USC Tabbed as 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Favorite

ROSEMONT, Ill. – USC has been selected as the preseason Big Ten women’s soccer favorite through a vote by the league’s 18 head coaches, the conference announced Monday.

The Trojans, who were ranked fifth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, are looking to build on their success from a season ago after going undefeated in Big Ten action. USC clinched the 2024 Big Ten regular season title with a 10-0-1 mark and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA was chosen to finish second and claimed the No. 8 spot in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25. The Bruins won their first-ever Big Ten Tournament crown last season and made their ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Penn State and Michigan State were projected to come in third and fourth, respectively, while Ohio State checked in at fifth. The Nittany Lions (11th), Spartans (12th) and Buckeyes (18th) were featured in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, along with Iowa (13th), Wisconsin (23rd) and Minnesota (24th).

The conference also unveiled the 2025 Big Ten Players to Watch, as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The list included 16 student-athletes that garnered all-conference recognition in 2024.

The 2025 campaign kicks off this week, with 17 teams opening play on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The complete 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch can be found below:

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Rutgers
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
11. Purdue
12. Nebraska
13. Michigan
14. Northwestern
15. Illinois
16. Oregon
17. Indiana
18. Maryland

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch
Izzy Lee, Sr., GK, Illinois
Sarah Foley, Sr., F, Illinois
Emma Yee, So., F, Illinois
Kennedy Neighbors, Jr., F, Indiana
Aleyna Quinn, So., F, Indiana
Haden Vlcek, So., D, Indiana
Millie Greer, Jr., D, Iowa
Sofia Bush, Jr., MF, Iowa
Liana Tarasco, Fr., MF, Iowa
Kelsey Smith, Sr., F, Maryland
Tahirah Turnage-Morales, Sr., D, Maryland
Emily Lenhard, So., MF, Maryland
Ellie Fife, So., D, Michigan
Gabrielle Prych, Jr, F, Michigan
Sophie Homan, Sr., GK, Michigan
Maggie Illig, Sr., D, Michigan State
Bella Najera, Jr., MF, Michigan State
Julia Belli, So., D, Michigan State
Paige Kalal, Jr., MF, Minnesota
Tatianna Cunningham, Sr., MF, Minnesota
Ashley Thurk, So., D, Minnesota
Reagan Raabe, Gr., F/MF, Nebraska
Sadie Waite, Sr., MF, Nebraska
Lauryn Anglim, Sr., D, Nebraska
Caterina Regazzoni, Sr., MF, Northwestern
Kennedy Roesch, So., F, Northwestern
Alex Fallon, So., F/MF, Northwestern
Amanda Schlueter, Jr., F, Ohio State
Ava Bramblett, Jr., D, Ohio State
Molly Pritchard, Sr., GK, Ohio State
Sydney Chura, Sr., F, Oregon
Carly Cormack, So., MF, Oregon
Jayde Holley, Sr., D, Oregon
Kaitlyn MacBean, Gr., F, Penn State
Molly Martin, R-Jr., MF, Penn State
Amelia White, Sr., F, Penn State
Megan Santa Cruz, Jr., MF, Purdue
Zoe Cuneio, Jr., D, Purdue
Emily Edwards, Jr., GK, Purdue
Olivia Bodmer, R-Jr., GK, Rutgers
Ashley Baran, Jr., F, Rutgers
Nata Ramirez, Gr., F, Rutgers
Emma Egizii, R-Sr., MF, UCLA
Lexi Wright, R-Sr., F, UCLA
Jennie Immethun, Sr., MF/D, UCLA
Maribel Flores, Jr., F, USC
Ines Derrien, So., MF, USC
Faith George, So., F, USC
Kolo Suliafu, Sr., D, Washington
Samiah Shell, Jr., F, Washington
Laura Cetina, Sr., MF, Washington
Hailey Baumann, Jr., D, Wisconsin
Madison Ishaug, Gr., MF, Wisconsin    
Ashley Martinez, Gr., MF/D, Wisconsin