Preseason Favorites and Historic Rankings
TCU entered the 2026 women's soccer season as the clear favorite in the Big 12 coaches' poll, capturing 222 points and 13 first‑place votes. The program's lead reflects its dominance in the league, marking the second consecutive year it has topped the preseason rankings.
Colorado broke its own preseason record with 187 points and a solitary first‑place vote, earning the highest position the Buffaloes have ever achieved in the league's early rankings.
Kansas and West Virginia followed closely, each tallying 182 points, with West Virginia earning one first‑place vote. Their proximity illustrates a tightly contested battle for the middle spots of the poll.
Texas Tech rounded out the top five with 180 points and its own first‑place vote, while the top eight teams in the poll secured berths in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, matching a conference record for the most bids.
Key Players to Watch
The preseason team features 19 All‑Big 12 honorees from the previous season, including TCU’s Bella Diorio, the 2024 Big 12 Forward of the Year, and Kamdyn Fuller, the 2025 Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Veteran midfielder Hope Leyba returns to the roster, adding depth and experience to the midfield.
Both Diorio and Fuller are expected to be pivotal as TCU looks to defend its regular‑season titles from 2024 and 2025, a streak that has cemented the program’s reputation as a powerhouse.
The league will open its 2026 campaign on August 12 and 13, a date that promises early excitement for fans across the United States and beyond.