SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Glens Soccer Club announced today that U.S. Women’s Youth National Team defender Elise Evans will be their first USL W League player in club history.

The TopDrawerSoccer reigning National Freshman of the Year after an outstanding first collegiate season at Stanford, Evans will join the Glens this summer for their initial campaign, pending league approval.

“I’m so excited to play for the Glens in their inaugural season in the W League,” said Evans. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to play with some of my former teammates and coaches again, and meet some new players along the way. For as much as I can this summer, I can’t wait to play in front of some amazing fans, and I can’t wait to have a blast doing so. Up the Glens!”

A Redwood City native and Woodside High School graduate, Evans has amassed a plethora of honors in the past 12 months alone, including a Pac-12 Conference championship, spots on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region and All-Pac-12 first teams, and recent U.S. Women’s Youth National Team training camp where she was called by U20 and U17 head coaches Tracey Kevins and Natalia Astrain.

Elise is a fifth-generation Stanford athlete, as her father Marlon competed in track and field as well as football. Her mother Dena was also a track athlete but was part of the Cardinal's first soccer team that made the College Cup in 1993.

“We are thrilled to have Elise join our inaugural USL W League team,” said Glens head coach Mike Sharabi. “Her pedigree speaks for itself. I’m very much looking forward to working with Elise. We’ll be leaning on her to help anchor our back line and be a leader on and off the field.”

Glens assistant coach Heath Piper is well-acquainted with Evans having coached her during her club days with the San Jose Earthquakes Academy and later at Bay Area Surf, where their 2004 team won three combined national championships at the Under-16 and Under-19 level.

“I’m thrilled that Elise will be able to join us this season,” Piper said. “It is a true pleasure to be coaching her again. She was one of the best center backs in the country at the collegiate level last season and has been an anchor for us in the back for many years, as well as a big-time threat in the box on set pieces.” 

The San Francisco Glens are entering their first USL W League season in the NorCal Division. Open tryouts will take place February 18 and March 12 at Skyline College. Register now at sfglens.com/tryouts.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO GLENS SC

With over 90 total teams and 1,100 youth and adult players, the San Francisco Glens are the largest and most diverse soccer club in The City. Founded in 1961, the Glens have established minor-league men’s team in USL League Two, a women’s team in the USL W League, and a comprehensive youth academy that includes a full pathway in MLS NEXT, the top youth league in America, right down to local micro soccer programs serving kids as young as Pre-K. Last year, the club announced the construction of a soccer-specific facility at Treasure Island with a targeted completion date by end of 2023.

As a community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Glens are proud to have never turned away a single player or family due to financial hardship thanks to internal fundraising efforts and a scholarship program that distributed over $200,000 last year alone. Visit us at sfglens.com and sfglensacademy.com.

ABOUT THE USL W LEAGUE

The USL W League is the nation’s premier pre-professional league developing the next generation of women’s soccer talent both on and off the field, enhancing the pipeline between college and professional soccer. Since the conclusion of the inaugural 2022 season, 25 W League alums have gone to sign a professional contract. In addition, seven players were drafted in the 2023 NWSL draft, and nine players have been invited to professional preseason training camps home and aboard. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. Visit uslwleague.com to learn more.