A 15-year-old on a boys’ academy team and a 16-year-old former college student: Meet the USA U17 players

Although the senior USWNT has won the Women’s World Cup a record-breaking four times, the nation has yet to conquer the same trophy at the U17 level. Here’s who will be hoping to bring this elusive trophy home for the Stars and Stripes this year.

Loradana Paletta

In 2024, at the age of only 13 years old, teenager Loradana Paletta made headlines for becoming the first girl in history to make a boys’ MLS academy team when she joined NYCFC’s U15 boys club. The midfielder later became the first name, image and likeness (NIL) partner for Italian sports equipment company LOTTO in the United States. 

Paletta’s journey in football began when she was a young child playing against her older brothers in her backyard. She notes that this experience helped her become the player that she is today. Because she was constantly playing with her brothers who were bigger, stronger, and more physical than her, she developed the technical skills and footballing IQ needed to get past them.

It’s no wonder that this highly technical and intelligent player eventually developed into a midfielder. Specifically, Paletta draws inspiration from legendary Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, showing particular admiration for his ability to outsmart players much bigger and stronger than them.

Although she made appearances for the U17 team in 2025, she was ultimately too young to participate in that year’s U17 Women’s World Cup. This year, she’s old enough and determined to win it with her team.

Meila Brewer

Meila Brewer is heading into her second U17 Women’s World Cup but her first as a professional football player. She spent 2025 playing with the UCLA Bruins women’s soccer team as the youngest-ever athlete in the storied university’s history. Brewer missed part of her only college soccer season to participate in the 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup where she started in all four games her team played and scored one goal. 

Her college career was ultimately cut short because she got the opportunity to go professional. In December of 2025, she signed a three-year deal with reigning NWSL Shield winners Kansas City Current. This was not her first experience with the Current — she had trained with the first team and Kansas City Current II before she had even started college. 

The center back has since moved on to USL Super League side Dallas Trinity FC, where she has started and played a full 90 in three of the four matches they’ve played since she joined. Brewer brings professional experience and U17 Women’s World Cup experience to this young USA team hungry for their first win at the tournament.