DUSC joins Girls Academy League

Statement from Executive Director, Kevin McCarthy, on joining Girls Academy:

I am incredibly excited to announce that our Downtown United Soccer Club girls teams U13-U19 will be joining the Girls Academy League for the 2024-2025 season! We believe this league aligns perfectly with our organization's values, offering players a superior platform for development and collegiate exposure. Club soccer is ever-evolving, and it's crucial we provide our players with top-notch opportunities for their long-term goals, which the Girls Academy League delivers.

This move marks a natural progression in the pathways established by DUSC for girls' and women's soccer in NYC. We anticipate our highly successful WPSL team to continue its success, with a significantly higher proportion of homegrown players.

On a personal note, this is a career highlight for me. Three decades ago, I began coaching the Columbia University Women’s team, and I've been deeply committed to advancing the girls' and women's game in NYC ever since. The players I coached at Columbia continue to inspire me, and I'm proud of Coach Tracy Bartholomew's leadership taking the program to new heights. I'm grateful to my colleagues at DUSC, our Board, and our community for their investment in building a robust infrastructure and model for the female game.

Special recognition goes to Academy Director Arman Osooli who has been the architect of our girls program since my tenure at DUSC, Alexandra Keaney, our Girl's Technical Director an extraordinary coach and a wonderful role model for our players and staff, and Leanne Campbell whose hard work and vision as our Co-Director of Operations and DUSC Women General Manager have helped make this possible.

I am also overflowing with excitement as Emma Hayes, our new USWNT head coach, prepares to lead the most successful national team in women’s soccer history to even greater achievements. Emma's upbringing in an urban environment, honing her skills on the streets and pitches of London, has equipped her well for this role. She understands that outside the US, the best female players are developing in cities. NYC has played a significant role in Emma’s coaching journey, and I've had the privilege of closely collaborating with her as she began her coaching career in the States. Her immense success with Chelsea, both domestically and globally, is truly inspiring.

The future looks bright for DUSC and girls' and women's soccer in NYC. We invite all who share our vision for transforming player development in Manhattan, across the five boroughs, and in the diverse cities across our nation to join us on this journey — players, coaches, managers, and sponsors alike.

Let’s Go!