Some firsts are worth stopping to celebrate. This was one of them.
In February 2026, DBSports sent its first-ever girls squad to compete at the City of Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Tournament, one of the most competitive youth soccer showcases in the world. Co-hosted by the City of Las Vegas and Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, the tournament draws hundreds of college coaches each year and features teams from across the globe competing on world-class, dedicated soccer facilities.
Three Years in the Making
The girls’ programme at DBSports didn’t happen overnight. It has been built carefully over three years, player by player, session by session, with a clear vision of what it could become. Coaches invested in identifying the right people, creating the right environment, and giving female players a genuine pathway to develop and compete at the highest level.
Part of that vision meant thinking beyond borders. Marisa Praven, an international player from Seattle, Washington, joined the programme through DBSports’ gap year initiative, spending three months training and living as part of the squad. Her presence brought something different, a new perspective, a different style of play, and a reminder of what the programme is capable of attracting.
By the time the group boarded flights to Las Vegas, they had played just three competitive games together in DBS history. What happened next was nothing short of remarkable.
Five Games. Five Results Worth Framing.
The squad arrived at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex and got straight to work.
Their opening game against La Roca FC ended 0-0, a controlled, disciplined start that showed no signs of nerves. Then the goals started to flow. Against Academia de Futbol Atlas FC Chicago, the team produced a dominant 7-0 performance. Marisa led the way with a hat-trick, supported by goals from Jaz, Emma S, Madison, and another from the squad. Marisa also took home Woman of the Match.
Day two brought more of the same. A tight 1-0 win over Bolden Lions, with Katie grabbing the decisive goal and Keelin earning the match award, was followed by a clinical 6-0 demolition of NPSA Washington Surf. Alannah was the standout with three goals, joined on the scoresheet by Layla, Madison, and Lexie. Alannah picked up Woman of the Match for her performance.
Then came the final, DBSports versus Femac Predregal from Mexico. A genuine test. A proper final. The girls won it 4-3, with Evie taking the Woman of the Match award in what was a memorable performance under pressure.
Five games played. The division title was won.
A Squad That Seemed Like They’d Played Together for Years
What made this group special wasn’t just the results. It was how they played together, given how little time they had shared on the pitch before the tournament.
As one of the coaches put it after the final whistle: “A squad made up of three generations of full-time academy players who have had extremely limited time together pre-tournament — but you would never know watching them play.”
That kind of cohesion doesn’t come from a schedule. It comes from culture. From the standard that has been set inside the programme over three years of quiet, determined work.
More Than a Tournament Win
Travelling to compete in Las Vegas gave these players something that goes beyond a trophy. They experienced one of the most professional tournament environments in world youth football. They represented their club on an international stage. And they wrote the first chapter of what DBSports’ girls programme can become.
For the coaches, the staff, and everyone who has played a part in building this from the ground up, the week in Las Vegas was confirmation. The girls programme is real. It is competitive. And it is only getting started.
To every player who pulled on the shirt and gave everything across those five games — this one’s yours.
The first girl group to travel. The first to compete. And the first to win.
Here’s to many more.
