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Orange County SC

A Women's Pathway to Pro: USL Academy in OC

January 25, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release


Orange County is among the nation's largest club soccer markets and a focal point for youth soccer, especially women's soccer. In the Orange County area alone there are upwards of 40 AYSO regions, over 20 competitive clubs, and the majority of the players are female.

Two-time FIFA World Cup champions Julie Foudy and Amy Rodriguez both hail from the OC. Foudy, who was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame along with her teammate Mia Hamm in 2007, played her high school soccer at Mission Viejo High School in Orange County. Amy Rodriguez grew up in Lake Forest and went to Santa Margarita High School. Many more of the world's top women's players come from Southern California and train in OC during the offseason.

Deep Roots: The Pali Blues

Women's soccer is a fundamental part of Orange County Soccer Club's history and DNA. Before becoming the Orange County Blues in 2013 and then rebranding as the Orange County Soccer Club in 2017 under new ownership, the club was originally named the LA Blues. The LA Blues had a professional sister club under the same ownership, called the Pali Blues.

The Pali Blues played in the USL W-League from 2008-2014 and remained the most successful USL W-League club ever, with four championships and five western conference titles in only seven seasons.

"Of course we're proud of the role we played for players like Tobin Heath, Kelley O'Hara, Christen Press, and Abby Dahlkemper, who are now World Cup winners," said LA Blues founder (and current OCSC minority shareholder) Ali Mansouri. "But our other success and this may be just as important, is that we offered inspiration for a generation of young girls in Southern California who could come and see these rising stars at their hometown stadium and dream of becoming rising stars themselves."

The Pali Blues saw seven US national team players come through their locker room and also garnered attention internationally, signing players like Italian Sara Gama, who is currently the captain of both Juventus and the Italian national team.

Rangers Women's Football Club

Rangers Women's Football Club is a women's professional soccer team that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. The team is affiliated with OCSC's European partner club, Rangers F.C., and shares the club's training facilities and colors. The champions and runners-up of SWPL 1 qualify directly for the Round of 32 of the UEFA Women's Champions League.

As a part of Orange County SC's partnership with Rangers FC, coaches from Rangers FC will be coming to Orange County throughout the year to be a part of a series of Talent Identification Camps (ID camps). These camps are being held for the purpose of finding the best female soccer talent in Orange County. The first girl's ID camp is currently planned for late February 2021.

"It is exciting to be able to further the partnership with Orange County by integrating the women's pathway," said Rangers Women's and Girls' Football Manager Amy McDonald. "I am looking forward to having the opportunity to work with everyone at Orange County and to continue to build on the already strong relationship between the two clubs."

In October of 2020, Brianna Westrup, a Newport Beach native who went to Corona Del Mar High School, signed a full contract with Rangers Women's Football Club. Westrup, who starts at center-back, is enjoying her first season with Rangers and served as captain in a 9-0 victory over Motherwell in December. The option to play professional soccer on the world's biggest stage is now a real option for both boys and girls.

Women's Pathway to Pro In Orange County

With the USL Academy League (U14-U19) set to launch a boy's division for the 2021 regular season, there have been serious talks about adding a girl's division for the Academy Cup tournament 2021. If this were to happen, Orange County SC would almost certainly send a girl's team to this tournament.

In addition, Orange County SC's Youth Soccer Network, which is comprised of some of the best youth soccer clubs in Orange County and offers independent youth clubs the opportunity to partner with the highest level professional soccer club in Orange County, is open to all boys and girls clubs.

"We are committed to extending our professional pathway to talented Southern California girls' players and provide them with the same opportunities to play in Europe through our partnership with Glasgow Rangers FC," said OCSC President of Soccer Operations and GM Oliver Wyss. "With so many talented girls players here locally and Rangers FC having a Premier League in the top division of women's football in Scotland, we believe we can provide a one of a kind pathway for local girls players."

Given Orange County Soccer Club's heritage, the club's international partnership with Rangers WFC, and the possibility of the USL Academy League adding a girls division, there is a bright future for the development of women's professional players in Orange County.

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