A Rising Star's Milestone
Maddie DiMaria, a 17‑year‑old forward from St. Louis, has been named the 2025‑26 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year, capping a whirlwind season that has already drawn comparisons to the nation’s elite.
She finished the year with 67 goals and 25 assists, steering her high school team to a perfect 25‑0 record and the Missouri Class 4 state championship. The dominant performance placed her at the top of both Prep Soccer and Top Drawer Soccer’s 2027 recruit rankings.
DiMaria’s exploits have extended beyond the high school circuit. She has earned caps with the U.S. youth national teams, contributing to a gold‑medal victory at the 2025 CONCACAF U‑15 Championship, and she will soon join the University of North Carolina’s roster early next year.
The Tar Heels’ head coach, Damon Nahas, guided the program to a national championship in his debut season in 2024 and oversaw a 13‑6‑2 campaign in 2025 before a tournament loss to TCU. Nahas praised DiMaria’s work ethic, noting that her arrival could help sustain UNC’s recent surge.
With her early enrollment at UNC on the horizon, DiMaria joins a growing list of top prospects who are reshaping college soccer’s talent pipeline. As she prepares for the next chapter, the soccer world watches closely, anticipating how her blend of skill, vision, and drive will translate to the collegiate stage.