The wait is over, and a new season of laLigaW in its Sub-18 category begins with 17 teams dreaming of conquering the championship trophy. Six matches will open the new campaign this Saturday at Yappy Park in Paseo del Norte. Fighting Owls: favorites to repeat. The Fighting Owls of the Interamerican Academy, reigning champions of the LigaW Sub-18 in 2025, are the favorites to lift the trophy again on June 13 at Yappy Park. It is often easy in the preseason to pick the defending champion as the favorite. If they succeed this year, it would be four titles in five seasons, more than enough motivation to write another golden chapter. Panamerican School seeks to settle a debt. Another team arriving with high motivation is the Mustangs of the Panamerican School. The Mustangs have been close to the title on several occasions: they were runners-up in 2022 and 2024 and finished third in 2023 and 2025. The 2022 final is still particularly painful, having lost on penalties due to a decisive save at the end. In this case, however, it is not about the easy way, but the logical one. The return of Athena Parilli, last season's most valuable player and the team's top scorer with five goals, excites the entire Fighting Owls environment. Colegio Real seeks to return to its historic place. For all that the Fighting Owls are favorites, the path will not be easy. Between 2022 and 2024, the Lions achieved a historic three-peat. After four consecutive years in the top positions, everything points to them seeking to turn that consistency into a championship. The immediate impact of the South American Youth Games. As in other youth leagues, LigaW will also be affected by international commitments. This weekend, the South American Youth Games begin, where the U-17 national team, led by Gerard Aubí, will be the host. Players like Julianna Alvarado (Brader), Ana Belisa Pérez and Gabriela Rodríguez (Colegio Real), as well as Maryfer De Gracia (Panamerican School), will be absent for the first rounds while representing the country. These call-ups are a source of pride for their institutions, although their impact on the tournament's development remains to be seen. Key tournament dates. • Inaugural matchday: Saturday, April 11 • Group stage: April 11 to May 23 • Quarter-finals: Saturday, May 30 • Semi-finals: Saturday, June 6 • Grand Final: Saturday, June 13. Inaugural matchday schedule. This is how the inaugural matchday will be played this Saturday, all from Yappy Park in Paseo del Norte: • Colegio La Salle vs. Balboa Academy – 8:30 a.m. • International School of Panama vs. Colegio Real – 9:30 a.m. • Colegio Brader vs. Instituto Panamericano – 10:30 a.m. • El Colegio de Panamá vs. Colegio San Agustín – 11:30 a.m. • Metropolitan School vs. Colegio Javier – 12:30 p.m. • Academia Interamericana vs. Panamerican School – 1:30 p.m. With clear favorites, established contenders, and absences that could upset the balance, the LigaW Sub-18 begins a season where every detail can mark the path to the title. The Lions of Colegio Real are shaping up as the main contenders to snatch the crown. Colegio Real will have an additional incentive: to lift the trophy again.
