They could call themselves NWSL if they want. If they don't have the good girls who cares what they are called. You see what's happening in the NWSL too correct? That's not even the premier choice for the premier women's soccer player anymore. If the top 3 clubs from ECNL southwest switch over to GA then and only then will GA or NSWL Next or whatever the hell they want to call themselves matter. How many 2026 and 2025 GA girls went D1 this year vs ECNL? Its still absolutely hilarious to me that anyone thinking GA and ECNL are even close to the same playing field. Just saw a clown post yesterday on IG his Girls Pyramid and he had ECNL and GA on the same level. Its absolutely hilarious to me.
There are many ways it could play out for sure. In fact it wouldn't even need to be the better clubs moving to GA. In NorCal there are probably 3-4 solid clubs in the table. The rest would do fine in GA, but not dominate by any stretch of the imagination. I could see some of those clubs moving. Heck I could even see players moving to GA due to the proliferation of teams getting GA. At the end of the day those 3-4 solid clubs need to play someone. If the table gets any weaker than it already is, they will look for alternatives.
Also, I believe most MLS Next clubs have better coaching overall than their ECNL counter parts. If that level of coaching transfers to the girl's side at clubs that also have GA, I can see the soccer just being better as well.
I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but it's certainly plausible and could happen over the next 2-3 years. Of course, the status quo could remain. I do think the pro/rel they're going to do in NorCal will make the table stronger, but that will take time -- so it's effectively a race.