West Virginia signs Auburn transfer and freshman recruit from Germany for 2026

MORGANTOWN, WV – West Virginia University women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has announced the addition of two student-athletes who will join the Mountaineer roster for the Fall 2026 campaign.

Joining WVU are sophomore Tyler Clyburn (Charlotte, N.C.) and freshman Alina Gnädig (Potsdam, Germany).

Tyler Clyburn / Defender / Charlotte, N.C. / Auburn

Clyburn hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, and arrives in Morgantown from Auburn, where she competed for the Tigers for one season. During her time at Auburn, she appeared in 15 matches and played 364 minutes after making her collegiate debut against Samford on Aug. 17. She tallied a pair of assists during her freshman campaign, while she helped the back line notch six clean sheets during her time on the pitch. A graduate of Central Piedmont Early College, Clyburn played club for coach Brian Moore at Charlotte Soccer Academy. She was named ECNL Second Team All-Conference as a U16/U17 player and was named a 2024 CSA ESCNL team captain. Clyburn and Charlotte Soccer Academy advanced to the ECNL Elite Eight Nationals in 2022, and she also was a Carolinas Soccer Honors participant. She was a recipient of Northside Christian Academy’s Character Award and President’s Award. A multisport athlete, she also ran track and played basketball in high school, earning all-conference honors in basketball and track. She won state track championships in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x200m and high jump during her high school career. She was a member of CPEC’s Bible Club, Black Student Union and Student Leadership Group. Clyburn is the daughter of Kelvin and Renata, and she plans to major in psychology at WVU.

Alina Gnädig / Midfielder / Potsdam, Germany

A Potsdam, Germany, native, Gnädig graduated from Sportschule Potsdam Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. She played club soccer for coach Steen Gravgaard at 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, one of the most successful women’s soccer teams in Germany. Gnädig made her international debut with Germany’s U-16 national team in a match against Ireland in 2023, while she made her debut in the Women’s Bundesliga, the highest level of the German soccer league system, at age 17. She also earned significant playing time in the Women’s 2nd Bundesliga during the 2025-26 season. The daughter of Daniel and Susanne, Gnädig plans to major in psychology at WVU.