August 11, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY (August 11, 2026)– Fifty-five players from 24 teams across the WPSL’s Central Region received All-Conference recognition in the 2026 Central Region Best XI selection.
Austin Rise FC and Minnesota Thunder accounted for the most players named Best XI with five players each. Bavarian United SC, FC Dallas Women, FC Pride, and WPSL Champions, Kansas City Current II, followed up with four players each earning Best XI honors.
This season sees 11 repeat winners including Indiana sophomore Summer Fishel (FC Pride) and IU Indy senior Caroline Kelley (FC Pride), who has each earned the recognition three times, and U-19 USYNT member and two-time Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year Rylee McLanahan, who kicks off her collegiate career with Duke this fall. Twenty-nine additional players earned honorable mention recognition.
GK Ally Deardorff, Chicago House AC (Loyola Chicago, Jr.)
D Sam Bodensteiner, Chicago House AC (Duke, Sr.)
D Megan Cornell, Bavarian United SC (Wisconsin, Sr.)
D Sofia Englund, Bavarian United SC (St. Thomas, Sr.)
MF Jenna Baumann, Green Bay Glory (Wisconsin, Jr.) – 2 Time (2025 & 2026)
MF Anna Hightower, Chicago KICS Football Club (Northwestern (Track), 2025)
MF Ellie Rebmann, FC Milwaukee Torrent (Auburn, Sr.)
F Anya Gulbrandsen, Bavarian United SC (Wisconsin, Jr.)
F Senah Hanes, Bavarian United SC (Wisconsin Green Bay, Jr.)
F Sophia Jaime, Chicago KICS Football Club (Illinois Chicago, 2025)
F Layla Kelbel, FC Milwaukee Torrent (Drake, 2025)
Honorable Mention: GK Mia Hurd, Bavarian United SC; GK Kate Hopma, FC Milwaukee Torrent; D Allison Raasch, Green Bay Glory; MF Gretchen Ellis, Chicago KICS Football Club; F Emily Rossi, Chicago House AC
GK Liesel Tetmeyer, Austin Rise FC (Mississippi State, Fr.)
D Lauren Alvarez, FC Dallas Women (Texas Tech, Fr.)
D Cambry Patrick, Austin Rise FC (Texas, Jr.)
D Lauren Westwood, Austin Rise FC (Wyoming, Sr.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
MF Lexi Gonzales, SouthStar FC (Angelo State, Sr.)
MF Kennedy Husbands, FC Dallas Women (Auburn, Jr.)
MF Kara Harris, Austin Rise FC (Mississippi State, Jr.)
F Ella Adams, Texas Lone Star S.C. (Midwestern State, Jr.)
F Katie Gernsbacher, Austin Rise FC (North Texas, 2016)
F Lexi Lee, FC Dallas Women (Washington State, Sr.)
F Samira Minor, FC Dallas Women (Houston, So.)
Honorable Mention: GK Emily Hauk, FC Dallas Women; D Eleanor Hays, FC Dallas Women; D Kennedy Green, Texas Lone Star S.C., MF Kyrsten Kizer, FC Dallas Women
GK Peyton Hull, FC Pride (Samford, Jr.)
D Lucy Corley, Junction FC (Samford, So.)
D Jordan Gary, Lou Fusz Athletic (Illinois State, Sr.)
D Caroline Kelley, FC Pride (IU Indy, Sr.) – 3-Time (2022, 2025 & 2026)
MF Meghan Belrose, Lou Fusz Athletic (Northern Kentucky, Sr.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
MF Summer Fishel, FC Pride (Indiana, So.) – 3-Time (2024-2026)
MF Joella Livington, Junction FC (Incarnate Word, Jr.)
MF Georgia Pardalos, Missouri Reign (Columbia College, Sr.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
F Breece Bass, FC Pride (Murray State, Jr.)
F Mia Devrouax, Lou Fusz Athletic (Missouri, Jr.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
F Rayna Powers, Junction FC (Kentucky, Fr.)
Honorable Mention: GK Madi Valenti, Lou Fusz Athletic; GK Katy Fitzler, Missouri Reign; D Abby Wiedermann, Lou Fusz Athletic; MF Natalie Miller, Lou Fusz Athletic; F Brianna Buels, FC Pride; F Mackenzie Compton, Lou Fusz Athletic; F Rebecca Rheinheimer, Missouri Reign
GK Maddie Sibbing, Union KC (Kansas State, Jr.)
D Itala Gemelli, Kansas City Current II (Alabama, 2024)
D Molly Shepherd, Oklahoma City FC (Tulsa, So.)
D Kiki Smith, Oklahoma City FC (Oklahoma, Sr.) – 2-Time (2024 & 2026)
MF Avery Clark, Kansas City Current II (Texas, 2024)
MF Presley Schmidt, FC Wichita (Goddard H.S.)
MF Thayline Teixeira, Sunflower State FC (MidAmerica Nazarene, Sr.)
F Jacy Hackler, Kansas City Current II (Olathe Northwest H.S)
F Genevieve Hull, Sunflower State FC (Kansas City, So.)
F Rylee McLanahan, Oklahoma City FC (Duke, Fr.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
F Tori Vassor, Kansas City Current II – (Olathe West H.S.)
Honorable Mention: GK Callie Sullivan, Oklahoma City FC; D Emilia Zolesio, Sunflower State FC; D Skylar Blaise, Kansas City Current II; D Kayla Smith, Union KC; MF Delfina Zolesio, Sunflower State FC; F Alexis Morrison, Union KC
GK Brooke Goerish, Minnesota Thunder (Colorado, Fr.)
D Izzy Halunen, Joy AC (St. Cloud State, Jr.)
D Abby O’Brien, Minnesota Thunder (Milwaukee, So.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
D Siena Sanchez, Minnesota Thunder (Hastings H.S.)
MF Emily Olson, St. Croix Legacy (St. Catherine, Jr.)
MF Maddie Shillings, Minnesota Thunder (East Ridge H.S.)
MF Matigann Vixayvong, Salvo SC (Minnesota, So.)
F Clara Fedunok, Minnesota Thunder (Woodbury H.S.)
F Berit Parten, Salvo SC (Iowa, Jr.)
F Amara Smith, St. Croix Legacy Minnesota State, (Jr.) – 2-Time (2025 & 2026)
F Elle Wildman, Salvo SC (Iowa, So.)
Honorable Mention: GK Ayden Gagner, Salvo SC; GK Sam Mattes, MN Bliss FC; D Fiona Skwierawski, Salvo SC; MF Avery Petty, Salvo SC; MF Bella Naples, Minnesota Thunder; MF Stella Nielsen, St. Croix Legacy; F Ashlyn O’Malley, Mankato United Soccer Club
