Big Ten Women’s Soccer 2026 Preseason Poll: Team Ranks and Players to Watch

ROSEMONT, IL – Michigan State was tabbed as the preseason Big Ten women’s soccer favorite through a vote by the league’s 18 head coaches.

The Spartans are ready to get back on the pitch after making their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance a season ago. UCLA, coming off its 10th consecutive NCAA appearance, was second in the voting, followed by defending Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion Washington. Wisconsin and Ohio State were projected to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

The 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch were also unveiled, as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The list included 15 student-athletes that garnered All-Big Ten recognition and four players that earned spots on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team in 2025.

The 2026 campaign kicks off on August 12 with eight Big Ten teams in action.

The complete 2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch can be found below.

2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. Michigan State
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Penn State
7. USC
8. Northwestern
9. Illinois
10. Iowa
11. Michigan
12. Nebraska
13. Purdue
14. Minnesota
15. Rutgers
16. Indiana
17. Maryland
18. Oregon

2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch

• Izzy Lee, 5th-Yr., GK, Illinois
• Cayla Jackson, Jr., F, Illinois
• Emma Yee, Jr., F, Illinois
• Emily Graham, So., F, Indiana
• Piper Coffield, R-Sr., D, Indiana
• Aleyna Quinn, R-Jr., F, Indiana
• Elle Wildman, So., MF, Iowa
• Sofia Bush, Sr., MF, Iowa
• Millie Greer, Sr., D, Iowa
• Mckinley Heaven, So., F, Maryland
• Faith Luckey, Sr., GK, Maryland
• Lisa McIntyre, Sr., MF, Maryland
• Ella Jablinskey, Jr., F, Michigan
• Campbell Jewell, Sr., D, Michigan
• Ellie Fife, Jr., D, Michigan
• Kennedy Bell, Sr., F, Michigan State
• Kayla Briggs, Sr., MF, Michigan State
• Bella Najera, Sr., MF, Michigan State
• Sarah Martin, R-Jr., GK, Minnesota
• Caroline Birdsell, R-Jr., F, Minnesota
• Taylor Heimerl, Sr., D, Minnesota
• Ella Rudney, Sr., F, Nebraska
• Kayma Carpenter, Sr., F/D, Nebraska
• Ella Guyott, Sr., D, Nebraska
• Kennedy Roesch, Jr., F, Northwestern
• Megan Norkett, Sr., F, Northwestern
• Keira Kemmerley, So., MF, Northwestern
• Amanda Schlueter, Sr., MF, Ohio State
• Ava Bramblett, Sr., D, Ohio State
• Ava Greco, Jr., MF, Ohio State
• Carly Cormack, Jr., MF, Oregon
• Ellie Felt, So., F, Oregon
• Lauren Kenny, Sr., D, Oregon
• Molly Martin, Sr., MF, Penn State
• Mackenzie Gress, Sr., GK, Penn State
• Aubrey Kulpa, Jr., F, Penn State
• Irene Campo, Sr., MF, Purdue
• Jaiden Anderson, Jr., F, Purdue
• Megan Santa Cruz, Sr., MF, Purdue
• Gabriela Gil, R-Jr., MF, Rutgers
• Olivia Bodmer, R-Sr., GK, Rutgers
• Ashley Baran, Sr., F, Rutgers
• Olivia Woodson, Sr., F, UCLA
• Leena Powell, So., F, UCLA
• Grace Shank, So., MF, UCLA
• Annabel Austen, Gr., GK, USC
• Mary Cochran, Gr., MF, USC
• Alyssa Parsons, Fr., F, USC
• Alex Buck, Jr., F, Washington
• Tanner Ijams, R-So., GK, Washington
• Lucy Newlin, 5th-Yr., MF, Washington
• Hailey Baumann, Sr., D, Wisconsin
• Kiara Gilmore, So., D, Wisconsin
• Drew Stover, Sr., GK, Wisconsin