Wisconsin Earns No. 4 Spot in Big Ten Preseason Poll, Places Three on Players to Watch List
August 03, 2026 | Women's Soccer
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin has been selected to finish fourth in the 2026 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, the conference announced Monday. The Badgers also placed three student-athletes on the Big Ten Players to Watch list, with senior defender Hailey Baumann, sophomore defender Kiara Gilmore, and senior goalkeeper Drew Stover earning the distinction. The trio was also recently named to the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, recognizing them among the nation's top players entering the season.
Stover returns after starting all 22 matches in goal for the Badgers in 2025, playing 1,980 minutes while recording 61 saves, 10 shutouts and a .762 save percentage. A two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week, she earned Second Team All-Big Ten and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team honors after helping Wisconsin rank among the conference's top defensive teams.
Baumann enters her senior season after anchoring Wisconsin's back line in 2025. She started all 22 matches, logging 1,947 minutes while contributing one goal and three assists. To top off an impressive defensive season she earned Second Team All-Big Ten recognition.
Gilmore made an immediate impact during her freshman campaign, starting 21 matches and totaling 1,801 minutes while tallying four assists, the most among Wisconsin defenders. She earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in her debut season.
The Badgers were picked fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll behind Michigan State, UCLA and Washington. Ohio State rounded out the top five, followed by Penn State, USC, Northwestern, Illinois and Iowa.
Wisconsin opens the 2026 season on Thursday, Aug. 13, when it hosts TCU at McClimon Soccer Complex before opening Big Ten play Sept. 10 at Illinois.
