KANSAS CITY, MO (August 3, 2026) – United Soccer Coaches has announced the Defenders on its NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Players to Watch lists for the 2026 intercollegiate season.
The lists are compiled and released by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start date for the regular season later this month. The lists include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2025 who are scheduled to return for the 2026 season.
??????“Entering the 2026 season, these previous honorees represent some of the best at their positions,” said Chris Przemieniecki, Senior College All-America Administrator. “As pre-season training opens, we are pleased to recognize these outstanding student-athletes from our member schools. I would like to thank Jennifer Rockwood, DI Women’s All-America Chair, Ryan Hopkins, DI Men’s All-America Chair, and their respective committees for their efforts in compiling these lists.”
Here is the schedule for all position announcements:
July 31 – Goalkeepers
August 3 – Defenders
August 7 – Midfielders
August 10 – Forwards
2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch – Defenders
|
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
|
Bella Ayscue |
Jr. |
Penn State University |
Apex, N.C. |
|
Hailey Baumann |
Sr. |
University of Wisconsin |
South Lyon, Mich. |
|
Taylor Bloom |
GR-5 |
University of South Carolina |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
|
Morgan Brown |
Jr. |
TCU |
Wylie, Texas |
|
Amelia Campanella |
Sr. |
University of South Alabama |
Ottawa, Ont. |
|
Caroline Castans |
Sr. |
University of Kansas |
Flower Mound, Texas |
|
Fernanda Dantas |
Jr. |
University of Oklahoma |
Salvador, Brazil |
|
Isabelle De Buyl |
So. |
Santa Clara University |
Overland Park, Kan. |
|
Jordan Dillingham |
Jr. |
United States Air Force Academy |
Sacramento, Calif. |
|
Sophia Garofalo |
Sr. |
Binghamton University |
Aberdeen, N.J. |
|
Kiara Gilmore |
So. |
University of Wisconsin |
Allen, Texas |
|
Millie Greer |
Sr. |
University of Iowa |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
|
Kaya Hanson |
Sr. |
Georgetown University |
Seattle, Wash. |
|
Paula Herranz |
Sr. |
Jacksonville University |
Madrid, Spain |
|
Libby Holmes |
Sr. |
Old Dominion University |
Shefford, England |
|
Nyema Ingleton |
Sr. |
West Virgina University |
Calgary, Alb. |
|
Kameron Kloza |
GR-5 |
University of Texas-San Antonio |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Leah Klurman |
GR-5 |
University of Alabama |
Scotch Plains, N.J. |
|
Ashlynn Kulha |
Sr. |
Old Dominion University |
Holly Springs, Miss. |
|
Finley Lavin |
Sr. |
University of Memphis |
Jarrettsville, Md. |
|
Peyton Leonard |
Sr. |
Pepperdine University |
Ladera Ranch, Calif. |
|
Anna Leschly |
So. |
Dartmouth College |
Brookline, Mass. |
|
Faith Leyba |
Sr. |
University of Colorado |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
|
Lauren Littleton |
Sr. |
Liberty University |
Friendswood, Texas |
|
Maya Loudd |
Sr. |
University of Washington |
Tualatin, Ore. |
|
Victoria Meza |
Sr. |
Texas State University |
San Salvador, El Salvador |
|
Iba Oching |
Jr. |
University of Iowa |
Coquitlam, B.C. |
|
Mia Owens |
Sr. |
Utah Valley University |
San Clemente, Calif. |
|
Cameron Patton |
Jr. |
TCU |
Austin, Texas |
|
Claire Palya |
Jr. |
Tennesee Tech University |
Knoxville, Tenn. |
|
Emma Radoncic |
Jr. |
Central Connecticut State University |
Ridgefield, N.J. |
|
Violet Rademacher |
Sr. |
University of Portland |
Meridian, Idaho |
|
Anna Rayhill |
Sr. |
Harvard University |
New Hartford, N.Y. |
|
Ellie Rebmann |
Sr. |
Auburn University |
Libertyville, Ill. |
|
Lillian Reuscher |
Jr. |
Rice Unversity |
Kansas City, Mo. |
|
Cameron Roller |
Sr. |
Duke University |
Sherman, Texas |
|
Morgan Roy |
Sr. |
University of Notre Dame |
Commerce, Mich. |
|
Kaitlyn Slocum |
Sr. |
Boise State University |
Meridian, Idaho |
|
Summer Sofonia |
So. |
Utah State University |
Hyrum, Utah |
|
Izzi Stratton |
Sr. |
University of North Carolina |
Alpine, Utah |
|
Emma Theilbahr |
Sr. |
University of Colorado |
Sandpoint, Idaho |
2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Players to Watch – Defenders
|
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
|
Luke Adams |
Jr. |
Saint Louis University |
McKinney, Texas |
|
Harrison Bertos |
Sr. |
University of Washington |
Bedford, Mass. |
|
Nick Collins |
Sr. |
Rutgers University |
Mount Olive, N.J. |
|
Kelly Cooper |
Sr. |
Army West Point |
Atlanta, Ga. |
|
Connor Dawson |
Jr. |
University of Pennsylvania |
O’Fallon, Ill. |
|
Braden Dunham |
So. |
Furman University |
Peachtree City, Ga. |
|
Matthew Fisher |
Sr. |
University of Michigan |
Rochester, Mich. |
|
Takahiro Fujita |
Sr. |
University of Central Florida |
Kawai, Japan |
|
Noah Holmstrom |
Jr. |
Southern Methodist University |
Aalborg, Denmark |
|
Ellis Jones |
Sr. |
University of Wisconsin |
Wednesbury, England |
|
Charlie Kitch |
Jr. |
Rutgers University |
Medford, N.J. |
|
William Lawson |
Jr. |
California Baptist University |
Paris, France |
|
Nick Lockermann |
Sr. |
University of North Carolina |
Nuremburg, Germany |
|
Josh Maher |
Jr. |
Indiana University |
Caseyville, Ill. |
|
Calle Mollerberg |
Jr. |
University of California, Santa Barbara |
Stockholm, Sweden |
|
Parker Owens |
Sr. |
Cal Poly |
Southlake, Texas |
|
Matthew Reed |
Sr. |
Creighton University |
Felton, Del. |
|
Brady Treinen |
Sr. |
University of California-Irvine |
Tustin, Calif. |
|
Roka Tsunehara |
Jr. |
Princeton University |
Burlingame, Calif. |
|
Martin Wurschmidt |
Jr. |
Ohio State University |
Stavern, Norway |
These positional announcements also lead up to the 2026 watch lists for the prestigious Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy on the official start date for regular season games on August 13 (women) and August 20 (men). The MAC Hermann Trophy is presented annually to the Division I National Players of the Year as voted by Division I College Coaches at the end of the regular season. The 2026 recipients will be announced on January 8, 2027, in St. Louis, Mo.
