Maddie DiMaria, a junior at Cor Jesu Academy in Affton, Missouri, has been crowned the 2025‑26 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year, becoming the only athlete to claim the honor as both a freshman and a junior.
Her 67 goals and 25 assists powered the Bruins to a flawless 25‑0 season and the Missouri Class 4 state championship, bringing her career total to 142 goals.
A milestone in a growing legacy
DiMaria’s excellence extended to the international stage, earning caps with the U.S. youth national teams from the U‑14 through U‑17 levels and contributing to the Under‑15 side’s gold medal at the 2025 CONCACAF Championship.
The award follows a season in which she was recognized as the top recruit in the 2027 class, underscoring her status as a generational talent.
DiMaria will graduate early and join the University of North Carolina’s program, a powerhouse that captured the 2024 national title and finished the 2025 season with a 13‑6‑2 record.
Her decision reflects both the appeal of the Tar Heels and the promise of immediate impact on a team that continues to shape the landscape of college soccer.