Our Journey. Our Voice.

What is the advisory panel?

The Girls Academy Advisory Panel is a unique player-led group made up of representatives from every team across all clubs in the league. It serves as an important pathway for players to share their voices and directly contribute to creating positive change within the GA. By gathering data and insights from player feedback, the panel actively participates in strategic initiatives designed to enhance the player experience and address the evolving needs of our athletes. 

The Advisory Panel stands out as one of the defining features of the Girls Academy, setting it apart from other leagues. This player-centered approach empowers young athletes, fostering a culture of collaboration and leadership. This unique structure ensures that the GA truly reflects and responds to the voices of its players, making it a powerful differentiator and “superpower” within the landscape of youth soccer. 

What is the purpose?

The Girls Academy Advisory Panel is dedicated to fostering female leadership by empowering players to become impactful leaders within their communities both now and in the future. Through meaningful involvement, the panel inspires players to make a positive difference, build connections, and serve as role models who drive change within and beyond the soccer field. 

The panel emphasizes leadership, education and service. Members benefit from opportunities that support their personal growth as individuals and team leaders, providing a foundation for success on and off the field. Through service initiatives the Advisory Panel encourages players to contribute positively to the communities around them. 

The Girls Academy Advisory Panel ensures that the league remains player-driven, keeping athletes at the heart of decision-making and evolution of the GA. 

Forming connections

Some of the most beautiful moments of the Advisory Panel come when members are finally able to meet each other in person after working together on various projects over video chats. The connection is very much alive and well as a result of the Advisory Panel.

Seizing opportunity

We realize this is not only about using our voice to initiate change. The Advisory Panel provides us the platform and resources to brainstorm and act upon our ideas.

Taking Ownership

This is a unique opportunity and we don’t take for granted our ability to help reshape the youth sports landscape narrative and what youth leadership can bring to fruition.

Meet the Advisory Panel

So, how does the Advisory Panel work? With 115 clubs in Girls Academy across six different age groups, there are a lot of players who make up the collective voice. This makes it all the more important there’s a structure in place to effectively caption the opinions of everyone.

The Advisory Panel consists of just under 1,000 total players. Each club has six (6) Team Representatives, one for each age group, who report to two (2) Club Representatives. From there, the two Club Representatives report to the Conference Representatives. There are two (2) Conference Representatives for each conference. This brings the total number of Conference Representatives to 22. To carry the voice of the players to the Girls Academy Commissioner, three National Ambassadors report directly to the League – Director of League Competitions.

Meet the Ambassadors to the League, as well as the Conference Reps below!

ADDI EGGER

ADVISORY PANEL INTERN

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Originally from Seattle, Washington, Addi Egger played for Seattle Reign Academy in the Girls Academy. Over the past two years, Addi has been an active member of the Girls Academy Advisory Panel, starting in 2022 as a Pacific Northwest conference representative and advancing to one of three co-ambassadors to the league in 2023. Currently, Addi serves as the Intern to the Advisory Panel, where her responsibilities include supporting the management of Team, Club, and Conference Representatives, providing administrative support, coordinating meetings, contributing to mentorship and leadership development, and supporting events. Alongside her internship, Addi is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Creighton University.

KIM McMAHON

ADVISORY PANEL NATIONAL CHAIR

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For over a decade Kim has been actively involved in the youth soccer landscape at Galaxy SC. She has been VP and President as well as a board member at large and the marketing manger for Galaxy SC. She has three kids, her oldest playing NCAA DIII soccer, her middle knee deep in the collegiate soccer recruitment process, and her youngest plays on the Galaxy SC Girls Academy Team. Kimberly McMahon has been an active and integral participant in the GA Advisory Panel Working Group. She has developed multiple graphics and surveys to better support and drive the direction of the Advisory Panel. 

Ambassador to
the League

“The Girls Academy Advisory Panel is a vital part to the Girls Academy as it is the foundation of the league that has generated its tremendous success and formed its identity. The Panel provides players the opportunity to become apart of something bigger than themselves, thus strengthening leadership, service, and character within each member as they learn to advocate for themselves and a voice for female athletes.”

– Olivia Nardone | Mid-Atlantic Conference | Baltimore Celtic

Ambassador to
the League

“The Girls Academy Advisory Panel is an amazing opportunity for players to advocate for themselves and implement change within the league and their community. As a part of the panel, you can raise awareness for specific issues and improve your own leadership skills.”

– Tirryn Sutherland | Mountain West Conference | New Mexico Soccer Academy

Ambassador to
the League

“The Girls Academy Advisory Panel plays a crucial role in developing leadership skills for players all over the League. Through it being player-led, players are encouraged to collaborate with one another, advocate for themselves, and communicate freely with one another. I am so fortunate to be Ambassador for this season. I look forward to being a voice for all players within it and bringing improvement to the League.”

– Saadiya Bain | Southwest Conference | SC del Sol

Lily Selvy

FRONTIER
Lou Fusz Athletic

CHELSEA CROSS

FRONTIER
RISE Socer Club

Samantha Chapman

MID-AMERICA
Cincinatti United Premier Gold

Jordan Williams

MID-AMERICA
Lexington Sporting

Hailey Crabb

MID-WEST
Kansas Rush Soccer Club

Lauren Nidey

MIDWEST
VSA Rush

Mack Hobik

MID-ATLANTIC
Baltimore Celtic

Rebecca Witter

MID-ATLANTIC
Keystone FC

Anna Neff

MOUNTAIN WEST
Utah Celtic

Brooke Langlois

NORTHEAST
Seacoast United

Sydney Kassel

NORTHEAST
New York Soccer Club

Talia Becker

NORTHWEST
San Francisco Elite Academy

Naomi Cole

NORTHWEST
Sacrometo United

Chloe Homfeldt

PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Washington East Surf SC

Ashley Payne

PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Seattle Reign Academy

Layla Kassira

SOUTH CENTRAL
One Knoxville SC

Emma O'Rourke

SOUTHEAST
Wake FC

Liz Brady

SOUTHEAST
South Carolina Surf SC

Emma Neal

SOUTHWEST
FC Tuscon

Kaitlyn Metz

SOUTHWEST
LA Surf SC