Atlanta | GA
The US U-17 Women are packing their bags and heading to San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain for the MIMA Cup held February 9-14, 2026.
What is the MIMA Cup?
In its 6th edition – an 8 team friendly tournament style competition designed for development with some of the top youth national teams. Every game will be played at the 3,000-seat Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar. The US ladies will be the top seed in the tournament based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking of the senior WNT.
Format
Each team will open with a first-round matchup. The four winners move on to the Gold Medal Path, while the remaining teams drop into the Consolation Path. Both paths feature semifinal rounds. Gold Path semifinal winners advance to the championship match, with the semifinal losers battling for third place. In the Consolation Path, semifinal winners face off for fifth place, while the remaining teams compete for seventh place.
About the Roster
All but 2 of the 20 players named to the roster are born in 2009. The roster features one player born in 2010, defender Gigi Zuniga and one midfielder born in 2011, Loradana Paletta.
Seven members of the Spain travel roster were part of the U.S. squad that captured the 2024 Concacaf Girls’ U-15 Championship — forwards Maddie DiMaria, Amari Manning, and Deus Stanislaus; midfielders Mia Corona, Elena Vera, and Paletta; and goalkeeper Ella McNeal. That championship group was led by head coach Crinion.
The roster draws from 14 different youth clubs, plus one college player — Deus Stanislaus, now enrolled at UNC. St. Louis Scott Gallagher leads the way with three selections, while Chicago-based Eclipse Select has two. Five players on the squad hail from California.
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Roster (Club; Hometown)
Goalkeepers (2)
- Alexis Fischer (Eclipse Select SC; Chicago, Ill.)
- Ella McNeal (St. Louis Scott Gallagher; Manchester, Mo.)
Defenders (6)
- Sophia Ahrens (St. Louis Scott Gallagher; Fenton, Mo.)
- Kendra Hansen (Pateadores SC; Tustin, Calif.)
- Madeline Maves (Crossfire Premier SC; Seattle, Wash.)
- Venina Moodie (De Anza Force SC; Oakland, Calif.)
- Anaiah Williams (Eclipse Select SC; Glendale Heights, Ill.)
- Gigi Zuniga (Mountain View Los Altos SC; Watsonville, Calif.)
Midfielders (6)
- Mia Corona (Legends FC; Cypress, Calif.)
- Jordyn Heathcock (FC Dallas; Edmond, Okla.)
- Lilah Helwig (FC DELCO; Frackville, Pa.)
- Taylor Morrell (Virginia Development Academy; Leesburg, Va.)
- Loradana Paletta (New York City FC; Syosset, N.Y.)
- Elena Vera (Bay Area Surf ASC; Fairfield, Calif.)
Forwards (6)
- Giselle Aguilar (Solar SC; Cleburne, Texas)
- Maddie DiMaria (St. Louis Scott Gallagher; Fenton, Mo.)
- Gianna Hanf (Match Fit Academy; Chesterfield, N.J.)
- Alexia Hansen (FC Prime; West Palm Beach, Fla.)
- Amari Manning (Players Development Academy; Flemington, N.J.)
- Deus Stanislaus (UNC; Fort Washington, Pa.)
6th MIMA Cup Match Schedule
Match Day 1 – Monday, February 9
- A1: Scotland vs. Morocco
- A2: Wales vs. USA
- B1: Poland vs. Norway
- B2: Mexico vs. England
Match Day 2 – Thursday, February 12
Semifinals
- A3: Winner A2 vs. Winner A1 (Gold Medal Path Semifinal)
- A4: Runner-Up A2 vs. Runner-Up A1 (Consolation Path Semifinal)
- B3: Winner B2 vs. Winner B1 (Gold Medal Path Semifinal)
- B4: Runner-Up B2 vs. Runner-Up B1 (Consolation Path Semifinal)
Match Day 3 – Saturday, February 14
Finals
- F1: Winner A3 vs. Winner B3 (Championship Final)
- F2: Winner A4 vs. Winner B4 (5th Place Match)
- F3: Runner-Up A3 vs. Runner-Up B3 (3rd Place Match)
- F4: Runner-Up A4 vs. Runner-Up B4 (7th Place Match)
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