Nationals Blue captures first Girls Academy Champions League overall club title

The Girls Academy (GA) crowned its age group Champions League winners as well as the overall club Champions League winner at the recent GA Champions League event held on the campus of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

2021-2022 Champions League Age Group Winners:

• U13: South Shore Select (MA)
• U14: Nationals Blue (MI)
• U15: Cincinnati United Premier (OH)
• U16: Colorado Rush (CO)
• U17: Florida United (FL)
• U19: FC Bay Area Surf (CA)
• Overall Club Champion: Nationals Blue (MI)

“The Champions League event provided a unique experience for our players to get some of the top collection of meaningful games in the United States,” said David Robertson, Nationals Girls Academy Director. “Playing the best of the best, with hundreds of college coaches and national team coaches/scouts from multiple countries on the sideline is something our players, families, and staff were proud to be a part of. We look forward to continuing to see it be one of the nation’s premier female youth experiences.”

The event featured teams competing in a round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final match to determine the Champions League winner per age group for the 2021-2022 season. In addition to each age group’s Champions League winner, an overall league-wide Club Champion was named based on results in the Champions League. This was a unique and highly competitive event for the players and clubs.

[+ Players That Impressed: Girls Academy Champions League 2022 Florida Event]

“The Champions League event in Florida was incredible,” said Courtney Drummond, City SC Girls Academy Director. “The event itself provided high competition with something to play for in each game. Sidelines filled with college coaches and U.S soccer scouts, the players rose to the high stakes. You could feel the energy and intensity of each game while walking around the facility. It was a tremendous event, one of which hasn’t been done in the youth game.”

Full Champions League clubs include: Cedar Stars Monmouth, City SC, Colorado Rush, Cincinnati United (CUP), FC Bay Area, Houston Dash, IMG Academy, Lamorinda, Nationals, NEFC, SC Del Sol, South Shore Select, Tophat, and TSJ FC Virginia. Champions League wildcard positions include teams from Albion SC Las Vegas, Florida United, Lonestar, Lou Fusz, Michigan Jaguars, Oakwood SC, OL Reign, SC Wave, and West Coast FC.

2022-2023 Champions League clubs and teams will be determined after the 2021-2022 regular season and playoffs conclude.