Brielle is good at transitioning defensively and recovers quickly to a compact stance. Being a calming and steady defence under pressure. Brielle doesn’t really freak out over the press and retains possession through controlled choices. Demonstrates instincts in spotting and closing down dangerous passing lanes. Shows exceptional defensive awareness and reads the game at least one step ahead of opponents. Shows the capability to slow down adversaries and force play into predictable areas.

Big time player. Was a dominant defensive Force against Sting Austin in one of the early morning kick offs. Playing Left Center Back Hopkins showed her athleticism and her excellent defensive instincts albeit in a loss. She was very good at breaking lines and can even break 2 lines at a time with a single pass. Really good defensive footwork and always seemed to remain in front of the ball as she had a number of poke tackles and shot blocks.

Brielle is a defensive midfielder who is difficult to profile as one type because she excels in every aspect. She can be used as a “destroyer” as she wins the ball constantly wherever she needs to win it. Her strong tackles are always clean and calculated, making it easy for her team to immediately launch attacks after. However, she’s also too good on the ball to be solely considered a “destroyer”. She drives the ball forward brilliantly, releasing it until the very last moment so her team has clearer chances. This shows immense intelligence since she knows how the opposition will react. Being a ball-carrier is also not a complete profile for her, as she accompanies attacks to their very end. She’ll provide extra support near the box, even if she isn’t the one finishing the play. She’s not well-rounded, she’s “full-rounded”, excelling in every aspect.

Hopkins jumped off the screen when scouting the 2027 class. The Charlotte Independence 09 ECNL center back was one of the best players on the field in every game I watched from that team. Considering she is a 2028, that is even more impressive. She would’ve been a top five candidate in the 2027 group as well. Hopkins brings competitiveness, athleticism, and soccer smarts to the center back spot. She is a player with unlimited potential and seems to just be scratching the surface for the type of impact she can have at the elite club level.