Players That Impressed: Girls Academy 2026 Champions Cup Finals

The 2026 Girls Academy Champions Cup Finals took place from March 5-10 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.

Indy Premier United captured the Overall Club Championship while Georgia powerhouse Tophat Gold was the only club to have multiple teams win division titles, claiming 1st place in both the U17 and U19 age groups. For a full rundown of the U13-U19 winners, click here.

Below are some of the top players from the event, sorted by graduation year. You can also nominate a player who stood out during the event through the following link.

2030

Olive Holmgren | Defender
Lamorinda SC 2012 (CA)

Olive demonstrated true grit and determination as she and her Lamorinda SC 2012 teammates went undefeated and took the U14 GA Champions Cup title. The captain of the defense, she was a major force in shutting down opposing attacks and creating a blockade that prevented teams from scoring throughout the entire tournament. Olive displayed what an elite player she is when scoring from outside the 18 while being covered by multiple defenders.

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Dahlia Hutchins | Forward
Lamorinda SC 2012 (CA)

Hutchins came through in the clutch to vault Lamorinda SC 2012 to a thrilling 1-0 victory over City SC in the GA Champions Cup title match. The Class of 2030 striker delivered the golden goal in overtime after a scoreless defensive battle in regulation. On her winning goal, she burst away from a defender before placing a shot perfectly past the goalkeeper, showing a ton of poise in a high-stakes situation. (WATCH)

2028

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Lily Larnerd | Forward
Beadling SC 2010 (PA)

Lily helped led her team to the quarterfinals and a 3-1 record while scoring a team-leading 4 goals. Her speed, finishing ability and defensive pressure from the forward position make her an invaluable asset to her squad.

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Tenley Fry | Defender
Beadling SC 2010 (PA)

This Class of 2028 center back was widely recognized as a standout at the GA Champions Cup, and was selected to Prep Soccer’s Best XI from the 2010 age group. Fry showed her ability to control the flow of the game during a 3-1 victory over Valley Surf, dominating in 1v1 situations while distributing out the back with excellent passing and field vision.

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Caelyn Moore | Goalkeeper
HTX Soccer 2009 (TX)

One of the premier goalkeepers in the entire Girls Academy from the Class of 2028, Moore made a major statement for college coaches looking to add a potential future star between the posts. The multiple-time GA National Talent ID Event participant got the rare opportunity to score a goal in a PK shootout, which she converted with ease, before then making the game-winning save to send her team into the next round.

MAGICAL MOMENT ✨✨

HTX Soccer GK Caelyn Moore made a memory of a lifetime with a goal and game-winning save to lift her team to a win in PKs in #GAChampionsCup26! pic.twitter.com/dkc43WYCS1

— Girls Academy (@GAcademyLeague) March 6, 2026

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Paxton Battaglia | Defender
Tophat Gold 2009 (GA)

Battaglia’s stock continues to rise following another stellar performance on a national stage with the now back-to-back champion Tophat Gold 2009. The team captain anchored her team’s back line throughout their dominant run, which culminated with a 5-1 win in the title match against City SC. During the Champions Cup, Battaglia showed her wide range elite skills, including her impressive closing speed, chasing down opposing players with some serious vengeance. (WATCH)

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Emily Baxter | Midfielder
Tophat Gold 2009 (GA)

Just months away from entering her active recruiting window, this U.S. Youth National Team roster pool member played a key role for Tophat Gold 2009 as they ran it back for second straight year as GA Champions Cup winners. Baxter is an absolute maestro in the midfield for Tophat, creating goal-scoring opportunities with relative ease, as she has the ability to navigate through any amount of traffic with the ball at her feet. She remains one of the single best Class of 2028 prospects in the entire country, at any position. (WATCH)

2027

2026