USC Tapped as Preseason Favorite in 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Race Is this helpful so far? Ask ChatGPT

ROSEMONT, Ill. — USC has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten women’s soccer title, according to a vote of the league’s 18 head coaches, the conference announced Monday.

The Trojans, ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, are coming off an undefeated conference campaign in 2024. USC captured the Big Ten regular-season crown with a 10-0-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

UCLA was picked to finish second and enters the season ranked No. 8 nationally. The Bruins claimed their first Big Ten Tournament championship last fall and made their ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Penn State and Michigan State were projected to place third and fourth, respectively, with Ohio State rounding out the top five. All three programs are also featured in the preseason national rankings — Penn State at No. 11, Michigan State at No. 12, and Ohio State at No. 18 — alongside Iowa (13th), Wisconsin (23rd) and Minnesota (24th).

The Big Ten also released its 2025 Players to Watch list, which includes 16 returning all-conference honorees from last season.

The 2025 season begins Thursday, Aug. 14, with 17 teams in action.

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch(By school, listed alphabetically)

Illinois: Izzy Lee (Sr., GK), Sarah Foley (Sr., F), Emma Yee (So., F)

Indiana: Kennedy Neighbors (Jr., F), Aleyna Quinn (So., F), Haden Vlcek (So., D)

Iowa: Millie Greer (Jr., D), Sofia Bush (Jr., MF), Liana Tarasco (Fr., MF)

Maryland: Kelsey Smith (Sr., F), Tahirah Turnage-Morales (Sr., D), Emily Lenhard (So., MF)

Michigan: Ellie Fife (So., D), Gabrielle Prych (Jr., F), Sophie Homan (Sr., GK)

Michigan State: Maggie Illig (Sr., D), Bella Najera (Jr., MF), Julia Belli (So., D)

Minnesota: Paige Kalal (Jr., MF), Tatianna Cunningham (Sr., MF), Ashley Thurk (So., D)

Nebraska: Reagan Raabe (Gr., F/MF), Sadie Waite (Sr., MF), Lauryn Anglim (Sr., D)

Northwestern: Caterina Regazzoni (Sr., MF), Kennedy Roesch (So., F), Alex Fallon (So., F/MF)

Ohio State: Amanda Schlueter (Jr., F), Ava Bramblett (Jr., D), Molly Pritchard (Sr., GK)

Oregon: Sydney Chura (Sr., F), Carly Cormack (So., MF), Jayde Holley (Sr., D)

Penn State: Kaitlyn MacBean (Gr., F), Molly Martin (R-Jr., MF), Amelia White (Sr., F)

Purdue: Megan Santa Cruz (Jr., MF), Zoe Cuneio (Jr., D), Emily Edwards (Jr., GK)

Rutgers: Olivia Bodmer (R-Jr., GK), Ashley Baran (Jr., F), Nata Ramirez (Gr., F)

UCLA: Emma Egizii (R-Sr., MF), Lexi Wright (R-Sr., F), Jennie Immethun (Sr., MF/D)

USC: Maribel Flores (Jr., F), Ines Derrien (So., MF), Faith George (So., F)

Washington: Kolo Suliafu (Sr., D), Samiah Shell (Jr., F), Laura Cetina (Sr., MF)

Wisconsin: Hailey Baumann (Jr., D), Madison Ishaug (Gr., MF), Ashley Martinez (Gr., MF/D)