Players to Watch: Girls Academy 2025 Winter Showcase and Champions Cup
The Girls Academy will host one of its biggest events of the 2025-26 season from December 4-9, as the league’s National Event schedule gets underway. The best teams in the GA will descend on Norco, CA for the 2025 Winter Showcase and Champions Cup.
College coaches from all over the country will be in attendance for the tournament, in one of the first opportunities to scout players since the conclusion of the NCAA season for all teams except the four semifinalists competing in the College Cup. (College Coach List)
GA teams across the U13-U19 age groups will be participating in the tournament, which will include showcase competition and Champions Cup action among those that have qualified.
Ahead of the 2025 GA Winter Showcase and Champions Cup, 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.
2029
A fiercely technical midfielder for Beadling SC 2011, Smuckler’s US Youth Futsal National Team experience is evident when she has the ball at her feet. She makes extremely sharp, quick decisions and has outstanding precision when working in tight spaces. Smuckler is a great distributor and playmaker, and she can also play with a lot of strength and poise as a central defender.
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Avery Smith | Midfielder
Kansas Rush 2011 (KS)
A team captain for Kansas Rush 2011, Smith is a talented central midfielder and left winger who was selected for the 2025 GA Midwest Talent ID Camp. She brings a lot of poise and leadership on the field, and is known her excellent control of the ball, limiting turnovers and playing a big role in the possession battle.
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Kavya Nepal | Midfielder
RISE SC 2011 (TX)
Kavya is a dangerous player off and on the ball, she is everywhere combining either building up or finding a direct through ball. She has had 3 goals in the last 3 games, along with multiple assists at the DKSC Showcase. She’s a strong candidate to make a major impact at the GA Winter Showcase.
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Rosie Kiely | Goalkeeper
Lou Fusz SC 2011 (MO)
The 2025 GA Golden Glove Award winner, Kiely is one of the preeminent goalkeepers to know from the Class of 2029. She has helped guide Lou Fusz SC 2011 to an unbeaten 17-0 record and a first place finish in the GA Frontier Conference. She has conceded 0 goals in league play and has a personal 11-game shutout streak.
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Avery Clelan | Defender
Baltimore Armour 2010 (MD)
A Class of 2029 defender playing up on the Baltimore Armour 2010 squad, Clelan has shined for multiple years in the GA. She’s a two-time GA Mid-Atlantic Conference Talent ID Event selection and is a standout on the high school side as well, earning multiple accolades while starting as a freshman for Glenelg High School.
2028
Raymundo is a U16 standout midfielder from NorCal, coming off a huge season with ODP National Team honors and a GA National Talent ID selection. She continues to showcase her elite talent in the midfield, recently scoring 5 goals in a single match for Lamorinda SC 2010. She’s a true playmaker with speed, technical skill, and finishing ability.
Representing Century United 2009, Kusic is a versatile midfielder who can play the #8, #10 and #6 positions at a high level. She can also play outside on the wing, utilizing her speed to create matchup advantages in open space, and fly back to provide support on defense. She recently helped lead Wheeling Central High School to the program’s first-ever State Championship, piling up 23 goals and 23 assists on the season.
Standing at nearly six-feet tall, Gossett is a standout two-way player for Union KC 2009, and she’s a member of the US Youth Soccer ODP Midwest Regional Team. She was also selected for the 2025 GA Midwest Talent ID Event, making her widely recognized as a promising prospect who can dominate on the defensive side, and provide major the support for her team’s attack.
Reed is a dynamic attacking player who has consistently been a team leader for Utah Celtic 2009 in both goals and assists. She plays forward and on the wing, and can be equally dangerous as a playmaker regardless of where she lines up. Reed leads her high school team in scoring an assists as well, and is coming off an All-Region selection. (HIGHLIGHTS)
Alvarado is a dynamic outside back known for her speed, physicality and relentless work rate on both sides of the ball. She excels in 1v1 defending, shutting down attackers with strong positioning and recovery pace, while also contributing in the attack through overlapping runs, accurate crosses, and composure in possession. She’s comfortable playing on either side of the field, and she brings versatility and consistency to the back line.
