Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy TeamRank, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide, and we release the latest standings for U16, U17 and U18 Girls. Next week, we will update the younger age groups on the Boys side. We will update our National Top 25 of each age group at least once per month.

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West Coast on the rise at U16

Doug Swanson’s West Coast FC ECNL squad handed No. 1 De Anza Force its first loss of the season at the San Diego National Event, but that wasn’t their only highlight in this jam-packed spring season. WCFC amassed an 8-0-1 record since our last update, beating No. 1 De Anza Force, No. 3 PDA, and earning a draw with No. 10 San Diego Surf on its way to the No. 2 spot in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

FC Stars of Massachusetts is undefeated this spring, on a 9-0-3 run since the thaw and boasts a 12-2-4 overall record. That record includes key victories over No. 25 FC Dallas, No. 16 Bethesda, and No. 4 PDA. TDS Combine alum and IMG Academy Class of 2017 No. 21 Gabrielle Brummett is the points leader for the Stars, with 11 goals as well as 16 assists on the season, and recently gave her verbal commitment to Duke.

More: ECNL Scoreboard | Commitments | ECNL coverage | IMG Academy 150 Rankings

Showcase highs/lows at U17

Slammers followed its loss to No. 10 Santa Rosa United at the San Diego National Event with a 6-0-1 record in conference play to climb into the second spot in the ECNL Southwest Conference and from No. 9 to No. 7 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. Key to Slammers’ rise in the rankings were wins over SoCal foes No. 8 Real So Cal and No. 9 San Diego Surf.

Crossfire Premier ticks up a notch to No. 16 after a successful trip to the San Diego National Event where they topped Eclipse Select 1-0, handing the top team in the nation its first loss of the season.

No senioritis for U18

Washington Premier’s season is heavily weighted towards March and April, a time when this age group might suffer from senioritis, but youth national team veteran and Washington recruit Kelcie Hedge and her squad had no trouble making a run into the postseason. WPFC finished conference play with a 12-1-1 record, good enough for first in the mountain division and No. 8 in our standings, and will have a month to prepare for playoffs.

Michigan Hawks and Minnesota Thunder trade places to No. 16 and No. 17, respectively, after two head-to-head battles in April gave the Hawks an extra three points, six points ahead of the Thunder in the conference standings and just five back of No. 3 Eclipse Select with two matches left to play.

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Boys

Grande Sports Academy TeamRank is the comprehensive team-ranking system devised by TopDrawerSoccer.com to provide an objective and common-sense approach to determining which elite youth soccer teams are the best in the nation.

The rankings, updated monthly, are primarily results-based, with a nod toward the league and championship competitions that emulate how excellence is determined in leading soccer nations around the world.

Tournaments are also included but at a reduced value due to the many mitigating factors involving such events, including attrition and guest players.

A final layer of executive evaluation is provided to account for variables that often impact results, thus ensuring that the monthly lists are not subjective, but are not purely mechanical.