Michigan State Voted 2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Favorite

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Michigan State was tabbed as the preseason Big Ten women’s soccer favorite through a vote by the league’s 18 head coaches, the conference announced Monday.

The Spartans are ready to get back on the pitch after making their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance a season ago. UCLA, coming off its 10th consecutive NCAA appearance, was second in the voting, followed by defending Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion Washington. Wisconsin and Ohio State were projected to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

The 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch were also unveiled, as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The list included 15 student-athletes that garnered All-Big Ten recognition and four players that earned spots on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team in 2025.

The 2026 campaign kicks off on August 12 with eight Big Ten teams in action.

The complete 2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch can be found below.

2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Michigan State
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Penn State
7. USC
8. Northwestern
9. Illinois
10. Iowa
11. Michigan
12. Nebraska
13. Purdue
14. Minnesota
15. Rutgers
16. Indiana
17. Maryland
18. Oregon 

2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch
Izzy Lee, 5th-Yr., GK, Illinois
Cayla Jackson, Jr., F, Illinois
Emma Yee, Jr., F, Illinois
Emily Graham, So., F, Indiana
Piper Coffield, R-Sr., D, Indiana
Aleyna Quinn, R-Jr., F, Indiana
Elle Wildman, So., MF, Iowa
Sofia Bush, Sr., MF, Iowa
Millie Greer, Sr., D, Iowa
Mckinley Heaven, So., F, Maryland
Faith Luckey, Sr., GK, Maryland
Lisa McIntyre, Sr., MF, Maryland
Ella Jablinskey, Jr., F, Michigan
Campbell Jewell, Sr., D, Michigan
Ellie Fife, Jr., D, Michigan
Kennedy Bell, Sr., F, Michigan State
Kayla Briggs, Sr., MF, Michigan State
Bella Najera, Sr., MF, Michigan State
Sarah Martin, R-Jr., GK, Minnesota
Caroline Birdsell, R-Jr., F, Minnesota
Taylor Heimerl, Sr., D, Minnesota
Ella Rudney, Sr., F, Nebraska
Kayma Carpenter, Sr., F/D, Nebraska
Ella Guyott, Sr., D, Nebraska
Kennedy Roesch, Jr., F, Northwestern
Megan Norkett, Sr., F, Northwestern
Keira Kemmerley, So., MF, Northwestern
Amanda Schlueter, Sr., MF, Ohio State
Ava Bramblett, Sr., D, Ohio State
Ava Greco, Jr., MF, Ohio State
Carly Cormack, Jr., MF, Oregon
Ellie Felt, So., F, Oregon
Lauren Kenny, Sr., D, Oregon
Molly Martin, Sr., MF, Penn State
Mackenzie Gress, Sr., GK, Penn State
Aubrey Kulpa, Jr., F, Penn State
Irene Campo, Sr., MF, Purdue
Jaiden Anderson, Jr., F, Purdue
Megan Santa Cruz, Sr., MF, Purdue
Gabriela Gil, R-Jr., MF, Rutgers
Olivia Bodmer, R-Sr., GK, Rutgers
Ashley Baran, Sr., F, Rutgers
Olivia Woodson, Sr., F, UCLA
Leena Powell, So., F, UCLA
Grace Shank, So., MF, UCLA
Annabel Austen, Gr., GK, USC
Mary Cochran, Gr., MF, USC
Alyssa Parsons, Fr., F, USC
Alex Buck, Jr., F, Washington
Tanner Ijams, R-So., GK, Washington
Lucy Newlin, 5th-Yr., MF, Washington
Hailey Baumann, Sr., D, Wisconsin
Kiara Gilmore, So., D, Wisconsin
Drew Stover, Sr., GK, Wisconsin