The 2026 NAIA women's soccer season is set to begin with a bang, as 197 programs from 19 conferences chase the 48 spots that lead to the national championship.
Keiser's Crown and Its Challenges
Preseason polls have crowned the Keiser University Seahawks as the No. 1 team, a position they earned after capturing the 2025 Red Banner in West Palm Beach, Florida. The title, however, comes with a fresh set of hurdles.
The Seahawks lost three NAIA All‑Americans from last year's roster — Lauren Riley, Georgia Little and Maria Vilhena — but return key contributors such as Emilia Nilsson and Mio Tanaka, giving Coach Adams reason to feel optimistic about the incoming freshmen and transfer additions.
Featured Matchups and Broadcast Coverage
Early‑season showdowns will pit top contenders against one another, including a clash between Southeastern (Fla.) and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) as well as a contest between Truett McConnell (Ga.) and Cumberlands (Ky.). The NAIA Football Featured Series will air twelve games from August 27 to 29, 2026, with streaming links available at NAIA.org/Watch.
The preseason top five also features Grand View (Iowa), which opened its campaign with a 0‑1‑1 record after two defeats and a draw, setting the stage for a competitive race toward the championship.