Stop by any youth soccer competition, and it’s possible to find a player who will go on to have a standout professional career. But, historically, few events have provided as clear of a glimpse into the future of the sport as the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Interregionals.
A longtime marquee event in US Youth Soccer ODP — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2027 — the Interregionals have featured many players that have gone on to star in women’s college soccer, play professionally and represent their country at the highest levels of world soccer.
The latest iteration of the event is set to take place Nov. 21-25 in the Orlando, Fla., area — exactly 10 years after the 2016 Girls Interregionals included several players who now play for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
On the fields of Boca Raton, Fla., 10 years ago, eight members of recent national team camps participated in the Girls Interregionals. The various 2016 ODP regional teams included Avery Patterson, Jordan Silkowitz, Lilly Reale and Michelle Cooper — who each were with the USWNT for the October 2026 training camp and Spain friendlies.
“It was a good step for me to be opened to the players and pool that I was playing with,” Cooper said of her ODP experience. “That brought in a lot more learning and a lot more diversity in the way that I play… Going through that cycle for a couple of years, it helped me build a lot of relationships.
“A lot of those girls ended up going to youth camps, as well, so I continued to develop with them. So, it was a really good process for me.”
Ayo Oke, who made her USWNT debut in January 2026, was also a member of the ODP teams in 2016. In addition to the players on the 2016 ODP rosters, Trinity Rodman, Trinity Byars and Ally Sentnor competed at the Interregionals 10 years ago as members of the U.S. Under-14 Girls National Team.
Though she was not in the October 2026 USWNT camp, Sentnor has 23 caps with the national team and has spoken about her experience at Interregionals being an early introduction to the youth national team system. [Video]
For many players, ODP offers that first taste of stepping outside the comforts of a club team environment.
“I have fond memories of ODP,” said Emily Fox, who attended the Girls Interregionals in 2012 and 2013.
The USWNT and Arsenal FC defender acknowledged the commitment of her family in helping her participate in ODP, which proved beneficial to her early career.
“With Interregionals, with nationals, it was one of the first experiences I had that opened me up to that pool of state, regional and national players. And it helped lead me to the national team. I think it was great and a fun time.”
That’s a common sentiment among players who continued to the national team program after spending time in ODP during their youth careers.
Prior to scoring a clinching goal in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, Rose Lavelle spent several years participating in ODP and attended the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Girls Interregionals.
Shortly after earning Golden Ball at the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship, Lavelle spoke to US Youth Soccer about the impact ODP played in her growth to that point. “I did ODP for about seven years, and I always say that I think if I didn’t do it, I would not be where I’m at where I am at today,” Lavelle said in 2014. “I think it helped me so much. When I went to Boca Raton for the Interregionals, that’s where I got noticed. If I wasn’t doing ODP, I wouldn’t even probably be with the National Team at this point.”
USWNT players who competed at ODP Interregionals
Players who have been called into USWNT camps in 2026
| Emily Sonnett | South Region |
| Lo’eau LaBonta | West Region |
| Jane Campbell | South Region |
| Rose Lavelle | Midwest Region |
| Emily Fox | East Region |
| Sam Coffey | East Region |
| Yazmeen Ryan | South Region |
| Jordan Silkowitz | East Region |
| Naomi Girma | West Region |
| Sophia Wilson | West Region |
| Avery Patterson | South Region |
| Michelle Cooper | Midwest Region |
| Trinity Rodman | U.S. U-14 National Team |
| Lilly Reale | East Region |
| Ayo Oke | South Region |
| Trinity Byars | U.S. U-14 National Team |
| Ally Sentnor | U.S. U-14 National Team |
| Maddie Dahlien | Midwest Region |
