Some NorCal teams with similarities to EPL Clubs...

browndog said:
Napa United is at the bottom of the GA league standings in pretty much every age group. I can't see their girls teams getting into ECNL or even ECNL-RL.

I heard that the combined Stanislaus Surf had been accepted into ECNL.
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I heard ECNL was taking 3 local teams but things changed after the ECNL showcase in Arizona. I guess we will find out…
 
Interesting post on IG from De Anza??? No details provided....
Screenshot 2026-04-28 at 7.53.22 AM.png
 
Anyone know how the NorCal ECNL-RL is going to be organized for next year? Looks like the old NPL just rebranding itself with a special focus on weakening GA in service of ECNL. This year, a lot of blowouts in the league as there was only one division for 24 teams of various competitive levels.
 
soccer4us said:
Any update on new ECNL clubs with May approaching quick?
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On the girls side I do not believe anyone is getting in. I was told ECNL will invite top preforming NorCal RL clubs to spring showcase but they want to see clubs/teams win 50% or more against NL opponents to be promoted. Los Gatos United was very close but did not preform well enough.
 
browndog said:
Just saw an announcement that girls at Santa Clara Sporting are joining ECNL RL starting next year. Makes sense since their boys are already in ECNL but wonder how long the GA in Northern California can hang on with the continued exodus of clubs. I haven't seen any announcements on additional GA clubs for the area.

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Pretty big loss for Nor Cal GA I would say. Have to imagine next year ECNL will add some teams. Not many clubs to add left unless some willing to leave Nor Cal-RL. Will be tough for Sporting thought because of the area but maybe 4 clubs will get in one day in the South Bay.
 
bay_zar said:
it will be tougher for LGU though? Sporting seems relatively stronger.
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theecnl.com

ECNL HIGHLIGHTS CLUB PATHWAY WITH MOVEMENT AND NEW ADDITIONS TO ECNL, ECNL RL AND PRE-ECNL - ECNL (Elite Club National League)

RICHMOND, Va. (May 12, 2026) - More than 60 clubs will be moving up or entering the ECNL competition pyramid next season, as 14 new clubs are being promoted into
theecnl.com theecnl.com

I guess Stanislaus got in. Very under the table release and no big release like other clubs :) I figured they didn't go Surf status for nothing!
 
browndog said:
Just saw an announcement that girls at Santa Clara Sporting are joining ECNL RL starting next year. Makes sense since their boys are already in ECNL but wonder how long the GA in Northern California can hang on with the continued exodus of clubs. I haven't seen any announcements on additional GA clubs for the area.

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Rumor is Newark will also leave after next year for RL if boys can’t get into MLSN.

But GA parents I know don’t seem to be concerned with losing NorCal teams. Less travel for league play and I guess you want to be a team that qualifies for champions cup/Nationals as that is where the majority of college coaches go and scout.
 
Losing Los Gatos and Sporting from GA over the past couple years is certainly a big deal. From a sporting perspective, I see no rationale for two distinct "elite" pathways. Perhaps, we are just one or two years from GA falling apart in Norcal so we can have a single pyramid on the girls' side. Now just need to see more club-based pro/rel based on objective development/performance criteria.
 
SirAlex said:
Perhaps, we are just one or two years from GA falling apart in Norcal so we can have a single pyramid on the girls' side.
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It does make you think. At some point, Lamorinda is going to get bored of having a GD so much higher than every other team in bracket in most ages, and want to find more equivalent teams on the ECNL side. As long as recruiting stays stable, there isn't any strong push to jump now. But if the Northwest bracket gets sillier and sillier, and the girls are only there to look forward to end of season events held elsewhere, it sure seems more attractive to explore better opportunities.

(link to GA results)
 
RandomSoccerFan said:
It does make you think. At some point, Lamorinda is going to get bored of having a GD so much higher than every other team in bracket in most ages, and want to find more equivalent teams on the ECNL side. As long as recruiting stays stable, there isn't any strong push to jump now. But if the Northwest bracket gets sillier and sillier, and the girls are only there to look forward to end of season events held elsewhere, it sure seems more attractive to explore better opportunities.

(link to GA results)
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For the GA to lose its NorCal conference clubs would need to leave MLSN on the boys side which would bring the girls over to ECNL/RL. I heard Lamo and SV were offered full ECNL status last year and turned it down to keep boys in MLSN.

If you look at GA all the remaining clubs play MLSN for the boys besides Newark. Would not be surprised if they have to leave sooner than later for RL.
 
Thatonedad said:
For the GA to lose its NorCal conference clubs would need to leave MLSN on the boys side which would bring the girls over to ECNL/RL. I heard Lamo and SV were offered full ECNL status last year and turned it down to keep boys in MLSN.

If you look at GA all the remaining clubs play MLSN for the boys besides Newark. Would not be surprised if they have to leave sooner than later for RL.
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I could be wrong but I would be shocked If MVLA/Mustang would ever be okay with lamo/SV into ECNL. Maybe ECNL wouldn't care at this point but in the past, that was part of why they weren't ECNL. I will be interested to see what SV is like without Stanislaus kids. That was a major part of them doing well in GA. Lamo is top notch in general and would be fun to see how they do playing other top teams since GA is boring for most of their teams.
 
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