Madi Valenti, the Illinois State goalkeeper, has been selected for the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch list for the upcoming 2026 season. The announcement highlights the standout performer who is set to carry her 2025 heroics into the next campaign.
A Breakout Season
During the 2025 campaign Valenti cemented her place in Redbirds history with a string of record‑setting performances. She posted twelve shutouts, a .853 save percentage and logged 1,958 minutes, all of which rank among the best in school annals.
Her 86 saves placed her seventh on the program’s single‑season list, and she became the third keeper in school history to reach the 80‑save milestone in multiple seasons. The Redbirds recorded a program‑record 13 shutouts as a team, underscoring the impact of Valenti’s presence between the posts.
Valenti’s consistency was underscored by appearing in all 22 matches, tying a program record for consecutive appearances. Her defensive contributions helped Illinois State secure a historic defensive season that saw the team finish with a winning record and a top‑tier regional ranking.
The accolade marks the first time a Redbirds goalkeeper has earned Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year since 2013, a testament to Valenti’s rise from a promising freshman to a program cornerstone.
Looking ahead, Valenti will aim to translate her preseason recognition into another dominant year, as the Redbirds hope to build on the momentum generated by their defensive resurgence.