ECNL announces new wave of promotions and additions to ECNL Regional Leagues

RICHMOND, Va. – The ECNL announced another wave of promotions and additions to the ECNL Regional League for the 2024-25 season, continuing to solidify the national footprint of the ECNL Regional League, as well as the pathway for clubs to potentially earn promotion into the ECNL over time.

The ECNL Girls Regional League – Great Lakes Alliance (GLA) will become the 21st ECNL Regional League on the girls side, aligning with the ECNL Boys Regional League – GLA structure. FC Dayton, Pacesetter SC, and Sporting Columbus will move from the ECNL Regional League – Great River into the GLA, and will be joined by five new additions, Canton Akron United, Cincinnati Elite, Club Ohio, Mercury, and North FC that have all had success in various national platforms in the marketplace and will now align under the ECNL Regional League structure.

“We have realigned the ECNL Girls Regional League structure in the Midwest into what we feel provides an improved travel and competition structure for the clubs, and that really fills out a robust pathway,” said ECNL Associate Commissioner Chris Leahey. “We feel the competition within each league will be very tight, and when the best move on from each league into the RL Playoffs there will be fantastic matches.”

(+READ: ECNL Regional Leagues continue expansion across the country for 2024-25 season)

The ECNL Girls Regional League – Mountain will continue to expand its footprint in the markets of Idaho and Utah. Idaho Rush, who won the 2008s USYS State Cup and qualified three age groups for the Oceanside Championship in May, will join the league along with Northern Utah United Avalanche, while ECNL member club Boise Thorns will fully align with the ECNL by adding teams into the ECNL Regional League.

“Idaho Rush Girls Program is thrilled to join the ECNL Regional League. We eagerly anticipate the new competition and continued collegiate exposure provided by showcase events and postseason play,” said Idaho Rush Girls Program Director Olly Frick. “With a rich history of developing high quality players, engrained with the Rush Core Values, we’re excited to exhibit what Idaho Rush players can bring to the ECNL platform.”

In Texas, on the boys side, 956 United, Cosmos, and Pines Futsal (2010 Boys) have been promoted into the ECNL Regional League – USC, while 210FC, Austin Texans, Cosmos, and Georgetown Force have been promoted on the girls side.

“The USC is excited to announce the addition of teams from six new clubs set to compete in the fall of 2024,” said Lupe Metzger, Executive Director of the USC TX Regional League. “We are always eager to add quality member clubs to the league. With these additions we are thrilled to raise the level of competition, grow the league, and to break into new geographical locations.”

In addition, Houstonians FC earned promotion from the ECNL Boys Regional League – USC into the ECNL Boys Regional League – Texas for the 2024-2025 season, after a fall season where they finished top of the table in three age groups and in the top 3 spots in two other age groups.

“The Texas boys market has had a lot of movement up and down the ECNL and ECNL Regional League pyramid over the past 3 years, which demonstrates our commitment to rewarding performance over time,” continued Leahey. “With this movement, every year has become more competitive at every level to push the development of these teams and players forward.”