ECNL Club performance requirement

The travel part in all this was insane for young female players and their parents. Who could afford all this?
What makes the most sense to me is a "league within a league". Basically have NWSL Acadamies play each other and the top club teams from XYZ league. Acadamies would travel to play top club teams and each other. What this does is give Acadamies what they want, competition and top clubs get what they want, association with Academy teams.

in theory this type of setup could allow for cross league play. However in reality it would be very difficult to work with multiple groups and someone would want control.
 
This is why people are watching what happens with NWSL so closely. The template for how to successfully (depending on your definition of success) funnel talent into pro and US National teams us defined on the boys/mens side. MLS benefits and USMNT benefits. NWSL is likely working with US Soccer to do the same for women. Setting themselves and the USWNT as the beneficiaries.
Don't hold your breath. Academies require money and NWSL teams don't have money. Even a big men's pro team like LA Galaxy was making their girl players help subsidize costs a little bit towards the end of DA.
 
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