2025/26 ECNL Power Rankings

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futboldad1

PREMIER
Here is how each club in the SW ECNL ranks by the numbers based on PPG across all 6 ECNL age groups from their results across the first half of the season. There is a clear gap between the top two of HB Koge (average of position of 1.5) and Surf (1.8) down to the third highest rank Legends (avg of 4.7). Fourteen clubs have played 9 or 10 games of the 17 game season, with three (Eagles, Heat, and Legends San Diego) having played 8. Strength of schedule has been as equal as possible given it's more than half way through the season and there is no preseason seeding. Scouring recruits, HBK and SD Surf have done the best over the past few years re college placement, but across the top 6 and beyond it's been an impressive list of Power 4, D1, and other top ranked schools...also kids on the lower ranked clubs have also been going to some P4s so hats off to all these talented players. This SW conference is a monster nationally as these girls prove at the national showcases and playoffs every year.

This list is entirely fact based and informational so hopefully won't result in any arguments... especially given that there are children involved. Yes some clubs are struggling but I'm sure everyone is trying their best to improve. Hopefully all these ECNL kids get through the high school season unscathed!

1. Slammers HB Koge (avg. position 1.5)
2. San Diego Surf (1.8)
3. Legends FC (4.7)
4. Beach FC (4.8)
5. Slammers FC (6.2)
6. LA Breakers FC (7.8)
7. Legends FC San Diego (8.2)
8. Eagles SC (8.3)
9. So Cal Blues (9.5)
10. LAFC So Cal Youth (10.0)
11. Phoenix Rising (10.2)
12. Utah Royals FC AZ (10.8)
13. LV Heat Surf (12.2)
14. Rebels SC (12.8)
15. Pateadores (13.7)
16. Arizona Arsenal (14.8)
17. Sporting CA USA (15.5)
 
Lost in the averages is that HBK is in first place in 5 out of the 6 age groups (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008). Surf is in first in the 2009's group, but in second in all the others. Two very impressive programs with unique benefits in each.
 
Here's the current list of CA clubs listed by average strength (SR) of top team, 2009G thru 2015G. It's not identical to ranking them by ECNL finishing position, but it's awfully similar, as it is ultimately based on the same data.

CA1.jpgCA2.jpg
 
davidnunez said:
Lost in the averages is that HBK is in first place in 5 out of the 6 age groups (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008). Surf is in first in the 2009's group, but in second in all the others. Two very impressive programs with unique benefits in each.
Click to expand...
Totally agreed...I did note them tbf as being the two standout clubs. But I can list each age group by position from U18/19 first to U13 listed last (Clubs in order of average position)......

1st HB Koge: 1,4,1,1,1,1
2nd SD Surf: 2,1,2,2,2,2
3rd Legends: 3,5,3,3,10,4
4th Beach FC: 4,7,7,5,3,3
5th Slammers: 8,8,5,4,7,5
6th Breakers: 6,9,4,10,8,10
7th SD Legends: 10,3,6,12,11,7
8th Eagles SC: 5,2,12,8,12,11
9th SC Blues: 12,16,11,6,4,8
10th LAFC SCY: 13,12,8,7,14,6
11th Phi Rising: 7,15,10,9,5,15
12th Royals AZ: 9,13,17,11,6,9
13th LV Heat: 14,6,9,15,17,12
14th Rebels SC: 11,17,13,14,8,14
15th Pateadores: 15,11,14,13,13,16
16th AZ Arsenal: 16,10,15,16,15,17
17th Sporting CA: 17,14,16,17,16,13
 
Sporting is a mess. How long until the ECNL drops them? Collective record through the Fall portion of the 2025-2026 season is (3-43-7). With a goal differential of (-152). When my oldest played with them (U14-U17) several years ago, they were respectable...finishing middle of the pack and even qualifying for Champions league her U17 season
 
Final 2025/26 ECNL Girls Southwest Club Standings by average league position (ppg) across the 6 age groups.

1. Slammers HB Koge (avg. position 1.8)
2. San Diego Surf (2.2)
3. Legends FC (4.7)
4. Beach FC (4.8)
5. Slammers FC (6.6)
6. LA Breakers FC (7.8)
7. So Cal Blues (8.0)
8. Eagles SC (8.3)
9. Phoenix Rising (9.5)
10. Utah Royals (9.6)
11. LAFC Socal Youth (10.5)
12. Legends San Diego (11.3)
13. Rebels SC (11.5)
14. LV Heat Surf (11.7)
15. Arizona Arsenal (12.5)
16. Pateadores (13.2)
17. Sporting CA USA (15.6)

Surf won 3 age groups, HBK won 2, and Legends won 1
 
Sporting picking up where they left off...1-11 with a (-43) goal differential through the first two weeks of the ECNL Southwest 2026-2027 season.

Honestly don't know why any parent would put their kid in that club. Or how they stay in the ECNL, as they've been awful the past several years.
 
I would agree with your conclusion, that ECNL isn’t doing their job to oversee the quality of the league in this case. I know nothing about what is going on at Sporting, but I hope they are on ECNL probation and ECNL leadership requires a plan from Sporting to correct their poor performance over recent years. A similar situation happened in SD where the Del Mar Sharks (now Legends) were required to “fix” their performance or be regulated out of ECNL. They have improved significantly since then. No one expects them to be the San Diego Surf, but they are now no longer a “easy win” at most ages. Youth soccer becomes better when there is a little pressure to perform at a basic minimum level. If the management at Sporting isn’t up to it, let someone else do it who has resources and motivation and the business acumen. .
 
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