The 2026 West Coast Conference women's soccer preseason poll was released this week, revealing a clear favorite among the coaches.
Pepperdine surged to the top, earning 81 points and nine first‑place votes, a tally that reflects the program's recent momentum and its ambition to extend a streak of NCAA Tournament appearances.
Aiming for another tournament run
The Waves are targeting their fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, a streak that underscores the team's consistency under head coach Gavin Sawyer and the program's recruiting success.
Behind them, Portland and Santa Clara were locked in a tie for second place with 61 points apiece, while Saint Mary's claimed fourth with 60 points and Seattle University rounded out the top five with 54 points.
The preseason all‑conference team features standout athletes from across the league, including returning stars who helped shape last season's successes.
Player highlights
Peyton Leonard of Pepperdine, U'i Kaaihue from Seattle University, Kate Plachy of Saint Mary's, Julia Quinonenz of Pepperdine and Violet Rademacher of Portland were all named to the squad.
Plachy, who earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2025, returns to anchor the backline, adding experience to a young roster.
With the new season on the horizon, the conference expects tightly contested matches and a fresh wave of talent.