please don't spread lies and incorrect information.

Academy soccer has 2 levels. Generally in the lower levels you're considered and amateur. This means players have a choice between playing professionally or playing in college.

Once you sign the contract to play professionally it is true that you can't play in college. However players that are playing Academy soccer professionally are going to be the 1st or maybe 2nd teams. These type of players are highly likely to play professionally at some point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of food for thought about pathways. Interesting that ECNL specifically didn't get a mention.

https://wapo.st/3XcYCyh

It doesn’t say anything about ECNL - or any other league that these girls played in before signing with professional teams. But it does question whether this is the right development path and environment for teenagers.

Gotta remember outside of our bubble no one knows nor cares about ECNL, Girls Academy, pay to play, etc.

Anonymous wrote:So if some 17-18 year old signs a pro contract, they can’t EVER play college soccer? Even after the contract is long over, and no athletic scholarship?

Yep. Same as every other sport. Not sure about how NLI plays into it but once you go pro you aren’t allowed to play college sports.

Anonymous wrote:So if some 17-18 year old signs a pro contract, they can’t EVER play college soccer? Even after the contract is long over, and no athletic scholarship?

Yes.

Anonymous wrote:Lots of food for thought about pathways. Interesting that ECNL specifically didn't get a mention.

https://wapo.st/3XcYCyh

It doesn’t say anything about ECNL - or any other league that these girls played in before signing with professional teams. But it does question whether this is the right development path and environment for teenagers.

So if some 17-18 year old signs a pro contract, they can’t EVER play college soccer? Even after the contract is long over, and no athletic scholarship?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the issue of pro teams competing with college soccer for young recruits, can’t a teen go pro for a few years and then go to college to play soccer, or are their age restrictions that would make them too old to play in college? Say someone decides at 18 to accept a pro offer instead going to university, then at 21 “retires” from the sport to just go back to school. There are plenty of “nontraditional” undergraduate programs.

This can't happen. You forfeit your amateur status in a sport and cant play it in college when you sign a pro contract. Only way it works is if you play another sport, like when guys wash out of minor league baseball and decide to go play college football, basketball, etc.

Please don't spread lies and incorrect information.

Academy soccer has 2 levels. Generally in the lower levels you're considered and amateur. This means players have a choice between playing professionally or playing in college.

Once you sign the contract to play professionally it is true that you can't play in college. However players that are playing Academy soccer professionally are going to be the 1st or maybe 2nd teams. These type of players are highly likely to play professionally at some point.

Anonymous wrote:On the issue of pro teams competing with college soccer for young recruits, can’t a teen go pro for a few years and then go to college to play soccer, or are their age restrictions that would make them too old to play in college? Say someone decides at 18 to accept a pro offer instead going to university, then at 21 “retires” from the sport to just go back to school. There are plenty of “nontraditional” undergraduate programs.

This can't happen. You forfeit your amateur status in a sport and cant play it in college when you sign a pro contract. Only way it works is if you play another sport, like when guys wash out of minor league baseball and decide to go play college football, basketball, etc.

Anonymous wrote:On the issue of pro teams competing with college soccer for young recruits, can’t a teen go pro for a few years and then go to college to play soccer, or are their age restrictions that would make them too old to play in college? Say someone decides at 18 to accept a pro offer instead going to university, then at 21 “retires” from the sport to just go back to school. There are plenty of “nontraditional” undergraduate programs.

To play in college you have ti be an amateur
i though

Anonymous wrote:"TWP"? Do you mean The Post?

Yeah took me a minute there too.

I usu see it shortened to WaPo.

"TWP"? Do you mean The Post?

On the issue of pro teams competing with college soccer for young recruits, can’t a teen go pro for a few years and then go to college to play soccer, or are their age restrictions that would make them too old to play in college? Say someone decides at 18 to accept a pro offer instead going to university, then at 21 “retires” from the sport to just go back to school. There are plenty of “nontraditional” undergraduate programs.

Lots of food for thought about pathways. Interesting that ECNL specifically didn't get a mention.

https://wapo.st/3XcYCyh