History

2022-2023

2021-2022

2020-2021
In the twelfth season, 2020-21, the ECNL consisted of 113 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment. The competition structure slated to expand in the previous season for the ECNL Playoffs was fulfilled. The ECNL Post-Season saw a few amendments due to impending weather, resulting in qualifying the top (8) teams in the U15 age group to the ECNL Finals in Richmond, VA and cancelling the U15 North American Cup, Showcase Cup A, Showcase Cup B and Open Cup after two days of play. All other competitions were fulfilled, seeing (1) ECNL National Champion crowned in Lakewood Ranch, FL with the U18/U19 division, and (5) additional ECNL National Champions being crowned in Richmond, VA with the U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17 divisions. In addition, the ECNL North American Cup, ECNL Showcase A Cup, ECNL Showcase B Cup and ECNL Open Cup crowned champions in both the U16 and U17 age divisions. The final season of the ECNL U18/U19 Composite division finished at the ECNL Playoffs as well, crowning a champion. 

2019-2020
In the eleventh season, 2019-20, the ECNL consisted of 94 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment. The competition structure was slated to expand for the ECNL Playoffs with the addition of a fourth tier; Champions League, North American Cup, Showcase Cup and Open Cup. The ECNL Open Cup was added to combine both ECNL and ECNL Regional League qualifiers in a 16 team knockout style bracket. Both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup stayed the same with knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion. The winners of each Champions League quarterfinal game were scheduled to advance to the ECNL Final Four.  In addition, the ECNL U18/U19 Composite division is an optional division that expanded to see eight teams advance to compete for the championship. The season was suspended and eventually cancelled due to COVID-19. 

2018-2019
In the tenth season, 2018-19, the ECNL consisted of 89 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment. The competition structure remained the same for the ECNL Playoffs with three tiers: Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup, with the U14 division expanding in the Champions League format to 32 teams in the post season. Both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup stayed the same with knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion in San Diego, CA. The winners of each Champions League quarterfinal game advanced to the ECNL Final Four, held in Richmond, VA.  In addition, the ECNL expanded the post season to include both the U13 division and the U18/U19 Composite division.  The U13 division included 16 teams, following the same format as the U18/U19 division.  The ECNL U18/U19 Composite division is an optional division that saw six teams advance from five eligible conferences.  The first ECNL U13 National Champion and first ECNL U18/U19 Composite Champion were crowned in San Diego, CA. 

2017-2018
In the ninth season, 2017-18, the ECNL consisted of 80 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment. The competition structure remained the same for the ECNL Playoffs with three tiers: Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup, with the U14 division expanding in the Champions League format to 32 teams in the post season. Both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup stayed the same with knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion in Seattle, WA. The winners of each Champions League quarterfinal game advanced to the ECNL Final Four, held in Richmond, VA.  

2016-2017
In the eighth season, 2016-17, the ECNL expanded to 84 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment. The competition structure remained the same for the ECNL Playoffs with three tiers: Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup. Both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup stayed the same with knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion in Rockford, IL. The winners of each Champions League quarterfinal game advanced to the ECNL Final Four, held in San Diego, CA.  

2015-2016
In the seventh season, 2015-16, the ECNL expanded to 79 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment.  The competition structure remained the same for the ECNL Playoffs with three tiers: Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup.  The Champions League structure changed slightly with the addition of the quarterfinal game at the ECNL Playoffs, while both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup stayed the same with knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion in Oceanside, CA.  The winners of each quarterfinal game in the Champions League advanced to the ECNL Final Four, held in Germantown, MD.

2014-2015
In the sixth season, 2014-15, the competition structure changed with the additions of the Showcase Cup, rounding out the ECNL Playoffs with three tiers: Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup.  The Champions League structure remained the same as years past, while both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup were set up as knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion in Seattle, WA.  The winners of each playoff group in the Champions League advanced to the ECNL Finals, held in Richmond, VA for the third year.

2013-2014
In the fifth season, 2013-14, the ECNL experienced a small expansion, with only 3 clubs added to bring the total number of ECNL member clubs to 76. While there was limited conference re-alignment, the competition structure generally remained the same as the 2012-2013 season.  The 2014 ECNL Playoffs (where the Champions League and North American Cup qualifiers will compete) were played in Seattle, WA in late June – bringing the league full circle to its humble beginnings in 2009.  The winners of each playoff group advanced to the ECNL Finals, again held in Richmond, VA.

2012-2013
In the fourth season of the ECNL, 2012-13, signs began to show that the league was maturing and getting close to its full size.  Expansion was limited, as only 7 clubs were added to reach a total of 73 clubs.  Conference play became the dominant portion of the ECNL schedule, with conference results determining qualification for the ECNL post-season.  This was a change from previous seasons.  The top 32 teams in the ECNL, based on conference games and limited wildcards, qualified for the ECNL Champions League post-season playoffs.  The next best 32 teams in the ECNL qualified for the ECNL North American Cup play-offs.  Both play-offs were contested in Aurora, CO, with the top 8 teams in each competition qualifying for the ECNL Finals.  The inaugural ECNL Finals were played in Richmond, VA where the winners of the ECNL Champions League were crowned the ECNL National Champions.  The winners of the ECNL North American Cup were crowned Cup Champions.

2011-2012
In the third season, 2011-12, the ECNL again expanded to include the nation’s elite 66 female soccer clubs, an enhanced scouting and player identification structure, accessible club administrative, coaching, and scouting education opportunities, and an improved season structure that includes the U14 age group. Most importantly, the ECNL expanded the competition platform to approximately 30 games per team. By focusing solely on the elite competition within the ECNL, these clubs will be able to provide an improved environment with a better training-to-game ratio and more demanding and consistent competition. The 2011-12 ECNL season has three parts which provide the competitive platform for over 5,000 games to be played:

1- ECNL Conference and Cross-Conference Competitions;
2- ECNL National Event Competitions; and
3- ECNL National Championships.

2010-2011
In its second season, 2010-11, the ECNL saw several changes. The ECNL added twelve of the top girls clubs from around the country, bringing the total number of ECNL member clubs to 52, and expanded to include the U18 age group. Each of the 52 member clubs had an ECNL team in the U15 through U18 age groups. In total, each team played roughly 16 games. The ECNL schedule expanded to include regional competition to supplement the existing ECNL National Showcase Events, and the ECNL National Championships were held in Aurora, CO in July. By adding more age groups and more high-quality ECNL games, the ECNL took steps that allowed the member clubs to increase the quality of games played while reducing the overall number of games on their calendar, increase the training time for their players, and expand the developmental opportunities provided by this platform into more age groups.

2009-2010: Inaugural ECNL Season
The inaugural ECNL season, August 2009 to July 2010, included 40 of the top girls soccer clubs throughout the country, with more than 2,000 players participating in ECNL competition in the U15, U16, and U17 age groups. Teams competed in one of two competitive flights (the “A Flight” or the “B Flight”) for the ECNL National Championship, the ECNL Club National Championship, and promotion and relegation between the flights. Each team played nine regular season games within their division for placement going into the ECNL National Championship. Games were played at five different ECNL National Showcase Events held throughout the country, and all participating teams came together for the first annual ECNL National Championship in Seattle, WA in July 2010.

The ECNL was founded in 2009 by forward-thinking Directors of Coaching across the country who saw a need for change in and special commitment to improving the daily environment for American elite female youth soccer players.  These Directors came together and collaborated to build what would become the top female youth development platform in the world.  The grass roots leadership and cooperation was unprecedented in American youth soccer, and the ECNL continues to be the most progressive and innovative development platform in the country.