WAC WSOC25 Release Week 1

THE 2025 SEASON KICKS OFF TOMORROW!!
The Western Athletic Conference 2025 women’s soccer season starts Thursday, August 14th as five of the league’s six teams hit the road with California Baptist hosting CSU Bakersfield for its season opener. Each team will play two games in week one with some noteworthy matchups including CBU at No. 5 USC and Utah Valley hosting in-state Big 12 foe Utah.
 
UTAH VALLEY VOTED PRESEASON FAVORITES FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The reigning three-time WAC regular season champion Utah Valley was chosen as the WAC preseason favorite in the 2025 WAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released last Thursday. The Wolverines received four first-place votes and 24 points as the league’s head coaches named UVU as the team to beat entering the 2025 season. This is the third straight year Utah Valley is tabbed the WAC preseason favorite. The defending WAC Tournament champion California Baptist was picked to finish runner-up with 22 points and two first-place votes.
 
WEBBER NAMED PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Utah Valley graduate forward Faith Webber was voted as the 2025 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Webber returns to the pitch for one final run in the Valley following a historic 2024 season where she led the nation in goals per game (0.95) and collected the third-most points per game in the country (2.00). Webber has made herself known nationwide as she was named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Players to Watch List along with being ranked No. 15 nationally on Top Drawer Soccer’s Preseason Top-100 List.
 
ALLEN AND NELSON SPLIT PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
California Baptist senior Summer Allen and Utah Valley senior Taylor Nelson were chosen as the 2025 WAC Preseason Co-Defensive Players of the Year. Allen played in all 20 matches for the Lancers last year and helped CBU to six shutout wins. Allen’s defense in the 2024 WAC Tournament led California Baptist to its first WAC championship as well as a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Nelson started in all 19 matches for the Wolverines, five of those ending in shutout victories. Nelson helped lead UVU to another outright regular season title in 2024, earning her All-WAC Second Team honors.
 
KENDALL EARNS PRESEASON GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Tarleton State senior Mikayla Kendall was selected as the 2025 WAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. Kendall started all 20 games in the net for the 2024 Texans and led the WAC in save percentage (.862) and total saves (106), ranking 10th and 17th in the country, respectively. She recorded six shutouts for Tarleton State last year and was named to the All-WAC Second Team. Kendall was recently named one of United Soccer Coaches’ goalkeepers to watch for the 2025 season.