Over 1,100 College-Bound Athletes in the Girls ECNL Class of 2018

RICHMOND, VA (February 7, 2018) – Players across the country will be signing their National Letters of Intent (NLI) today and committing to the next stage of their soccer journey. This year’s graduating class of the Girls Elite Clubs National League (Girls ECNL) has once again set the standard, showing why the Girls ECNL is the top youth female development platform in the world. More than 1,100 players in the Girls ECNL Class of 2018 will go on to play soccer at the collegiate level this fall, with 794 players committed to play in NCAA Division I programs.

“The number of Girls ECNL players advancing their playing careers to the college game confirms the increased investment in youth development by member club and to the high level of play in the league,” said Jen Winnagle, ECNL Commissioner. “The youth game continues to progress with higher standards, propelling players into the next chapter of their soccer careers.”

The class of 2018 is comprised of Amazing Young Women who will be playing at multiple collegiate soccer levels:

  • Girls ECNL Class of 2018: 1,507
  • Total Players Playing Collegiate Soccer: 1,159
  • Division I: 794
  • Division II, III, NAIA & Other: 365
  • Undecided: 324

In the 9th year of the league, the Girls ECNL’s impact transcends not only the women’s college game but the professional game as well. The ECNL College Impact shows that the number of Girls ECNL alums playing soccer in college has increased year after year. The Girls ECNL’s impact on the NWSL professional league becomes clearer each year as well, as documented by 65% of the 2018 NWSL draftees being ECNL Alum.

The Girls ECNL is the top female youth development platform in the United States, elevating female soccer across the country in competition, player development, coaching, and more. Beyond its impact on the field, the Girls ECNL’s holistic programs Amazing Young Women, S’Heroes, and The Zone, are preparing Girls ECNL athletes to be the future leaders of tomorrow.

To view the college-bound Girls ECNL Class of 2018 in full, click here.

*Information above is based on individual member club submissions as of February 23, 2018.

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About Girls Elite Clubs National League: The Girls Elite Clubs National League (Girls ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The Girls ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.

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