By OkayGoal 
The women’s soccer landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation with the end of the NWSL draft. Now, the incoming NWSL class will be among the first to navigate the free-agent system, allowing top talent to sign with clubs year-round, and allowing a faster and more flexible transfer from the NCAA to leagues like the NWSL.
So who are the top college prospects to watch in 2026?
Izzy Engle
Fighting Irish forward Izzy Engle consistently ranks among the country’s top strikers in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Engle was named TopDrawerSoccer’s National Freshman of the Year in 2024 and Offensive Player of the Year for the ACC in 2025, scoring 19 goals in 19 games. She is a prime target for NWSL clubs seeking a dependable striker.
Jordynn Dudley
Florida State’s Jordynn Dudley keeps racking up the awards as the first player in Seminole program history to collect three All-America honors. Dudley has been instrumental in Florida State’s recent success, combining exceptional physical tools, including her 5’11 height, speed, and a knack for scoring. She was also named a 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.
Gianna Paul
Alabama record-holder Gianna Paul has established herself as one of Alabama’s all-time leading scorers with 40 career goals, 94 career points, 279 career shots and 115 career shots on goal. She was also named a 2025 As a recent grad with a degree in sports management, we will see what’s on the horizon for this remarkable NCAA champion who cemented herself as an Alabama legacy.
Mia Bhuta
Stanford midfielder Mia Bhuta is known for her vision and passing range. Her standout career includes being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America fourth team and the TopDrawerSoccer Best XI second team in her sophomore year (2024), where she started all 23 matches. Internationally, she made history as the first Indian-American to represent the USA national team at the World Cup (2022) and captained the U.S. at the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Elise Evans
The bedrock of Stanford’s defense and a fifth-generation Stanford student-athlete, Evans is arguably the top defender in her class. Originally the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2022 by TopDrawerSoccer, she has lived up to the hype, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2025), United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team (2025) honors, and being named a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist (2025). Her accolades also include TopDrawerSoccer National Freshman of the Year (2022) and three United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team selections.
As professional clubs compete fiercely for the signatures of the powerhouse women above, these top college prospects of 2026 are poised not just to enter the professional ranks, but to redefine them, making their transition to the NWSL a pivotal moment for the future of women’s soccer.