The West Coast Conference’s preseason poll has already shifted the narrative around the Pepperdine women’s soccer program, projecting the Waves as the clear favorites heading into the league’s first ever tournament.
At the heart of that projection are seniors Peyton Leonard, Kyra Murphy and Julia Quinonez, each earning unanimous spots on the 2026 preseason all‑conference team, a distinction that underscores their standing among the league’s elite.
Leonard, a defensive stalwart who earned a place on the MAC Hermann Trophy watchlist, joins Quinonez, the conference’s leading returning goal scorer with eleven goals and four assists last season, and Murphy, who started every match a year ago and garnered CSC All‑District recognition.
Their selections mark the third straight year that Pepperdine has placed three players on the preseason all‑conference list, reflecting a sustained pipeline of talent that has defined the program for over three decades.
Guiding this cohort is head coach Tim Ward, who has helmed the Waves since 1993 and amassed a record that includes fifteen NCAA tournament berths, six WCC championships and four round‑of‑16 appearances, the most recent coming in 2021.
A Legacy of Excellence
Under Ward’s stewardship the team posted a 320‑158‑78 overall record, highlighted by twenty‑four winning seasons, and now finds itself atop the coaches’ poll with 81 points, ahead of rivals Portland and Santa Clara as the league prepares for its inaugural championship in November.
The combination of seasoned leadership, historic program achievements and a competitive preseason landscape creates a compelling storyline as the Waves gear up for what many expect to be a landmark season.