After a perfect 13-0 conference season and a run to the NAIA National Championship semifinals, Embry-Riddle enters the 2026 Great Southwest Athletic Conference women's soccer season as the preseason favorite.

The Eagles received eight of the 10 first-place votes and totaled 80 points in the GSAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending GSAC Tournament champion The Master's collected the remaining two first-place votes and finished second with 74 points.

Hope International was picked third with 60 points, followed by 2025 GSAC semifinalist Soka with 58. Life Pacific earned 41 points, OUAZ totaled 37, and Park Gilbert and La Sierra each received 35 points, with Park Gilbert taking the seventh position in the poll. Arizona Christian followed with 21 points, while Benedictine Mesa completed the 10-team poll with nine.

Embry-Riddle completed a perfect 13-0 conference campaign in 2025 and finished the season 20-1-3 after advancing to the NAIA national semifinals. The Master's captured the GSAC Tournament title in penalty kicks and returns five All-GSAC selections from last season.

The 2026 conference race features 10 programs, with opening day set for August 20 and conference play beginning September 8. Each of the 10 GSAC women's soccer programs selected two student-athletes as its 2026 Players to Watch. The group features returning All-GSAC performers, established starters, experienced transfers and emerging players expected to take on significant roles this fall.

Players to Watch are program nominations intended to spotlight student-athletes expected to make an impact during the upcoming season. They are not preseason All-GSAC selections. Embry-Riddle enters 2026 after one of the strongest seasons in program history. The Eagles completed a perfect 13-0 GSAC regular season, finished 20-1-3 overall and advanced to the NAIA National Championship semifinals. More than 10 players return, including eight starters and the starting goalkeeper.

Six returning players earned All-GSAC recognition last season: Jamie Brandon, Aubrianne Dupre, Molly Newlin, Natalia Sepulveda, Tessa Updegraff and Samantha Wright. Ella Carnahan, Ava Forrester and Kaitlyn Roskopf also return, while Lauren Otto and Kari Kasun are among the notable departures.

Players to Watch Jamie Brandon and Natalia Sepulveda headline a veteran group. The Eagles also added Sierra College transfer Josie Young, the CCCAA and NJCAA Division III Player of the Year and an NJCAA All-American, along with Hawaii state champion Mya Kishida. Embry-Riddle will test itself early with a challenging nonconference schedule that includes a trip to Tennessee to face UT Southern and Cumberland University.
  Defending GSAC Tournament champion The Master's returns nine players and six starters from last season's championship team. The Mustangs are managing several injuries entering the season but bring back most of the core that helped capture the conference postseason title.

Reigning Player of the Year Maddy Traylor leads five returning All-GSAC selections, joined by Kegan Brunnemann, Zaria Echemendia, Bryanna Elias and Jane Hato. Breanna Fajardo and Katie Trinh also return, while Sasha Redshaw, Tala Tapia, Autumn Jensen and Harmony Rohde are among the notable departures.

Players to Watch Maddy Traylor and Zaria Echemendia anchor the returning group. The newcomers include Emma Gilmer, Taya Pickup, Lacy Zierenberg and Yesenia Lucero, while Northwest University transfer Katie Snow is expected to compete for the starting goalkeeper position.
  Hope International enters a rebuilding season after graduating 11 players from last year's roster. The Royals return more than 10 players but only three starters and will need to replace their starting goalkeeper.

Ana Pacheco is a notable returner after helping Flash FC win a UPSL regional championship and qualify for the UPSL National Championship. The incoming class includes at least eight junior college transfers and several freshmen with extensive experience.

Players to Watch Ana Pacheco and Karen Pedraza will be important pieces for the new-look Royals. Pedraza transfers from Santiago Canyon College after earning 2025 Orange Empire Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. Charlotte “Charlie” Grace was the 2025 South Coast Conference-South Defensive Player of the Year at Long Beach City College, while goalkeeper Rien Devore-Barajas transfers from Azusa Pacific University. Although the roster has changed significantly, the program's expectations and standards remain high.
  Soka enters 2026 with a new coaching staff and considerable continuity after reaching the 2025 GSAC semifinals. The Lions return more than 10 players and nine starters, although they will need to replace their starting goalkeeper.

