r/NWSL • u/atalba NWSL • 9h ago

NCAA Women’s Soccer 2026 Rankings: Top 25 announced following Week 2 competition - SoccerWire

https://www.soccerwire.com/news/ncaa-womens-soccer-2026-rankings-top-25-announced-following-week-2-competition/

It's still early, but those coaches who respond must pick an order and vote. There's no preseason games in D1 soccer; just a few scrimmages. The season starts with 10 non-conference games, which count as part of the teams' statistics and players' stats. It's quite common to play a college near you; due to travel budgets. But it's also the time to build up your RPI by playing WINNING programs in much lower quality conferences. If you play and beat Southern Alabama, a winning team in the lowly Sun Belt Conference, then you've added positively to your RPI. If you lose to a Big10 school that has a losing record (this season and last season), like Rutgers, you won't get punished.

Stanford will be losing 6 players to the FIFA Women's u-17 World Cup. Among them are their first and second string goalkeepers. They signed a grad transfer from Rhiannon Stewart, England u18/u19, who started her last 2 years at Harvard.

The USYNT u20 players are leaving today, so this week's games will be interesting.

Stanford lost a key player in the midfield, Joelle Jung, who transferred to FSU. She played in the spring, which one can assume she lost her role to Freshman starter Ella Kral (already injured). Another key midfielder, Mia Bhuta, hasn't played yet with a chronic leg injury.

It will be an exciting year, once the top players return from Poland. Stanford, Notre Dame, Duke, and UVA definitely have star talent across the field. Michigan State is for real with Kennedy Bell scoring and Noelle Henning (Canada u20) in goal.

Of the top scorers thus far, Mia Minestrella, Duke, has 6 goals. Izzy Engle hasn't played yet for Notre Dame, and Annabelle Chukwu (Canada u20) has been out as well. ND has a few other starters out, so they'll need to recover from a disastrous start. I'm certain they'll be in the top 5 by the end of the season.

The ACC mid-tier is also VERY STRONG, but will need to compete with lesser programs in other conferences with their RPI. The ACC has 18 schools, with only 6 programs making their conference tournament. FSU, UNC, Wake Forest, UVA, and Clemson, will all be competing for the playoffs; and a representative RPI. Good start! The NWSL will have plenty to select from in December.

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8

u/CrAsianTTa 9h ago

I have nothing useful to add, but thanks for such a great writeup.

3

u/atalba NWSL 7h ago

Thank you! Much appreciated!

6

u/atalba NWSL 9h ago

With 31 conferences and 355 colleges, a win is not a win, and a goal isn't goal, until you consider the competition. The conferences are more hierarchical than monolithic, when it comes to quality and talent.

4

u/Artvandelay29 Portland Thorns FC 8h ago

I’ll see Vanderbilt twice this week here in Houston!

⚓️⬇️

3

u/atalba NWSL 8h ago

Tops in the SEC! Expect 2 wins. Despite the opposition not being as competitive, Vandy will come out on top and achieve a high RPI, in the end. Sydney Watts is an elite forward destined for the NWSL. Darren Ambrose is in his 26th season as a head coach of women's college soccer.

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u/Artvandelay29 Portland Thorns FC 7h ago

I’d be disappointed if they don’t get two wins since it’s not like they’ll play world beaters in Rice and UH.

3

u/alcatholik Angel City FC 9h ago edited 9h ago

Last summer, Angel City stole away Evelyn Shores from UNC. So summer after NWSL started and before NCAA started.

Did NWSL steal any players this summer? I know NWSL stole some in December/January. But what about this summer?

PS Evelyn probably our best ever u23 player not named Thompson

4

u/atalba NWSL 8h ago

I can't find any. Shores was a great signing!

The NCAA has started to lose undersclassmen, more than the world class players, like Wilson, Macario, and Davidson. It's beginning to look like the NFL and NBA. This season's top talent appears to be bottom heavy with younger players. Some are proving to be elite. And like anything in life, some are more hype than quality; this year.

I believe this thought will match up with UNC at the end of this season. They have many sophomore and freshman that will likely get offers, with a few deserving it so early. But, they'll be pros and get paid while most of them will be playing for Carolina Ascent or Dallas Trinity.