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65 Former ACC Players Head Into the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, the Most of Any Conference

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Gotham FC player celebrating during an NWSL match on Decision Day, in front of the crowd
A Gotham FC player celebrates during an NWSL match on Decision Day, ahead of the 2026 NWSL Playoffs. Photo: @nwsl

The road to the 2026 NWSL Championship runs through the ACC. A total of 65 players from current Atlantic Coast Conference schools will compete in the playoffs that open Friday, the most of any conference in the country and a new high for the league’s deepest pipeline.

With the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Playoffs set to begin on Friday, November 6, with quarterfinal action, a total of 65 players from current Atlantic Coast Conference schools will compete for a spot in the 2026 NWSL Championship.

The 65 players are the most among all conferences, eclipsing last season’s mark of 57. Last season, Florida State’s Jaelin Howell, Pitt’s Sarah Schupansky and Virginia’s Emily Sonnett earned starts in the NWSL Championship match and helped lead Gotham FC to the franchise’s second title in the last three seasons. At least one former ACC player has been a member of the starting XI for every NWSL champion in league history, dating back to 2013.

The 2026 NWSL Playoffs begin Friday when the San Diego Wave host the Utah Royals at 10 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The NWSL Championship is scheduled for November 21 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

ACC Players in the NWSL Playoffs

Angel City FC (9): Angelina Anderson, California; Karsyn Cherry, Louisville; Jennie Immethun, California; Savy King, North Carolina; Carina Lageyre, Duke; Emily Sams, Florida State; Ally Sentnor, North Carolina; Evelyn Shores, North Carolina; Taylor Suarez, Florida State.

Gotham FC (9): Tess Boade, Duke; Tierna Davidson, Stanford; Jordynn Dudley, Florida State; Jaelin Howell, Florida State; Andrea Kitahata, Stanford; Emily Sonnett, Virginia; Taryn Torres, Virginia; Olivia Wingate, Notre Dame; Teagan Wy, California.

Kansas City Current (8): Alana Cook, Stanford; Michelle Cooper, Duke; Bayley Feist, Wake Forest; Clare Gagne, North Carolina; Haley Hopkins, Virginia; Lo’eau LaBonta, Stanford; Mary Long, Duke; Laney Rouse, Virginia.

Portland Thorns (7): Carolyn Calzada, Notre Dame; Caiya Hanks, Wake Forest; Shae Harvey, Stanford; Sam Hiatt, Stanford; Renee Lyles, Clemson; Sophia Wilson, Stanford; Mackenzie Wood, Notre Dame.

San Diego Wave (8): Trinity Armstrong, North Carolina; Lia Godfrey, Virginia; Nya Harrison, Stanford; Catarina Macario, Stanford; Kristen McNabb, Virginia; Kiki Pickett, Stanford; Mimi Van Zanten, Florida State; Kennedy Wesley, Stanford.

Seattle Reign (9): Ryanne Brown, Wake Forest; Maddie Dahlien, North Carolina; Claudia Dickey, North Carolina; Phoebe McClernon, Virginia; Maddie Mercado, Notre Dame; Sam Meza, North Carolina; Cassie Miller, Florida State; Evan O’Steen, Florida State; Brittney Ratcliffe, Virginia.

Utah Royals (6): Mandy McGlynn, Virginia Tech; Jameese Joseph, NC State; Kameron Simmonds, Florida State; Aria Nagai, North Carolina (loaned to Dallas Trinity); Alexa Spaanstra, Virginia; Madison Hammond, Wake Forest.

Washington Spirit (9): Deborah Abiodun, Pitt; Gabrielle Carle, Florida State; Hal Hershfelt, Clemson; Audrey Kingsbury, Wake Forest; Casey Krueger, Florida State; Sandy MacIver, Clemson; Paige Metayer, California; Andi Sullivan, Stanford; Elisabeth Tse, SMU.

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NAIA Women’s Soccer Notebook: Red Banner Chase Heads Toward Decatur as Bids Fill In

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November 6, 2026

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Rocky Mountain's Charlize Davis on the ball and goalkeeper Matea Vernon in front of goal
NAIA women's soccer action, with Rocky Mountain's Charlize Davis and goalkeeper Matea Vernon, who were named NAIA PrestoSports Players of the Week. Photo via NAIA.

The NAIA women’s soccer regular season is over, conference tournaments are in win-or-go-home mode, and the road to the Red Banner in Decatur is taking shape, with the final Players of the Week named, six automatic bids already claimed, and the selection show set for November 13.

The final issue of the 2026 NAIA Women’s Soccer notebook looks ahead at where to tune in for the selection show, final site tickets, and more, as the Battle For The Red Banner gets underway in just over a week for 40 teams across the nation.

New automatic bids: Two more automatic bids into the national tournament were punched — Clarke (Iowa) from the Heart of America and Hastings (Neb.) from the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Both begin their respective conference tournaments as the No. 1 seed.

Final Players of the Week (PrestoSports-NAIA):

  • Offensive Player of the Week: Sara Aguirre of William Carey (Miss.) — contributed to 11 goals across two home matches last week; junior forward from Villavicencio, Colombia; scored three goals and added four assists across the two contests.
  • Defensive Player of the Week: Izzy Martinez of Brenau (Ga.) — recorded two shutouts last week, including one in a victory that secured Brenau’s place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament; freshman goalkeeper from McDonough, Ga.

Automatic bids already claimed (by winning the conference regular season outright or via conference tiebreaker procedures, for conferences of 12 or more teams): Truett-McConnell (Ga.), College of Idaho, Clarke (Iowa), Oklahoma Wesleyan, Hastings (Neb.), and William Carey (Miss.). Other teams must win their conference tournament to earn an automatic bid.

Championship details:

  • First and second rounds are under two weeks away; play for the final 16 teams in Decatur, Ala., is just under four weeks away.
  • Final site: Jack Allen Sports Complex in Decatur, Ala.
  • Selection show: Friday, November 13 at 5 p.m. CT on the NAIA’s YouTube page.
  • All matches will be broadcast free on the NAIA Network from opening kick on November 30 through the championship game and awards ceremony on December 7.

Keiser (Fla.) leads the final STADIONIC-NAIA Women’s Soccer Selection Committee Top 25 Poll, with Grace (Ind.) No. 2 and Indiana Wesleyan No. 3.

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