Rojas has enjoyed a strong Fall 2025 campaign playing in a challenging GA Southeast Conference with Florida United 2010. The team’s defensive unit has come on really strong over its last three games, earning a pair of clean sheets and conceding just one total goal in that span. Rojas has quick reflexes and positions herself well, often making tough stops on shots taken deep in the box, when opposing goals appeared to be imminent. (HIGHLIGHTS)
Ava Kiss is a dynamic center attacking midfielder coming off an all-conference high school season where she tallied 8 goals and 11 assists. Her blend of vision, pace, and playmaking creativity made her the engine of her team’s attack, consistently breaking lines and creating high-quality chances. Now stepping back into Oakwood Soccer Club season, she’s poised to make an immediate impact as an offensive force ready to elevate the game around her.
Sasha is a goalkeeper known for her quick footwork, smart tactical play, and overall shot stopping abilities. In her sophomore high school varsity season she had 13 shutouts, starting 17 games and was picked for the All League Team. Sasha gives direction her teammates on the field, demonstrating her leadership and ability to anticipate play.
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Ella Heath | Goalkeeper
Lou Fusz SC 2010 (MO)
Heath is one of the premier goalkeepers in the GA from the Class of 2028, guiding Lou Fusz SC 2010 to the Frontier Conference Championship this fall. She’s a strong NCAA Division I level prospect who earned a spot on the 2025 GA National Talent ID Event roster.
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Ada Collier | Forward / Midfielder
Lou Fusz SC 2010 (MO)
One of many talented players for the Lou Fusz SC 2010 squad which has wrapped up the GA Frontier Conference title, Collier is an established attacking playmaker as both a forward and midfielder. She earned a GA Frontier Conference Talent ID Event selection earlier in 2025.
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Elizabeth Steele | Forward
Century United 2009 (PA)
Steele has emerged as a dynamic forward early in the GA season, showcasing impressive versatility and consistency. Comfortable striking with both her right and left foot, she’s a true dual-threat attacker who can finish from a variety of angles. She consistently anticipates plays, creates space for teammates, and finds smart passing lanes that keep her team’s offense fluid and dangerous.
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Mya Schroeder | Forward / Midfielder
North Shore United 2010 (WI)
A multiple-time USYNT ID and GA Midwest Talent ID representative, Schroeder is a dominant attacking player with equal power with both feet. She has added more precision passing in the past year to open up opportunities for teammates. With high-end speed and relentless effort and intensity, Schroeder has caused fits for opponents regardless of where she plays on the field.
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Gabby Gjeldum | Goalkeeper
Galaxy SC 2010 (IL)
Gjeldum has earned six invites to USYNT Talent ID camps as she’s been a reliable and steady leader for a Galaxy SC 2010 team which advanced all the way to the title match at the 2025 GA Finals, placing 2nd overall. She has the height (currently 5′ 10″) and the athleticism to succeed as an NCAA Division I goalkeeper, playing with noteworthy aggression and toughness in the box. Her team allowed just 7 goals in 16 games this fall. (HIGHLIGHTS)
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Liv Owens | Goalkeeper
Kansas Rush 2008/2007 (KS)
Playing up 2 years once again for her 2nd GA National Event, Owens will be competing with the Kansas Rush U19 team in Norco. She had an impressive performance at the 2025 GA Summer Showcase, where she also played up, and now gets another major opportunity to show her skills in front of college coaches, with her active recruiting window opening up in June 2026.
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Anniston Grant | Defender
Tophat Gold 2010 (GA)
A gritty 1v1 defender who makes hard tackles and shows good physicality, Grant is excellent at reading plays and intercepting passes, shutting down the offense before it starts. She’s an outside back who exhibits great speed and loves to get involved in the offense, contributing both goals and assists from the left side of the field.
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Sophia Cochran | Defender
Galaxy SC 2010 (IL)
Cochran is a physical, goal scoring defender who excels at playing the ball in the air and displays pinpoint long range passing. The team captain and US Youth Soccer ODP National Selection can make a difference on both sides of the field for one of the best teams in the league, Galaxy SC 2010, last season’s GA National Finalist.
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Jayla Woods | Defender
Sporting Nebraska FC 2010 (NE)
Jayla is a key part of the Sporting Nebraska 2010 defensive unit which currently leads the GA’s Midwest Conference with a whopping 9 clean sheets on the season. Woods and her teammates on the back line have been smothering opponents throughout league play and in tournament action during the Fall 2025 campaign, conceding only 9 total goals.
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Layla Gregoire | Defender
Downtown United SC 2008/2009 (NY)
Gregoire is a full time Gotham FC2 player, in addition to playing with Downtown United in the GA. She recently was selected for Trinidad and Tobago’s U17 National Team, and will be playing in the CONCACAF Qualifiers in January 2026. She was selected at the Winter Gotham FC ID Event as the best defender from the class of 2028.
