Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

And all the legacy DA clubs are first ones signed on. Most are the core of GA now, but not all so again its not GA vs ECNL thing. Stupid argument, simply put GA is better setup/stuctured for this, that doesnt make them better or worse just going to be in a favorable position to benefit from this when it happens. Clubs like Surf, PDA, Slammer, Solar, are so big and successful that it will be impossible to not include them. No clubs like that around here, so maybe GA is more beneficial in that case, when this happens. It could be 10 years away so who cares.

Correct, structurally GA is a better fit for NWSL than ECNL just like MLSN is for MLS.

My bet is that GA creates a league within a league that just includes NWSL acadamies and selected GA and maybe ECNL clubs. This would give everyone what they want. The only potential downside would be girls ECNL booting clubs that participate. But that won't work with the bigger clubs.

Simply put, a Professional league is able to form a league son their own and run it as they see fit to run. They don’t need to align with a preexisting youth league and partner.

MLS wanted autonomy and NWSL will learn from that lesson. Sorry, but there is no need to find a league that “aligns” with your mission when you can simply make a league that is run by you and those who join agree to your terms.

NWSL would be better to design a league, pitch it to all clubs and let them decide and apply on their own. Why straddle yourself to legacy leagues and their alignments and clubs when you can pick from all ECNL and GA clubs and pick from the best that fit your needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

Sigh .. You have no idea what you're talking about.

US Soccer created DA which blew up in 2020 and became MLS Next and GA.

Now NWSL leadership is saying that they're working with US Soccer.

If NWSL is working with US Soccer it means they're also working with GA.

Sigh, US Soccer emphatically ended being in the youth soccer game. They are more than happy to let MLS do their thing and develop players and US Soccer will do the same with NWSL.

US Soccer is no longer in the youth development business. They scout, assemble train and play now. That’s it.

NWSL will form their own league when the time is right and will choose from the best clubs outside of their own academies, which will the top tier.

Neither GA not ECNL will have an inside track.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

And all the legacy DA clubs are first ones signed on. Most are the core of GA now, but not all so again its not GA vs ECNL thing. Stupid argument, simply put GA is better setup/stuctured for this, that doesnt make them better or worse just going to be in a favorable position to benefit from this when it happens. Clubs like Surf, PDA, Slammer, Solar, are so big and successful that it will be impossible to not include them. No clubs like that around here, so maybe GA is more beneficial in that case, when this happens. It could be 10 years away so who cares.

Correct, structurally GA is a better fit for NWSL than ECNL just like MLSN is for MLS.

My bet is that GA creates a league within a league that just includes NWSL acadamies and selected GA and maybe ECNL clubs. This would give everyone what they want. The only potential downside would be girls ECNL booting clubs that participate. But that won't work with the bigger clubs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

Sigh .. You have no idea what you're talking about.

US Soccer created DA which blew up in 2020 and became MLS Next and GA.

Now NWSL leadership is saying that they're working with US Soccer.

If NWSL is working with US Soccer it means they're also working with GA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

And all the legacy DA clubs are first ones signed on. Most are the core of GA now, but not all so again it's not GA vs ECNL thing. Stupid argument, simply put GA is better setup/stuctured for this, that doesnt make them better or worse just going to be in a favorable position to benefit from this when it happens. Clubs like Surf, PDA, Slammer, Solar, are so big and successful that it will be impossible to not include them. No clubs like that around here, so maybe GA is more beneficial in that case, when this happens. It could be 10 years away so who cares.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

And all the legacy DA clubs are first ones signed on. Most are the core of GA now, but not all so again its not GA vs ECNL thing. Stupid argument, simply put GA is better setup/stuctured for this, that doesnt make them better or worse just going to be in a favorable position to benefit from this when it happens. Clubs like Surf, PDA, Slammer, Solar, are so big and successful that it will be impossible to not include them. No clubs like that around here, so maybe GA is more beneficial in that case, when this happens. It could be 10 years away so who cares.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

MLS didn’t want to work with US Soccer or partner with youth leagues. They wanted the freedom to run their academies and their league the way they want so they made their own league.

