Preseason expectations
The Big Ten Conference announced its 2026 women's soccer preseason poll on Monday, setting the stage for a competitive season that will open on August 12 with eight league teams in action.
Coaches across the league voted Michigan State as the preseason favorite, a position that reflects the program’s recent surge after reaching the NCAA Elite Eight in the previous campaign.
UCLA followed in second place, marking its tenth straight NCAA tournament appearance, while the University of Washington, the defending regular‑season and tournament champion, settled at third.
Wisconsin and Ohio State were projected fourth and fifth, respectively, completing the top five of the poll that ultimately ranked all 18 conference members.
The announcement took place in Rosemont, Illinois, where conference officials highlighted the significance of releasing the poll and the accompanying Players to Watch list together for the first time.
Alongside the rankings, the Big Ten introduced a 2026 Players to Watch list that features 19 student‑athletes recognized for their performances in 2025, including fifteen with All‑Big Ten honors and four All‑Freshman selections.
The list was compiled by the league’s head coaches and showcases talent from 14 different Big Ten institutions, underscoring the depth of competition across the conference.
Among the recognized athletes are several standout performers such as Izzy Lee, Cayla Jackson, Emma Yee, Emily Graham, Piper Coffield, Aleyna Quinn, Elle Wildman, Sofia Bush, Millie Greer, Mckinley Heaven, Faith Luckey, Lisa McIntyre, Ella Jablinskey, Campbell Jewell, Ellie Fife, Kennedy Bell, Kayla Briggs, Bella Najera, Sarah Martin, Caroline Birdsell, Taylor Heimerl, Ella Rudney, Kayma Carpenter, Ella Guyott, Kennedy Roesch, Megan Norkett, Keira Kemmerley, Amanda Schlueter, Ava Bramblett, Ava Greco, Carly Cormack, Ellie Felt, Lauren Kenny, Molly Martin, Mackenzie Gress, Aubrey Kulpa, Irene Campo, Jaiden Anderson, Megan Santa Cruz, Gabriela Gil, Olivia Bodmer, Ashley Baran, Olivia Woodson, Leena Powell, Grace Shank, Annabel Austen, Mary Cochran, Alyssa Parsons, Alex Buck, Tanner Ijams, Lucy Newlin, Hailey Baumann, Kiara Gilmore, and Drew Stover.
The upcoming season will begin on August 12, marking the first time the preseason poll and the Players to Watch list have been released simultaneously, a move intended to generate early excitement among fans and stakeholders.