Stanford’s women’s soccer program has vaulted to the top of the 2026 NCAA preseason rankings, edging out a strong field of contenders after a runner‑up finish the previous year.
A New Era for the Cardinal Attack
The Cardinal’s ascent was underscored by a narrow 191‑189 victory over Notre Dame in the poll’s point‑total showdown, a result that came despite the Fighting Irish collecting six first‑place votes.
Other programs made notable moves: Duke slipped to third, Florida State to fourth, and Vanderbilt to fifth, each earning at least one first‑place vote, while UCLA surged 13 spots to No. 9, the poll’s biggest climber, and North Carolina jumped five places to No. 8.
The Southeastern Conference also flexed depth, with five squads—Vanderbilt, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia and Tennessee—making the Top 25, and newcomers Georgia and Clemson breaking into the rankings after being unranked a year earlier.
The 2026 campaign kicks off on August 12, and Stanford will lean on returning standouts Bella Winn and goalkeeper Caroline Birkel, both named to the Hermann Trophy preseason watch list as key contributors.