SAN FRANCISCO (May 1, 2024) — The San Francisco Glens Soccer Club announced today that Duke defender Elle Piper has re-signed for the 2024 USL W League season, pending league approval.

The San Jose native recently completed her second season with the Blue Devils, earning All-ACC Academic and ACC Honor Roll honors. In her sophomore season, Piper started 14 of the 15 she featured in, accumulating over 1,100 minutes of playing time. 

Overall, in two seasons with Duke, Piper, who has started in 19 of her 37 appearances, has amassed 17 clean sheets.

“I'm so excited to be back home for another season,” said Piper. “Up the Glens!”

Piper is coming off an impressive inaugural USL W League season for the Glens, earning USL W League Team of the Year First Team honors after scoring two goals and adding four assists from the backline in eight appearances during the 2023 season. 

The defender played a pivotal role in the club’s Nor Cal Division title and national semifinal appearance last season. 

During her time with Bay Area Surf, Piper was named one of the top 50 college recruits in the country by TopDrawerSoccer after graduating from Valley Christian High School. 

“We are thrilled to bring back Elle this year,” said Glens head coach Jessica Hewins. “Her defensive expertise and tactical awareness garnered her USL W Team of the Year honors. Her dedication to the game and relentless work ethic align perfectly with our values and make her an invaluable asset to our roster.”

Under the tutelage of her father and coach, Heath, her teams won three combined national championships in the U.S. Development Academy and Girls Academy. 

The San Francisco Glens are kicking off the 2024 USL W League campaign on the road on Saturday, May 18 vs. Academica SC. Home tickets will go on sale soon. 

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.

In 2022, the club started the construction of a soccer-specific facility at Treasure Island with a targeted completion date by mid-2024. 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 $280,000 last year alone. Donate now by visiting sfglensacademy.com/donate.

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.