Players to Watch: ECNL Girls Phoenix National Event (Spring 2026)

Ozawa is a multiple-time selection for the US Youth Soccer ODP West Interregional Team, often standing out among one of the deepest regional talent pools in the country, in Northern California. She also serves as a team captain for MVLA SC 2012, bringing a lot of leadership and consistency to the back line.

Playing up a year with her sister Blair on the Michigan Hawks 2011 team, Bickerstaff is one of the premier midfielders in the ECNL’s Midwest Conference from the Class of 2030. She’s an outstanding passer and has been a team leader in assists, while also bringing game-breaking speed which causes constant problems for opposing defenses. Bickerstaff is also a track star, with the fastest 200 meter dash time among athletes her age, in the entire country.

Schwarz is a dynamic and versatile winger/midfielder known for high-level technical ability, speed, and athleticism. She possesses exceptional positional awareness and a soccer IQ that consistently elevates team play. She’s a major threat on set pieces, with a proven track record of converting opportunities into goals.

One of the top offensive weapons for Michigan Hawks 2011, Bickerstaff consistently gets behind the opposing back line, often working with her teammates to put up goals in bunches. She and her squad have already locked up the ECNL Midwest Conference title, and the sky’s the limit for them as they try to get back to the ECNL National Finals once again, after placing 2nd in the country last season.

An up-and-coming forward from the Class of 2029 for Slammers FC 2011, Greer is a productive member of both her club team and her school’s varsity team at Fairmont Prep. Earlier this season, she had a standout effort at the Silverlakes Fall Showcase, where she racked up 2 goals and 2 assists over the course of 2 victories. (WATCH)

After recently delivering an impressive performance at the ECNL Kansas City National Event, Randall will look to continue her momentum at ECNL Phoenix in the midst of her first season with Slammers HB Køge 2011. The Class of 2029 standout has an extensive array of technical skills, creativity with the ball at her feet, elite field vision and she’s a truly ambidextrous goal-scorer.

Pintard is in the midst of a really strong 2025-26 season, in which she has been highly active in the US Youth Soccer ODP circuit, shining at center back during the Far West ODP Championships for Cal North, and earning a spot on the ODP West Interregional roster. She turned in another impressive performance at the Interregional event, and now has secured a spot on the ODP National Select Team. (HIGHLIGHTS)

The team captain and versatile defender / midfielder for Bay Area Surf 2010, Aris Yu projects as a strong prospect from the Class of 2028, who should draw plenty of interest from college coaches when her recruiting window opens up later this year. She’s an excellent two-way player who can make a lot of key plays defensively, while also racking up goals and assists for her squad. She has multiple years of experience earning selections for both US Youth Soccer ODP and US Club Soccer PDP events. (HIGHLIGHTS)

Another player for Bay Area Surf 2010 with experience on the US Youth Soccer ODP National Select Team (2025), Swindle is well-established as a one 0f Northern California’s most talented Class of 2028 midfielders. Her playing style features elite technical ability, field vision, and a relentless motor which wears out opposing defenders over the course of the game. (HIGHLIGHTS)

One of the top goalkeepers in the Class of 2027, Rudel has verbally committed to play for the University of Utah, starting in 2027. She’s an All-ECNL Southwest Conference honoree who has the length, quickness, overall athleticism and soccer IQ to quickly become one of the best keepers at the college level.

The future University of Kentucky Wildcat is a dynamic goal scorer and passer on the attacking side for MVLA SC 2009. Makasini, who has experience with the U.S. Youth National Team, can line up at forward or in the attacking midfield, playing both positions at an elite level.