May 28, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 28, 2026) — Eleven players earn regional Players of the Week presented by Global Scarves after Week Three of the WPSL’s 2026 season.
2025 standout Rylee McLanahan helped Oklahoma City FC to a season opening win while recording 75 minutes of play. The Duke commit and recent USYNT call-upscored the opening goal in the first 10 minutes and added another in the 51st before contributing with an assist moments later. McLanahan tallied two goals and one assist in the 5-0 win.
RI Rogues FC ended Week Three with two wins in two games which included a 3-1 win over reigning WPSL Champions and the No.1 team in the East Region. Nadja Meite tallied a brace against the 2025 champions and collected an additional goal in their 2-1 win earlier in the week. The Brown University junior created consistent dangerous opportunities in the Rogues attack that contributed to three of the five goals scored in two games.
Salma Elhaimer helped LA Krewe Rush open its second WPSL season with two Week Three wins while outscoring its opponents 12-2. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette junior recorded 145 minutes in the two games, tallying three goals and five assists.
SC del Sol opened the season hosting conference rivals FC Tucson, where Northern Arizona University sophomore Valerie Llamas proved to be a dominant weapon in del Sol’s attack. Llamas recorded 75 min of play in the 7-1 win and the SC del Sol youth alumna tallied a brace in 14 minutes before securing a hat trick and adding two assists to contribute to five of the seven goals scored.
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS presented by Hudl
The Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 Itala Gemelli anchored the backline for Kansas City Current II’s two games in Week Three. Gemelli recorded 70 minutes in Kansas City’s 3-0 win to start the win and 45 min in its 5-1 Matchup of the Week win. Gemelli made 10 defensive stops on the week while recording 95% pass completion and winning 1v1 battles.
Mia Van Dyke helped Albany Rush to a 2-0 road win and secured the shutout to start the season. The Siena University senior won challenges in the air and on the ground while marking her opponent’s most threatening offensive player. To keep the opposing side scoreless, Van Dyke made two goalline clearances.
Ella Pomarananski helped her Arlington side to a hard-fought draw on the road. Arlington SA U21 faced a tough District Elite side in Week Three and after taking the lead in the first, the opposition scored twice in the second half to what looked to become the final result. The Leigh University commit however came in with immediate impact offensively and scored the equalizer in the 81st minute that would hold through the final whistle.
University of Washington commit Mackenzie Stearns held opponents to a single goal in ALBION’s 4-1 win in Week Three. Stearns was a prominent weapon for ALBION on both sides of the ball for all 90 minutes, scoring a goal herself in the 26th minute.
“She [Stearns] consistently anchored our backline with strong positioning, timely tackles, and clear communication throughout the match,” Goran Nastic, ALBION San Diego head coach, said. “Her ability to read the game and shut down key attacking moments was critical to our defensive performance.”
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS presented by Hudl
Only one nomination was submitted for the East Region and that player earned National GK recognition.
Returning Scissortail Callie Sullivan earned the clean sheet in Oklahoma City FC’s 5-0 season opener win at home in Week Three. The University of Oklahoma sophomore played the full 90 minutes and gave up just a single shot on goal the whole match.
Olivia Critchfield played the first half of Arlington SA U21 Week Three match and kept the opposition out of the net, earning a clean sheet. The high school junior has played in all three games in Arlington SA U21’s debut season thus far.
Desert Dreams F.C. opened its 2026 season in Week Three on the road against a tough El Paso side. Wofford commit Chloe Cundiff protected the goal for 90 minutes, making ten saves and preventing a final minute goal in the 88th minute to secure the draw.
HONORABLE MENTION GOALKEEPER PLAYMAKERS presented by Hudl
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