By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's soccer team completed its 12-player incoming recruiting class with three program additions set to debut during the 2026 fall season.
Head coach Travis Connell announced the additions featuring a pair of transfer defenders and one prep midfielder.
The class of 2026 features 12 players all hailing from the Northwest that will report to Bellingham in August for the start of fall camp. The full class features three forwards, four midfielders, four defenders and one goalkeeper.
The latest trio of future Vikings include defender Ella Witherspoon (Bellevue, WA/Cal State Northridge), defender Carly VanGiesen (Oak Harbor, WA/Union Univ.) and midfielder Ariana Lopez (Yakima, WA/East Valley HS).
Here is a complete rundown of the 2026 recruiting class with the three program additions highlighted below.
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown
|
High School
|
Club Program/Previous School
|
|
Blake Francis
|
D
|
5-9
|
Lake Oswego, OR
|
Lake Oswego HS
|
Portland Thorns ECNL
|
|
Dara Lauzen
|
D
|
5-3
|
Seattle, WA
|
Roosevelt HS
|
Seattle Celtic/Seattle United
|
|
Ariana Lopez
|
MF
|
5-7
|
Yakima, WA
|
East Valley HS
|
Eastside FC ECNL
|
|
Madeline Mays
|
F
|
5-8
|
Oak Harbor, WA
|
Oak Harbor HS
|
Northwest United
|
|
Haleigh Miller
|
F
|
5-2
|
Vancouver, WA
|
Union HS
|
Columbia Premier
|
|
Keira Reeves
|
MF
|
5-6
|
Bellingham, WA
|
Sehome HS
|
WFC Rangers/Seattle United ECNL
|
|
Ruby Senffner
|
F
|
5-5
|
Portland, OR
|
Rex Putnam HS
|
Oregon Surf
|
|
Chloe Van Wey
|
MF
|
5-6
|
Spokane, WA
|
West Valley HS
|
Spokane Shadow GA
|
|
Carly VanGiesen
|
D
|
5-8
|
Oak Harbor, WA
|
Oak Harbor HS
|
Union Univ. (TN)
|
|
Ella Witherspoon
|
D
|
5-3
|
Bellevue, WA
|
Issaquah HS
|
Cal State Northridge
|
|
Sadie Wylie
|
GK
|
5-8
|
Seattle, WA
|
Lincoln HS
|
Seattle United ECNL
|
|
Kayla Yun
|
MF
|
5-4
|
Lynden, WA
|
Lynden Christian
|
WFC Rangers
|
ARIANA LOPEZ | Midfield | Yakima, WA | East Valley HS | Eastside FC ECNL
Will be a freshman for the Vikings in 2026 after strong prep career at East Valley High School in Yakima … product of Eastside FC ECNL … helped lead East Valley to three league titles and made three appearances in the WIAA 2A State Tournament … finished EV career second all-time in goals scored for East Valley … Central Washington Athletic Conference MVP during senior year in 2025 scoring 34 goals … brother, Diego Lopez, played two seasons for the WWU men's soccer team in 2024-25.
CARLY VANGIESEN | Defender | Oak Harbor, WA | Oak Harbor HS | Union University
Transfers to WWU from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee with two years of eligibility remaining … appeared in 26 games and made one start across two seasons for the Bulldogs … scored two goals on 17 total shots playing at the NCAA Division II level … prep standout at Oak Harbor High School where she earned varsity letters in soccer, basketball and cross country … played club soccer for Northwest United and participated in the Washington Premier League (WPL) Surf.
ELLA WITHERSPOON | Defender | Bellevue, WA | Issaquah HS | Cal State Northridge
Transfers to WWU from Cal State Northridge with three years of eligibility remaining … defender that spent two seasons at CSUN, utilizing a redshirt season in 2024 … appeared in eight games with two starts during her collegiate debut season in 2025 for the Matadors … played in season-high 79 minutes in her Matador debut vs. California Baptist … standout prep career at Issaquah High School earning four varsity letters and was team co-captain as a senior … earned All-State second team and All-Conference honors helping Eagles to two state final appearances … played club career for Eastside FC ECNL.
