Good offense starts with good defense, and Anaiah proved that. The Eclipse Select SC defender played a similar role at qualifiers while the U.S. spent most of the tournament in the attacking half. When she was called upon to defend, she was there to track the ball. She consistently won it back, helping her team regain possession and build from the back.

The Penn State commit is a steady fixture with the USYNT system.  She has made various team rosters, going back to as far as being identified in 2022 at the USYNT ID Center for Girls 09 in St. Louis, Missouri.  Her experience through the multiple youth teams has brought her to a recent U17 Georgia Training Camp roster, which ran from November 24 to December 1st, 2025.  She will be part of the U17 team, which will focus on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup.  Previous scouting reports noted that she splits her time between defensive mid and center back positions.  She can make win-backs on the defensive end and create buildups through a solid passing game and using excellent positioning.  The #25 nationally ranked, #3 in IL, and #1 ranked in position is poised to continue her journey with the Red, White, and Blue.

Williams had a solid shift with Eclipse Select, being the anchor of their defensive system. She split her time between defensive midfielder and center back and was nearly flawless defensively, making many key actions inside and around the penalty box. Williams thrived with her positioning as at times it seemed she came out of nowhere to win the ball or cover a teammate that was beaten. She also did solid work on the ball, actively participating in the team’s buildup and helping them progress the ball with her solid passing skills.

The Eclipse squad battled back from a set back in the second game in Washington and won the group with an impressive result. They finished the showing with an excellence performance against FC Dallas. The resolve of the Eclipse team was tested, which should prepare them well for the upcoming quarterfinals. Williams impressed me against FC Dallas and Seattle United. She can do everything. She showed that she can be one of the best No. 8s in the ECNL in this age group. Gabrielle Coyne, Yuridia Hernandez, and Addy Randall were also standouts for Eclipse.