TCU Picked as Big 12 Favorite; Preseason Team Announced
- Jonathan Turner
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 Conference released its 2025 women’s soccer preseason poll and all-conference team Thursday, with defending regular-season champion TCU selected as the favorite by the league’s head coaches.
The Horned Frogs earned 223 points and 13 first-place votes, finishing ahead of Texas Tech, which collected 202 points and two first-place votes. BYU was tabbed third with 191 points and one first-place vote, while West Virginia ranked fourth with 172 points. Kansas, fresh off its 2024 Big 12 Tournament title, cracked the top five for the first time since 2015 with 167 points.
The 27-player preseason team includes five extra spots due to ties. Twenty players were recognized with All-Big 12 honors last season, including Arizona State’s Kierra Blundell (2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year), Colorado’s Jordan Nytes (2024 Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year), TCU’s Bella Diorio (2024 Big 12 Forward of the Year), and Texas Tech’s Macy Blackburn (2024 Big 12 Defender of the Year). Texas Tech’s Sam Courtwright also returns from injury after winning 2023 Freshman of the Year honors.
BYU and Texas Tech each placed five players on the preseason squad, followed by Colorado and TCU with four apiece. Kansas and Oklahoma State each had three selections. Arizona State, Baylor and West Virginia earned one selection each.
Seven Big 12 programs reached the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the league’s highest total since 2003.
The 2025 season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 14, with conference play beginning Thursday, Sept. 18.
Preseason Poll
TCU (13) – 223
Texas Tech (2) – 202
BYU (1) – 191
West Virginia – 172
Kansas – 167
Colorado – 155
Oklahoma State – 153
Arizona – 113
Utah – 112
Baylor – 108
Arizona State – 98
UCF – 72
Cincinnati – 57
Iowa State – 40
Houston – 38
Kansas State – 19
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
GK: Jordan Nytes, Colorado; Faith Nguyen, Texas Tech
D: Avery Frischknecht, BYU; Izzi Stratton, BYU; Faith Leyba, Colorado; Caroline Castans, Kansas; Jazmin Brown, Oklahoma State; Cameron Patton, TCU; Macy Blackburn, Texas Tech
MF: Lucy Kesler, BYU; Mika Krommenhoek, BYU; Ava Priest, Colorado; Mackenzee Vance, BYU; Xcaret Pineda, Oklahoma State; Laudan Wilson, Oklahoma State; Morgan Brown, TCU; Sam Courtwright, Texas Tech; Peyton Parsons, Texas Tech
F: Kierra Blundell, Arizona State; Tyler Isgrig, Baylor; Hope Leyba, Colorado; Lexi Watts, Kansas; Saige Wimes, Kansas; Seven Castain, TCU; Bella Diorio, TCU; Taylor Zdrojewski, Texas Tech; Ajanae Respass, West Virginia
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