January 7 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is doubling down on a talent identification approach that feels distinctly American: the combine. Recently, the league staged both its NWSL Combine and Youth Combine in Florida – invitation-only events designed to bring the country’s top prospects into one place, at one time, in front of club decision-makers.
Combines have long been part of the US sporting landscape. Unlike the academy-led models common in Europe and South America, American sports tend to rely on centralised showcases, from the NFL Scouting Combine to college recruiting camps. The NWSL is applying that same framework to women’s soccer, creating a controlled environment where players can be evaluated side by side rather than scattered across college programmes, youth leagues, and semi-pro teams.
For NWSL Youth Development Director Karla Thompson, the combines are about more than measurement and metrics.
“Because of their environment of being elite players, it’s often now a job for them rather than it being fun, even for non-elite players,” she said. “We’re losing players out of the game because they’re just not having fun anymore. Even though you’re here as part of a combine, being identified as a potential pro player, it’s still about having fun. Even as a pro player, you’ve got to have fun in the game or you’re not going to continue.”
The NWSL Combine focuses on players aged 18 to 23. Participants go through performance testing, competitive matches, and direct interaction with NWSL clubs, giving teams a clear sense of who is ready for the professional level. It also opens the door for players who may not have come through traditional pathways, a reality in a system as spread out as US soccer.
Alongside it, the Youth Combine targets players aged 13 to 17, with an emphasis on development rather than selection alone. “It’s been very energetic,” said Peyton Parsons, a recent graduate of Texas Tech. “I feel like all of the girls have been really supportive of each other, but it’s a very intense atmosphere as well.”
Combine coach Ronnie Woodard described that energy as motivating. “These girls have been dreaming about playing in the league,” he said. “Now, the chance that they have to come out here and be in front of all these NWSL scouts in a collective environment, to be able to showcase themselves, it’s empowering.”
For some players, that moment is deeply personal. Violet Rademacher, who is heading into her fifth year at the University of Portland, was one of those invited. “I literally started crying. I was so excited, just seeing all your hard work pay off,” she said. “It’s such an incredible opportunity to get your name out there.”
Both combines are capped at 60 players per session and are strictly invitation-only, with selections made through a league-wide scouting network. The events are closed to the public, limited to registered players, NWSL staff, and club representatives. The focus is on evaluation, not performance for an audience. Code for parents, please stay at the hotel.
The 2025 NWSL Combine is likely just a starting point. Thompson hopes it becomes a tool to widen the net, not narrow it.
“I hope that we’re able to go out and reach into some areas that we’re not identifying players now,” she said. “There are so many young ladies that don’t know about the NWSL yet and could aspire to be players, coaches, admins, journalists, anything involved with sports. They just need to see it to believe they can get there.”
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