Returning All-GSAC selection Sabrina Benjamin leads the group, with Sienna Manns, Keena Nakamura, Carly Becerra and Anahi Aranda also back. Ashley Aranda and Mackinzie Stenstrom graduated from last season's team.

Players to Watch Keena Nakamura and Sienna Manns will help lead an experienced lineup. The newcomers include Alanna Cabras, who has United States Under-17 Youth National Team and Philippines Under-19 National Team experience, and Valentina Ibanez, who has competed with Bolivia's Under-20 Youth National Team.
  Life Pacific returns nine players and five starters but will replace more than 10 players from last season's roster, including starting goalkeeper Valerie Lopez and core contributors Lucy Bower and Angela Scott.

Returning All-GSAC selection Stevie Spencer headlines the returning group, with Kyrah Souza and Nancy Hinojosa also back. The Warriors did not submit additional newcomer information.

Players to Watch Stevie Spencer and Kyrah Souza will be central to a new group that will attempt to build upon the foundation established by last season's team.
  OUAZ enters the season with a significantly rebuilt roster. The Spirit return more than 10 players but only two starters, and the 40-player roster includes 15 returners and 25 newcomers.

Desi Dutra is the most notable returning player, while Jaden Nelson is among the key departures. Meredith Galus joins the Spirit from Pima Community College after earning Second Team All-America and First Team All-Region honors. Pima teammate Anjeli DesRosier was also a First Team All-Region selection, while Phoenix College transfer Camille Harris earned Second Team All-Region recognition.

Players to Watch Desi Dutra and Marie Roman will help provide continuity as many newcomers compete for immediate roles. With only a small number of returning starters, the Spirit will rely on its new additions throughout the season.
  Park Gilbert returns more than 10 players, seven starters and its starting goalkeeper from last season. Journey Morimoto, Rebekah Sipinga, Katelynn Harris and Kalei Ganotisi headline an experienced returning group.

Senior Alicia Ypina is the most notable departure. Camilla Echeverria joins the program from Pioneer Valley High School, while the Buccaneers also added several junior college transfers from Pima Community College and Scottsdale Community College.

Players to Watch Ava Fike and Rebekah Sipinga will be among the leaders as Park Gilbert looks to build upon last season and make a push for the postseason.
  La Sierra returns more than 10 players and six starters but enters the season with significant roster changes after losing nine players and its starting goalkeeper. Priscilla Alzaga, Samantha Torres and Isabella Garcia headline the returning group.

Alitzel Razon, Monse Ayala-Arellano, Leslie Lopez and Elaina Gonzalez were seniors, starters and team captains last season. The Golden Eagles added several notable newcomers, including Brianna Lee, who was selected for a national ODP team that competed in Spain in spring 2026, and senior center back Alexis Lamprell, a Florida College transfer with WPSL experience.

Players to Watch Samantha Torres and Bianca Ahumada will have important roles. Ahumada transfers from Evergreen Valley College after helping the program to a historic 2025 season while recording 18 goals and five assists. La Sierra is focused on qualifying for the GSAC Tournament and competing through the final whistle of every match.
  Arizona Christian enters the season with a strong mix of experienced returners and new players. The Firestorm return more than 10 players and 10 starters while needing to replace their starting goalkeeper.

Krista Hardesty is among the notable returners, while Maya Cowen is the most notable player lost. Rian Gaeta and Gianna Belasco join the program as notable newcomers.

Players to Watch Tayler Wonderly and Edith Delgado will be among the players expected to lead an experienced group as Arizona Christian looks to turn its returning continuity into progress in the GSAC standings.
  Benedictine Mesa begins a new era under head coach Mike Miller. The Redhawks return more than 10 players and six starters but also lost more than 10 players from last season and will need to replace starting goalkeeper Thea Draganova.

Rylee Hatcher returns at forward after leading the team in goals last season. Brylee Rod, who led the Redhawks in goals in 2024, is among the notable departures. Freshman forward Rebecca Tomerlin joins the program after scoring 37 goals and adding 14 assists during her high school career.

Players to Watch Rylee Hatcher and Tori St. Rose will be central to Benedictine Mesa's transition under its new coaching staff.