It is hilarious that you believe that when NWSL, a professional league, is ready to run academies that they will partner with any youth league. They won’t.

They will do what MLS did and just make their own league when the time is right. All of your pinning your hopes and dreams that somehow GA is the Apple of NWSL’s eye is simply delusional.

Non NWSL clubs will apply be accepted and a new league is formed. This is how it ends.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

Hey dipshlt SD Wave just sold for $120 million.
https://theathletic.com/5343025/2024/03/14/san-diego-wave-sale-nwsl/

That is not a great number. Shows the problem NWSL has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

Hey dipshlt SD Wave just sold for $120 million.
https://theathletic.com/5343025/2024/03/14/san-diego-wave-sale-nwsl/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Does that really matter? Unless there is political appetite to subsidize NWSL stadiums, NWSL teams will have an impossible task generating the kind of revenue that MLS teams expect

It matters because NWSL is at the same point in 2024 that MLS was in 2008.

This is why Jessica Berman is talking about "investing in youth" it's also why they'll likely implement some form of Academy soon.

Assuming NWSL's trajectory is correlated and linear that means they 16 years behind MLS right now. Which would put a pay for play Academy system in place in about ten years from now, which for MLS might not have happened if not for DA. DC United was one of the last academies to go fully funded a few years ago.

So NWSL is about 12 years away from a fully funded professional academy system. Which I hope happens, but there is no world in which I am placing my kid in any club next year based on any hoped for acceleration of that process. When it does happen it will still be a slow build.

There will be nothing of use for 5 years and there will likely be discussions and planning 5-10 years from now. And that is assuming everything goes smoothly and steadily.

We are talking domestic league and academy aspects here. Of course they talk with European leagues, NWSL s a league afterall. But what does that even imply for a 15 year old girl?

I know you really want this to happen and you seem to think people are saying that it won't happen but you are not listening.

It will happen in a decade at least. NWSL as a league, with over 20 teams, NWSL specific stadiums and full academies will take 20 years+. Of that I have no doubt. I seriously doubt any fully funded league wide academy system in place in under 5 years. Might a couple of teams figure out a way? Sure, but NWSL needs a B league to play the reserves first. Then you build down. You don't train a bunch of 15 years old's to just lose them to college with no reliable place to play and develop if they don't make the first team.

Literally SD Wave practices on SD Surfs fields. Also, a former SD Surf coach is on the coaching staff for SD Wave.

https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-announces-sporting-staff-ahead-of-2023-nwsl-season/
"Barclay was a local hire from youth sports club, Surf Soccer Club, where he served as the Director of Coaching. With an incredible breadth of knowledge in California club soccer, Barclay will work as a development coach and assist younger players in the integration and growth within the team."

Sure seems to me that SD Surf and SD wave are ready to go with an Academy

Surf is a poor example only because they are the creme of the crop for girls soccer in the US, whatever they are doing it won't be easily replicated. Girls are relocating to SoCal to play for them and now there is talk of a 20 bed residential facility being built to attract more elite girls to relocate for soccer. The SD wave connection is real CB will handpick all the best girls at Surf upon their 15th bday to train with Wave, Barcenas was the first and certainly not the last. This is more of the organic model that exsists in Europe. In the US its going to have to be more centralized with one of the leagues to actually work on this with NWLS becuase as we've all seen made abundantly clear, there isn't money for this yet.

Surf is just waiting (with all the pieces in place) and likely pressuring NWSL to implement Academies.

Once the switch is flipped with a NWSL homegrown rule. The very next task at hand will be to implement a "NWSL Next" style league.

Who do you think US Soccer and NWSL will want to implement a pro youth league with? An individual that runs ECNL (Christian Lavers) or a league that is setup and controlled by US Soccer (GA). Just like with MLS and MLSN, NWSL will choose GA and likely rename it to NWSLN.

Why do you think GA was promoted to a full US Soccer Member?

Why do you think NWSL leadership is "facilitating discussion" with US Soccer?

Delusional SYC parents…