National Academy League adds Girls Conferences for 2024-25 campaign

The National Academy League (NAL), which recently launched as a developmental platform primarily serving MLS NEXT member clubs on the boys’ side, is expanding to include Girls Conferences starting in Fall 2024.

As the NAL nears the end of its inaugural season with exclusively Boys Conferences, it will continue to grow heading into its second season not only with more boys competition, but will bring on four inaugural Girls Conference as well.

The inaugural Girls Conferences will include the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-America, Northeast and New England, with a total of 226 teams representing 38 member clubs. Membership has already been unveiled for 3-of-4 Conferences, with only the Northeast yet to be revealed. The NAL has been sharing the member clubs for each Conference via their social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook.

“We are delighted to be joining the National Academy League platform providing increased access through Oakwood membership, to two of the best regional levels of competition in the market,” stated Oakwood SC Coaching Director Dave Farrell.

Based in Connecticut,  Oakwood SC is an MLS NEXT member club on the boys’ side and a founder member of the NAL. The club has a strong Girls Academy (GA) program as well, already with a GA National Championship under their belts, and now becomes a founding NAL member on the girls’ side.

“As we head into the 24/25 season, with an increase of resources now behind us, expanding the club’s footprint is one of our main priorities and we fell there’s no better place to do this than to add teams that compete with our friends and partners from fellow MLS NEXT clubs in the Northeast Academy League and Girls Academy clubs in the NAL,” Farrell continued.

Former Boston College and professional women’s soccer player Lauren Berman, who spent the past 4 years working with the Harvard women’s soccer program, has been tabbed to serve as the lead administrator of the NAL’s Girls Conferences in the Northeast and New England.

The NAL is operated by CM8 Soccer, a consulting and management company which works with soccer organizations and facilities across the country.