Weekly Honors Spotlight
The Big Ten announced its weekly honorees for women's soccer on August 18, 2026, recognizing standout performances that shaped the opening weekend of the season.
Penn State junior Aubrey Kulpa from Cromwell, Connecticut, captured Offensive Player of the Week after contributing a goal and an assist in a 2‑2 draw against the second‑ranked Notre Dame, a result that kept the Nittany Lions unbeaten.
Oregon senior Taylor Dever, hailing from Chico, California, was selected Defensive Player of the Week after logging every minute of two shutouts against Portland State and Gonzaga, during which she allowed just four shots on goal.
Illinois fifth‑year goalkeeper Izzy Lee, a native of Western Springs, Illinois, earned Goalkeeper of the Week after a decisive performance with four saves against No. 19 Georgia that secured the Illini’s first clean sheet of the campaign.
Freshman Shiloh Baird of Oregon, from Oceanside, California, received Freshman of the Week after scoring two goals and adding an assist in the Ducks’ 2‑0 victories, marking the first time an Oregon rookie had found the net in each of her first two collegiate matches in a quarter‑century.
The quartet of awards reflects the depth of talent across the conference, with each player building on previous recognitions; Kulpa’s last Offensive Player honor dated back to August 26, 2025, while Lee’s most recent goalkeeper nod was March 16, 2021.
Coaches and analysts alike noted that the performances come at a time when the conference is seeing increased parity, with several teams making early statements in non‑conference play.