LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes close down Girls Academy programs

MLS clubs LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes are shutting down their Girls Academy programs, following the closure of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

SoccerWire has confirmed earlier reports from the Los Angeles Times and Top Drawer Soccer regarding the closures, after the clubs notified their respective memberships of the decision over the past two weeks.

The LA Galaxy Girls Academy was the first fully-funded elite girls program run by an MLS organization, and saw major success since its launch in 2017 ahead of the Girls DA’s inaugural season. LA Galaxy Academy earned the No. 35 spot in the most recent edition of the SoccerWire Top 100 Girls Club Rankings, and their former affiliate LA Galaxy San Diego came in at No. 50.

The LA Galaxy San Diego program became City SC earlier this year, as LA Galaxy ended all affiliate relationships with its youth clubs.

Prior to the recent closure the U.S. Soccer DA, the LA Galaxy U-16 Girls were in first place in the Southwest Division with a 12-1-3 record. The LA Galaxy San Diego U-16 Girls were also in playoff position, holding the No. 3 spot in the Southwest Division and the No. 12 overall playoff seed.

San Jose Earthquakes Academy claimed the No. 10 spot in the most recent SoccerWire Top 100 Girls Club Rankings. The club’s U-15 team captured the Girls DA national championship last season, completing an amazing undefeated campaign with a 34-0-3 record.

Both the LA Galaxy affiliates and the Earthquakes have helped develop several U.S. Youth National Team players. Following national championship run last summer, the Earthquakes were represented by 4-of-20 players on the U.S. U-16 Girls National Team training camp roster.

As the former LA Galaxy and Earthquakes players seek new places to play for in the 2020-2021 season, staff members of both clubs have said they are working with families throughout the process. Both the Bay Area and Southern California are among the top soccer hotbeds in the entire country, with no shortage of elite youth soccer options.

The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and newly-launched Girls Academy League have each retained numerous California clubs that were previously part of the Girls DA. To see what all former Girls DA clubs are doing, follow SoccerWire’s Girls Development Academy Club Realignment Tracker.