It's funny, Napa really shouldn't have been in MLS Next. Even with how weak ECNL is on the boys side in NorCal, I think Napa is going to struggle. They will likely lose players that preferred the MLS Next platform. I do think the whole high school thing is weighing on the MLS Next clubs. Personally I'm not a fan of high school soccer, I think it's an absolutely terrible level where players learn bad habits and are more prone to injury. At the same time, I totally get why kids want to participate. It's a bummer because I think that's a small piece that's getting in the way of developing good players the US. MLS Next should just allow players to play in high school but allow others to continue training that would prefer to skip it. Obviously there'd be no games during that period. Maybe, in addition MLS Next works with CIF to get more aligned. Didn't GA originally not allow high school soccer? That doesn't appear to be the case anymore.
Anyway, I digress....Didn't MLS Next add some clubs? Roseville? Isn't Almaden and Burlingame being considered or something? I haven't paid close attention