ECNL Girls League Cup competition platform expanded for 2024-25 season

The ECNL Girls announced the expansion of the ECNL League Cup competition platform for the 2024-25 season, to include many additional conferences across the country for both ECNL Girls and ECNL Girls Regional League teams. Each ECNL League Cup competition adds new and exciting games for the teams and clubs involved, with playoff spots, Cinderella stories, and bragging rights attached to the new format.

Every ECNL League Cup features two stages: a group stage and a knockout stage. Participating clubs are placed into groups based on geographical location for the group stage, and following the group stage, a number of qualifying teams advance to the knockout stage of each League Cup. In nearly every Cup, the winners will receive an automatic bid to the postseason playoffs in June.

Each ECNL League Cup has a unique format and structure based upon geographic demands, club preferences, and age groups involved. Those formats are below.

2024-25 ECNL League Cup Formats

ECNL Mid-Atlantic League Cup (U15-U18/19): Four groups of three, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL Mid-Atlantic League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

ECNL Midwest League Cup (U13-U14): Four groups of four teams, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL Midwest League Cup winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

ECNL New England League Cup (U15-U18/19): Three groups of three, with each group winner and the best second-place team advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL New England League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

ECNL North Atlantic League Cup (U15-U18/19): Two groups of four teams and one group of three, with each group winner and the best second-place team advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL North Atlantic League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

ECNL Ohio Valley League Cup (U13-U18/19): Three groups of four teams, with each group winner and the best second-place team advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL Ohio Valley League Cup U13-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

ECNL Southeast League Cup (U13-14): Four groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL Southeast League Cup winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

ECNL Southwest League Cup (U13-U14): Three groups of four teams and one group of five, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. There is no postseason berth for the winners of the ECNL Southwest League Cup.

ECNL Texas League Cup (U13-U18/19): Four groups of four teams, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL Texas League Cup U13-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls National Playoffs.

2024-25 ECNL RL League Cup Formats

ECNL RL Heartland League Cup (U15-U18/19): Four groups of five, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL RL Heartland League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls Regional League Playoffs.

ECNL RL New England League Cup (U15-U18/19): Three groups of three, with each group winner and the best second-place team advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL RL New England League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls Regional League Playoffs.

ECNL RL North Atlantic League Cup (U15-U18/19): Two groups of four and one group of three, with each group winner and the best second-place team advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL RL North Atlantic League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls Regional League Playoffs.

ECNL RL Ohio Valley League Cup (U15-U18/19): Four groups of four, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL RL Ohio Valley League Cup U15-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls Regional League Playoffs.

ECNL RL Southwest League Cup (U13-U14): Three groups of four teams and one group of five, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. There is no postseason berth for the winners of the ECNL RL Southwest League Cup.

ECNL RL Texas League Cup (U13-U18/19): Four groups of four, with each group winner advancing to the knockout stage. The ECNL RL Texas League Cup U13-U17 winners receive automatic qualification to ECNL Girls Regional League Playoffs.

Dates for each ECNL League Cup are determined by the conference and regional league, respectively.

“The ECNL League Cup is taking the league by storm,” said ECNL Girls Commissioner Ralph Richards. “The excitement of having a ‘new start’ in this competition platform, and the ability of any team in the competition to claim a postseason spot, makes these games extra special in the calendar. We’re extremely excited to grow the ECNL League Cup platform this season to continue to provide new and meaningful competition schedules for every club.”