Six Youth Stars Already Making Noise in the Bay Area
The next generation of elite female talent is already taking shape.
The first article in this series celebrated female players who earned Division I opportunities, followed by Article 2 Bay Area Boys who are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape. Now we look the players who represent the next generation of female players — players who have already begun shaping the region’s future.
These players aren’t committed to college or pro sides just yet. They’re still building. Still learning. Still writing the early chapters of their stories. And yet, through high-level development environments, they’ve already demonstrated advanced qualities in their age groups.
As part of their development, each player below has used the COPA Score as an objective checkpoint every 4 months— a way to track progress across technical, physical, and cognitive measures, and understand how their metrics compare to older peers and elite benchmarks through COPA’s strong database of players across various levels of play.
Not as predictors of their future, but as objective clues supporting the same strengths coaches are starting to see on the field.
Their growth curves are steep, their potential is clear, and their impact is already being felt.
Mercy Karson – Mustang SC
Reference Group: NCAA D1 Female Players
Already recognized by the US Youth National Teams, Mercy is one of top prospects in the country for her age. Competing with Mustang SC, Mercy has earned trials with Racing Louisville via the COPA Pro Pathway, and more recently been with Bay FC. NWSL club’s are already monitoring her. She stands out on the field with her composure on the ball, and shows tactical understanding well beyond her years. Her technical, physical and cognitive metrics continue to develop, as observed through her COPA Score.
Saige Scarborough – Davis Legacy
Reference Group: Female Players +/-6months
A natural goalscorer for Davis Legacy ECNL, Saige combines physical presence with sharp finishing instincts. Her same age comparison 99th-percentile sprint speed and strong reaction metrics explain why she’s so dangerous around goal. Saige has leverage The COPA Score every 4 months to monitor progress in key aspects all while seeing consistent USYNT invitations and success the club level. Her potential trajectory is national-level.
Everleigh Porter – DeAnza Force
Reference Group: NCAA Female Soccer Players
One of the most talented 2010 players in the region, Everleigh’s midfield intelligence and consistency stand out. Her elite cognitive metrics and sharp accuracy scores match the way she reads and solves the game under pressure. Already attracting interest from top academic and athletic programs, and invites to COPA x Racing Louisville Talent ID Day in March 2025 she’s on a exciting path to playing at the highest level.
Anava Armanino – DeAnza Force
Reference Group: NorCal PDP U15 Girls
A De Anza Force ECNL standout, Anava’s creativity and 1v1 ability are supported by top-percentile agility and strong problem-solving metrics when compared to elite players above her age group, confirming her ability to break pressure and unlock defenses. With a recent USYNT Talent ID invite and a standout performance at COPA’s Talent ID Day in July 2025, she’s emerging as one of NorCal’s top young playmakers.
Jayla Swindle – Bay Area Surf
NCAA Division 1 Female Soccer Players
A high-impact attacker for Bay Area Surf, Jayla blends explosiveness with clinical finishing — supported by her impressive COPA Score metrics. With national-level experience and impressive high-school production, she’s projecting toward long-term success.
Emmy Gotshall – Santa Rosa United
Female Players +/-6months
A standout attacker for Santa Rosa United ECNL and Casa Grande HS, Emmy excels in breaking pressure and finding final passes. Her top-percentile speed-of-play reflects her ability to operate quickly in tight areas. Another athlete leveraging the COPA Score every 4 months as part of her development, she’s continuously improving. With WPSL experience already under her belt, and attendance at COPA’s Talent ID Days in 2025, she’s preparing for the college game.
A Region Built for What Comes Next
These youth player’s standout performances on the field, promising COPA Score profiles, and rapid progression remind us that the Bay Area continues to produce players who shape the future of the game.
And as these players continue to grow, compete, and refine their craft, the combination of objective data from the COPA Score and on-field performance will continue to reveal just how far they can go.
The region’s future remains bright — and these players are a big reason why.