By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Coming off another highly decorated season, the Western Washington University women's soccer program is set to open the 2026 season ranked No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches/IWSOC NCAA Division II Preseason Women's Coaches Poll.
The Vikings went 14-1-7 overall last season and won their second consecutive regular-season GNAC title with an 11-0-3 record in conference games. The undefeated run through the GNAC schedule secured the program's 11th regular-season conference title.
WWU made its 14th appearance in the NCAA Division II Championships and 12th in the last 13 seasons earning the No. 1 seed in the West Region. A PK shootout loss to Azusa Pacific ended the Vikings bid for a third national title after. WWU is the two-time NCAA II National Champion, winning titles in 2016 and 2022, while also playing in the national championship game in 2019.
The 2026 team features 20 returning letterwinners and an All-Northwest recruiting class of 12 program additions. Head coach Travis Connell (339-90-53/.758) enters his 24th season leading the women's soccer program and 31st overall at WWU. Seniors Jane Hmura, Reese Walker, Olivia Connell and Mie Cairns lead the returning group of players entering the 2026 season.
The team reports to campus this weekend with the first official practice on Monday at Harrington Field. The three-game preseason exhibition schedule opens Thursday, August 13 with a cross-border friendly at the University of Victoria and concludes with a home match on Friday, August 21 vs. the University of Puget Sound (6 pm).
The official 2026 season opener is scheduled for Thursday, August 27 with the Vikings hosting the University of Hawai'i Hilo at Harrington Field with kickoff set for 4 pm. WWU's non-conference schedule features a pair of top 15 preseason teams with No. 10 UC-Colorado Springs and No. 12 Colorado School of Mines visiting Harrington Field.
Defending champions Florida Tech occupy the top spot in the preseason poll, followed by Cal Poly Pomona, Franklin Pierce, Washburn and Dallas Baptist in the top five. Click here to see the complete preseason poll.
The complete 2026 season schedule for the Vikings can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com and the single-game and season tickets can be purchased at WWUVikings.com/Tickets.
|
Rk
|
School
|
2025
Ranking
|
2025
W-L-T
|
|
1.
|
Florida Tech
|
1
|
15-3-6
|
|
2.
|
Cal Poly Pomona
|
2
|
14-1-3
|
|
3.
|
Franklin Pierce
|
3
|
17-3-5
|
|
4.
|
Washburn
|
4
|
14-4-6
|
|
5.
|
Dallas Baptist
|
5
|
20-2-0
|
|
6.
|
West Chester
|
6
|
16-3-4
|
|
7.
|
Nova Southeastern
|
7
|
16-1-4
|
|
8.
|
Lenoir-Rhyne
|
8
|
13-5-3
|
|
9.
|
Missouri-St. Louis
|
10
|
15-5-2
|
|
10.
|
Colorado-Colorado Springs
|
10
|
14-3-6
|
|
11.
|
Thomas Jefferson
|
12
|
17-3-1
|
|
12.
|
Colorado School of Mines
|
13
|
14-3-5
|
|
13.
|
Catawba
|
14
|
17-1-4
|
|
14.
|
North Georgia
|
15
|
18-3-1
|
|
15.
|
Minnesota State Mankato
|
16
|
18-1-4
|
|
16.
|
St. Cloud State
|
18
|
16-3-5
|
|
17.
|
Shepherd
|
19
|
12-2-6
|
|
18.
|
Western Washington
|
20
|
14-1-7
|
|
19.
|
Grand Valley State
|
21
|
19-2-1
|
|
20.
|
Lander
|
22
|
14-4-2
|
|
21.
|
Maryville-St. Louis
|
23
|
13-3-6
|
|
22.
|
Ashland
|
24
|
14-3-5
|
|
23.
|
Gannon
|
25
|
16-3-2
|
|
24.
|
Simon Fraser
|
RV
|
14-3-5
|
|
25.
|
Mercy
|
RV
|
14-4-3
|
