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Leveling the Playing Field: How Global Goal 5 Leagues are Advancing Gender Equity Across the USA
- Muriel Mena, SWB
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
Step into the gym on a winter afternoon and you’ll hear it first—laughter echoing, sneakers squeaking, and teammates shouting joyful greetings to one another. Girls start lace up their indoor soccer shoes, buzzing with energy after a long day at school.
Before the session kicks off, everyone in the gym—players, coaches, and volunteers—gather in a big circle at center court. It’s a moment for grounding, to check in, and to set the tone for the session ahead. In that circle, every voice matters, and every girl is reminded: this is your space, and you belong here.
At Soccer Without Borders (SWB), we believe that every girl deserves a level playing field, on and off the pitch. Our Global Goal 5 (GG5) League was created to make that vision a reality. Rooted in the belief that sport is a powerful tool for equity, GG5 provides safe, inclusive spaces for girls to play, lead, and thrive. On local fields throughout the U.S., the GG5 League is fostering confidence, connection, and opportunity for girls, one match at a time.
What makes GG5 different? It's not just a league, it’s a leadership pipeline, an empowering girls-center space, and a movement. Designed specifically for girls, GG5 teams prioritize joy, belonging, and personal growth over wins and losses. With girls at the center of every decision—from the team name to the playlist to the design of their jerseys—GG5 creates a culture where girls are not only participants, but leaders shaping both the game and their futures.
GG5 in Action: Updates from Across Our Hubs
From the Bay Area to Boston, the Global Goal 5 League continues to grow as a powerful platform for advancing gender equity through sport. This year marks a major milestone: for the first time ever, every SWB hub across the U.S.—in California, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts—launched and led their own GG5 leagues. This collective effort represents a powerful step forward, expanding access to safe, inclusive spaces where girls can lead, grow, and thrive. Each hub brings this mission to life in unique ways, uplifting girls' voices, fostering community, and building leadership on and off the field.
Keep reading to see how each of our global teams is championing gender equity through GG5 and making an impact in their local communities.
Bay Area:
In the Bay Area, the GG5 league continues to grow as a space of belonging, leadership, and empowerment for girls and non-binary youth from diverse backgrounds. What began as a small gathering of 30 players and two coaches in 2021 has transformed into a multi-city league with more than 100 participants representing nine teams from Oakland, Hayward, and San Francisco.
Created by coaches and players in response to a lack of accessible and welcoming options for girls who were new to both soccer and the U.S., the GG5 league was intentionally designed to level the playing field. Every team earns points not just for wins, but also for demonstrating key values like inclusion, leadership, and positivity; redefining what it means to succeed in sport.
Led by an all-women coaching staff and supported by volunteer referees and alumni, GG5 fosters meaningful connections both on and off the field. Participants build friendships across languages and cultures, develop confidence through gameplay, and take on new leadership roles as team captains, assistant referees, youth coaches, and mentors to their younger peers. For many, it’s the first time they’ve experienced a competitive sports space where their full selves are not only welcomed, but celebrated.
As one coach put it: “GG5 isn’t just about playing soccer, it’s about growing into the kind of teammate, leader, and person you want to be.”
Colorado:
In Colorado, this inaugural season of the GG5 league was intentionally designed to break down barriers to access for middle school girls—creating a space where they could not only play, but thrive. The league brought together over 50 participants from SWB’s three school-based TEAM programs across the Denver Metro Area. Unlike traditional leagues, teams earned extra points for demonstrating SWB values like inclusion, positivity, and sportsmanship, redefining what it means to “win” on and off the field.
To deepen this experience, SWB Colorado partnered with consultants from the University of Denver Sports Psychology Master’s Program. Through this collaboration, participants built skills in confidence, motivation, and teamwork, while also developing stronger team identities and more meaningful connections with one another.
Maryland:
This past winter marked an exciting milestone for SWB Maryland as the hub launched its very first in-house girls league. Designed to create a safe, empowering, and consistent space for girls to play, this league brought together teams from across Baltimore, with weekly match days that emphasized community, confidence, and fun.
In the spring, SWB Maryland also transitioned from co-ed to single-gender sessions at both middle school programs, a shift that led to a major leap in girls' engagement. At one site, the number of girls participating jumped from 25 to 40, and over half attended more than 75% of all sessions. Creating intentional space just for girls proved essential in boosting both attendance and sense of belonging.
With this league, SWB Maryland was able to ensure a culturally responsive, trauma-informed environment where girls could freely express themselves, build skills, and deepen their connection to teammates and mentors. For many participants, it was their first opportunity to play organized soccer and to see themselves as leaders on the field. The launch of this league represents a key step in growing opportunities for marginalized girls in the local Maryland community and advancing gender equity in sport.
Massachusetts:
SWB Massachusetts wrapped up its Goal 5 season with an indoor winter tournament, celebrating a joyful day of soccer and self-expression–bringing together over 34 girls from across our Massachusetts-based programs. The event kicked off with a creative activity where each team designed their own jersey as a form of identity expression, setting the tone for a day rooted in empowerment and team pride. The tournament concluded with an exciting set of matches between our East Boston and Chelsea teams, showcasing the energy and growth of the girls throughout the season.
As part of SWB Massachusetts’ Goal 5 Accelerator Plan, SWB MA set out to ensure that our middle and high school girls teams had meaningful experiences not just on the field, but off of it as well. This spring, they brought that vision to life by hosting its first-ever Women’s Soccer Summit, a powerful end-of-season celebration created by and for our community.
Held on June 18th, the Summit was a collaborative effort fueled by the energy and leadership of our youth. From curating giveaways to preparing panel questions, our young leaders, such as Kimberly and Edlyn, played a central role in making the event a success. They even hosted the panel, featuring an incredible lineup of guests: Nia Christopher (Division 1 player at Northeastern University), Megan Burke (Boston University Women's Soccer Coach), Jammy Torres (Manager of Boston Legacy Fan Experience), and Mary Connor (SWB Co-Founder and current USA Executive Director at Common Goal).
The Summit created a space for participants to celebrate each other, especially our graduating seniors, and to learn about the many pathways available to women in sports. It was an empowering event that highlighted the importance of representation, connection, and dreaming big.
As we look back on another inspiring season of the Global Goal 5 League, one thing is certain: when girls are given the space to lead, play, and grow, entire communities are strengthened.
From jersey design activities that spark self-expression to partnerships that build confidence and belonging, each of our hubs is advancing gender equity in meaningful ways. Whether it’s a first touch on the ball or a first step into leadership, the GG5 League continues to break down barriers and create new opportunities for girls around the world.
You can be a part of this movement. Your support helps us expand inclusive programming, train more mentors, and create lasting change through sport. Donate here to help us level the playing field for girls everywhere.