2027
An uncommitted Class of 2027 prospect, Friedman is one of only four juniors on her IMG Academy 2008 GA team, and has been a key member during multiple deep runs in the Girls Academy postseason. Friedman is a box-to-box midfielder with a high work rate, consistently earning a high completion percentage and using her field vision to create goal scoring chances for her teammates.
A strong defender for IMG Academy 2008, Boedefeld has been a major contributor for one of the top teams in the GA’s Southeast Conference. She can line up at outside back, wingback or at center back with a high level of comfort. IMG Academy 2008 made a deep postseason run last season, advancing all the way to the GA Finals in Virginia, thanks in large part to their defensive play.
A fast-rising outside back with real recovery pace and a competitive edge in 1v1 defending. Jimeson breaks up wide-channel attacks with smart angles and clean tackles, and she’s been gaining attention for sequences where she tracks down wingers on through balls and shuts the play down without fouling. Steady engine, strong second-ball instincts, and a growing attacking presence on overlaps. After training in MLS Next in the fall, Jimeson shows a strong upward trend heading into GA Winter Showcase.
Malace is a high-impact, versatile defender for Northern Virginia Alliance who excels as both a center back and outside back. College coaches will take notice of her elite tactical awareness, exceptional discipline, and ability to read the game – consistently shutting down top attackers and anticipating plays before they develop.
She combines strength, composure, and clean, well-timed tackling to dominate 1v1 situations, maintaining control over her side of the field under pressure. Beyond her defensive skills, Malace is a standout distributor, delivering precise short- and long-range passes that reliably launch transitions and set the tone for her team’s build-up play.
Known for her composure, defensive IQ, and ability to control the back line, Shields has made a seamless transition to Chicago’s FC United from the Michigan Jaguars, and her impact has been immediate. Already committed to Loyola Chicago to play Division I soccer, Shields continues to elevate her game and solidify herself as one of the top 2009 defenders in the GA.
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Rory Chiles | Defender / Midfielder
Michigan Jaguars 2008 (MI)
Chiles is coming off her third straight selection to the GA Mid-America Talent ID Event and was a 2024-25 GA National Talent ID Selection. Widely considered a solid NCAA D1 prospect, Chiles is currently mulling offers and visits. The defensive midfielder / center back has the body strength and athleticism to win duels, shield, and win 50-50 balls in the air.
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Brooklynn Cisek | Forward
San Antonio City SC 2009 (TX)
A pace-driven winger with explosive speed and technical footwork, Cisek consistently beats defenders and converts chances with confidence. Her wide-area dominance and finishing touch have earned her the top spot on the team’s scoring chart.
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Tia LaBrecque | Midfielder
NEFC Red 2009 (MA)
LaBrecque is a regular on the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team, and she recently helped the squad capture a Gold Medal in the 2025 Deaflympics. She earned selections for the GA Northeast Talent ID Event and the GA National Talent ID Event last season, while also being named to the roster for the 2025 Generation Adidas Cup GA All-Star Team. LaBrecque jumps out on the field with her exceptional pace and high work rate in the midfield.
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Bethany Poklemba | Defender
Tophat Navy 2008/2007 (GA)
Poklemba has been a consistent and commanding presence at outside back for Tophat Navy 2008/2007. She’s ranked as a top defender in Georgia for the Class of 2027 and was also recognized as All-Region for North Paulding High School. She has the soccer IQ and adaptability to also play at center back and in the midfield.
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Emily Krichbaum | Goalkeeper
Northern Virginia Alliance 2009 (VA)
This Class of 2027 University of Oklahoma commit will be one of the top goalkeepers competing at the GA Winter Showcase. Representing GA newcomer club NVA, the future Sooner brings quick reflexes and strong positional play, making her a reliable last line of defense in high-pressure situations. She communicates confidently with her teammates, keeping the defense organized and energized.
2026
A Class of 2026 Eastern Illinois University recruit, Leppla signed her official commitment earlier this month. The senior attacking player has shined on the SC Wave 2008/2007 front line once again this fall, helping vault the team to first place in the GA Midwest Conference.
Frannie Hess | Defender
Union KC 2007/2008 (MO)
An uncommitted 2026, Frannie joins a revitalized Union KC GA 07/08 side and has helped the defensive line be one of the toughest to break through in the GA. Frannie accomplished much with KC Athletics ECNL 08 being a part of their National Playoff team annually from 2022-2025. She’s brought her smart composure and technical abilities to help Union KC climb up the ranks so far this season.
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