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

by | Aug 11, 2025 | College Sports, Headlines, Soccer Blogs, Women's Soccer

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

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