OREM — Entering its inaugural season in The Big West after winning four consecutive Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular-season championships, the Utah Valley women’s soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2026 Big West Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll and received a pair of first-place votes, the conference office announced Wednesday.

The Wolverines totaled 95 points in the preseason voting, including two first-place votes, trailing only co-favorites Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara, which each received 100 points, and Cal State Fullerton with 98 points. Utah Valley finished ahead of UC Irvine, California Baptist, Long Beach State and the remaining five Big West programs.

Utah Valley also placed two student-athletes on the 2026 Big West Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Team as senior defender Mia Owens and redshirt junior midfielder Josie Clawson each earned preseason recognition, making the Wolverines one of only three programs with multiple preseason selections.

The Wolverines enter the 2026 campaign following one of the most successful seasons in program history. Utah Valley posted a 14-5-3 overall record in 2025, went unbeaten in conference play with a 9-0-1 mark, advanced to the WAC Tournament championship match and earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history.

Owens returns after a standout junior campaign in which she earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors while leading one of the conference’s top defensive units. The senior defender started all 22 matches on Utah Valley’s back line, logging 1,794 minutes while recording one goal and two assists. She also earned First Team All-WAC, WAC All-Tournament Team, United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Second Team, United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Third Team, CSC Academic All-America Third Team and CSC Academic All-District honors while helping lead the Wolverines to another conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Clawson returns for her second season with the Wolverines after making an immediate impact in 2025. The redshirt junior midfielder earned Second Team All-WAC honors after appearing in all 22 matches with 20 starts, tying for third on the team with five goals while adding five assists for 15 points. Clawson helped Utah Valley win a conference championship and earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament in her first season in Orem.

Utah Valley kicks off the season on Thursday, Aug. 13 against Michigan at UCCU Stadium in Orem.

2026 Big West Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

T-1. Cal Poly – 100 (5)

T-1. UC Santa Barbara – 100 (4)

3. Cal State Fullerton – 98 (1)

4. Utah Valley – 95 (2)

5. UC Irvine – 76

6. California Baptist – 75

7. Long Beach State – 72

8. CSUN – 58

9. UC San Diego – 45

10. Cal State Bakersfield – 33

11. UC Riverside – 22

12. Sacramento State – 18

2026 Big West Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Team

Radisson Banks, Long Beach State

Emily Caughey, UC Santa Barbara

Josie Clawson, Utah Valley

Haley Clingan, UC Irvine

Cherrie Cox, Long Beach State

Camryn Cruz, Cal State Fullerton

Anja Jestrovic, California Baptist

Sydney Lipkin, CSUN

Mikayla O’Brien, California Baptist

Mia Owens, Utah Valley

Annika Smith, Cal Poly