SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Glens announced today that Mexico Under-20 forward America Frias has signed with the club for the 2023 USL W League season, pending league approval.

The San Jose native is coming off a momentous 2022 as she competed in the FIFA U20 World Cup for El Tri and won a collegiate national championship with UCLA.

“I’m so excited to be joining the SF Glens this season and playing in front of some amazing fans along with elite players and coaches,” said Frias. “Can’t wait to see you guys out there. Up the Glens!”

Internationally, Frias captured a bronze medal with Mexico’s U20s at the 2022 Sud Ladies Cup, where she netted a game-winning goal against the Netherlands. Four years prior, she represented the United States in earning a gold medal at the Under-15 CONCACAF Championships, scoring a second-half hat trick against Jamaica in the group stage.

A Leigh High School alumna, Frias will be reunited on the Glens with recent signing Alice Barbieri. At club level, she won a combined three national championships with the San Jose Earthquakes Academy, and later, Bay Area Surf.

“America has a wealth of experience playing at the highest level,” said Glens head coach Mike Sharabi. “And there is no substitute for her international experience, playing in the U20 World Cup. We know America will make an impact in every game contributing goals, as well as setting up her teammates.” 

“We are so pleased to have America back with us again,” added Glens assistant coach Heath Piper, who coached her at club level. “She is such an important player for us. She understands the game and our system of play very well, and with the players we have, there is no other No. 9 we would want more. She is an unselfish player that is always in right place at the right time to support her teammates or score a goal.”

The San Francisco Glens are entering their first USL W League season in the NorCal Division. Open tryouts will take place March 11 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.