I've always thought that elite girls soccer in the US is not "selling" soccer development, its selling college placement. That's the product and what parents are chasing. Soccer development, per se, isn't expensive. The best, most intelligent, most skillful players don't come from backgrounds where anyone invested vast sums in them before they were discovered. Most, if not all, the best players are not that way due to coaches. Coaches can nurture it, but they can't and don't create it for the best. Coaches can make players better, never great IMO.
Clubs of elite girls teams sell access to college coaches through the platform, their reputation and their (& their coaches) contacts. They charge a lot for that, and can get it because people are prepared to pay it - market forces obviously.
For parents to play, they need to get their DD placed on an elite team, and then have the $ resources to support that for club fees, team fees, travel expenses and probably privates. Their goal is a club and coach with a reputation to maximize the college placement.
There are obviously rare exceptions who may get scholarships.
The barrier to entry is $ (for parents) - kids being equal. US soccer wanted to change that with GDA, but they are idiots and are focused on the exceptions and not the product everyone else is buying, i.e. soccer development vs college placement. That barrier eliminates many talented and undoubtedly in many cases, more talented kids.
It is what it is. Maybe the MLS will do a better job because they are businesses investing in themselves directly (don't have to buy players) or by selling (DA) players to fund their DA. They won't do that for NWSL as there's no $ in it.
ECNL has proven their ability to deliver their product. The cost is the cost, tough shit if you can't pay it.
