Players to Watch: ECNL Girls Texas National Event (Winter 2026)
The Winter 2026 ECNL Girls Texas National Event is coming up February 14-16, as 208 of the nation’s best teams will compete in the U14-U18/19 age groups.
ECNL Texas will mark the second ECNL Girls National Event of 2026, following the ECNL Florida Showcase which took place back in January. Ahead of the ECNL Girls Texas National Event, here are some players to know for the tournament. Players are listed according to their graduation year.
You can also nominate a player that will be attending the event. To nominate a player for consideration, CLICK HERE.
Class of 2030
Ella Vanstone | Goalkeeper
San Diego Surf 2010 (CA)
Consistently rated as one of the top overall players in the entire country from the Class of 2030, Vanstone plays up on the San Diego Surf 2010 team. She’s been identified by U.S. Soccer as a Youth National Team level goalkeeper, and will undoubtedly be a name to know for years to come.
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Layla Sanders | Forward
Sting Austin 2012 (TX)
Layla Sanders is a high-impact attacking player competing at the ECNL level, where she consistently contributes through pace, pressure, and off-ball movement. She is a two-time US Youth Soccer ODP Interregional selection, recognized for her ability to perform in elite, high-tempo environments.
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Kinley Minyard | Forward
Lonestar SC ECNL RL 2012 (TX)
Minyard is a prolific goal-scorer with a combination of speed, athleticism, ability to head the ball, and excellent ball-handling. The forward/midfielder is the top goal scorer in the ECNL Texas Regional League and likely the entire ECNL RL, where her team is undefeated and has scored 85 goals in conference play this season, and is top-ranked nationally. She plays MLS Next with SGA 12B Premier where she was named to the Best XI Boys of the USYS National Championships last season. She has attended U.S. Soccer Talent ID Camp, US Club Soccer id2 Camp and USYS ODP National Camp. Lonestar will be competing among ECNL national teams as a Regional League squad at the Texas showcase.
Class of 2029
An up-and-coming attacking player for FC Dallas 2010 ECNL, Harrington was selected for U.S. Soccer’s U-14 Girls Talent ID Mini-Camp last spring in Austin, TX. She was one of just 80 players called up for the camp from the Central Region, and her profile has continued to rise since then, as she’s made her presence felt all season long in ECNL competition. Harrington has the ability to score goals in bunches, and very few defenders can match up against her 1v1.
A two-way outside back for Dallas Texans 2010, King has consistently stood out against top competition, including elite matchups versus Power-4 commits. She was selected to the Allstate Next Wave National Showcase, impressed at a USL W League Talent ID, and recently held her own defensively in a pro training camp against senior-level international players from the U.S. and Canadian national teams.
Wyckoff is a tough, physical holding midfielder and defender for PacNW SC 2010 who will be a name to watch from the Class of 2029. She showed a lot of promise with her performance at the 2026 ECNL Florida Winter Event last month, forcing turnovers and making numerous key runs and key passes to convert possessions into quick scoring opportunities. (HIGHLIGHTS)
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Brooke Sheldon | Goalkeeper
Chicago Inter 2011 (IL)
Sheldon is a rising ECNL goalkeeper in the Class of 2029, quickly establishing herself as a dependable presence between the posts. Throughout the 2025–26 season, she has showcased excellent hands, sharp movement within the box, and a strong connection to the field through confident, commanding communication.
Class of 2028
After representing the U.S. U-16 Girls National Team in January 2026 for their training camp and friendlies in Spain, Hasan is back in ECNL action with Eclipse Select SC 2010. One of the absolute best goalkeeper prospects in the Class of 2028, Hasan will go head-to-head against some extremely elite competition in Dallas, taking on Real Colorado, GSA and San Diego Surf.
Returning to ECNL National Event competition after her latest international action with the U.S. U-16 Girls National Team, Voss is one of the nation’s top-rated defenders from the Class of 2028. She’s a left-footed center back for Minnesota Thunder Academy 2010 with an exceptional work rate and game-breaking speed, which she combines with a high soccer IQ to shut down opposing offenses and to get forward quickly on counter attacks.
A strong attacking player for Sting Black 2009 ECNL and Texas State Champion Celina High School, Peoples will be aiming to leave her mark on the ECNL Texas National Event, as she closes in on her active recruiting window. Peoples had an impressive performance at the ECNL Phoenix Event back in November, scoring goals, setting up her teammates and forcing turnovers in the midfield. (HIGHLIGHTS)
An ECNL All-Conference honoree from the Mid-Atlantic, Stover serves as team captain for Northern Virginia side Arlington Soccer 2010 ECNL. Stover is a fast, smart, technical, and physical box-to-box midfielder with a strong presence on offense and defense. She’s earned a number of regional and national recognitions over the years, notably including selection for the 2025 ECNL Conference Cup, where she was one of 120 total players chosen from around the country.
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Chloe Steinburg | Defender
XF Academy 2010 (WA)
One of the top defenders in the ECNL Northwest Conference and a captain for the XF Academy 2010 team, Chloe was honored as ECNL All-Conference First Team selection for the 2024-25 season. A strong center back and midfielder, Chloe has received USYNT Talent ID invites three years in a row, and was selected to participate in the ECNL National Selection Game in Phoenix in 2025. A high school all-conference team selection, two-time varsity soccer MVP, and a state-qualifying track runner, she has the technical skills and the speed to take her game to the next level.
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Avery Sands | Defender
Dallas Sting Royal 2010 (TX)
Sands is a 2026 U.S. Youth National Team ID Camp invite and starting center back for Sting Royal ECNL, helping lead her team to the 2025 ECNL National Playoffs Top 16 and the 2024 ECNL National Playoffs. A First Team All-District and First Team All-Academic honoree, she combines elite defensive presence with intelligence and leadership on and off the field.
Class of 2027
Bialek is a talented Class of 2027 defender who serves as team captain for Match Fit Surf 2008, and who recently verbally committed to Pitt. She’s known as one of the premier defensive players in her region, having represented Match Fit in an ECNL National Selection Game last spring. She’s an All-State player in New York on the high school side for Clarkstown North.
Addyson recently returned to the pitch from injury and has wasted no time in getting back to her playmaking ways. She has scored in 4 of her first 5 ECNL league games for Washington Premier FC 2008 since returning, and will look to continue building momentum at ECNL Dallas.
Kang is a dynamic 2027 uncommitted forward who frequently drops into the midfield to connect play and drive possession forward. With the ability to strike confidently with both feet, she can be defenders on the dribble and thread precise through balls to break defensive lines. Her vision, creativity, and composure will make her a constant attacking threat at the ECNL Dallas, showcase as she looks to take her performance to the next level.
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Ellie Barnett | Defender
West Side Alliance 2009 (OK)
A left-footed center back playing in the ECNL Texas Conference, Ellie and her back line have produced 10 shutouts this season, including against Top 10 teams Sting Royal and Sting Austin. She scored a header goal to beat Dallas Texans and has helped her team produce shutouts in all 6 games during the ECNL Phoenix and Kansas City showcases this season.
Class of 2026
A two-time selection for the prestigious ECNL Conference Cup, Kennedy Jackson is one of the strongest goalkeepers in the ECNL’s Northwest Conference. The Washington Premier 2008 team captain has committed to play NCAA D1 soccer for Grambling State next fall.
This Sting Austin 2008 standout will begin her NCAA D1 soccer career at UTSA later this year, as she begins the home stretch of her youth soccer career. Clark is an All-American for Lake Travis High School, where she’s the all-time leading scorer. She’s had an outstanding run with Sting Austin, previously earning All-ECNL Texas Conference honors.