NWSL Louisville Academy joins ECNL Girls for 2020-2021 season

RICHMOND, VA – The Elite Clubs National League Girls announced the addition of NWSL Louisville Academy for the 2020-21 season.

“We are excited to welcome NWSL Louisville Academy, and to offer the ECNL Girls platform to players in Kentucky for the first time,” said ECNL Girls Commissioner Jen Winnagle. “They will be a great addition to the Ohio Valley Conference, and we look forward to working with their leadership to support both the youth and professional game in Louisville.”

NWSL Louisville Academy was founded in March 2020 and will begin competition this fall. As part of the Louisville City Youth Academy, the girls’ academy aligned with Louisville’s NWSL franchise, which will begin play in 2021, and the boys’ academy is aligned with Louisville City FC, the city’s USL Championship men’s club.

“The ECNL is the top level of girls’ youth soccer in our country,” Louisville City Youth Academy Director Mario Sanchez said. “The ECNL platform allows all of the girls to compete on a national level and be seen by U.S. Soccer National team scouts and college coaches from across the country. The ECNL allows girls to pursue all of their dreams, whether that is the pursuit of a college soccer scholarship or an opportunity to play for the U.S. National teams. I am extremely proud of our Girls Academy Director Tim Nowak and his dedication for girls’ youth soccer. Tim has been a great leader and advocate for girls’ soccer in Louisville throughout the years.”

Nearly 90% of ECNL Girls alumni move on to play in college, overwhelmingly dominating the 2019 individual conference honors in the “Power 5” conferences. In total, over 1,100 ECNL Alums played this year in these five conferences, accounting for more than 62% of all rostered players in the Power 5.

Additional information on participating member clubs for the 2020-21 Season will be released in the coming weeks.

BREAKING NEWS | ?: The Elite Clubs National League Girls is excited to announce NWSL Louisville Academy as Kentucky's first ever ECNL Girls club in the 2020-2021 season. Please join us in welcoming @LouCityAcademy! #LeadersPlayHere Full release here: https://t.co/R0tfucnPEu pic.twitter.com/Lh6oOLZk1C

— Elite Clubs National League (@theECNL) April 24, 2020