RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The Great American Conference women's soccer coaches have predicted a tight race for the regular season championship in 2026.

Ouachita has earned the No. 3 spot in the preseason coaches' poll with 29 poll points, just two points behind preseason favorite Harding. In between is Southwestern Oklahoma State at No. 2. HU and SWOSU each received three first-place votes. Ouachita earned the other in the seven-team league.

The Tigers are coming off a third-place finish in the 2025 regular season before wrapping up the year as runner-up in the GAC championship tournament. Ouachita has finished in the top three in the league in each of the previous four seasons, including at the top in 2024 as regular season and tournament champs.

Coming back from last year's 8-7-5 (6-2-4) squad are 21 Tigers, including nine returning starters. Of those nine, seven earned All-GAC honors last season, led by midfielder Isabella Savattere on the first team.

Goalkeeper Taylor Hapgood and forward Reese Brown each earned second team honors last year. Those earning a spot on the honorable mention team last year include midfielder Olivia Erskine, midfielder/forward McKenna Wright, defender Brookelyn Babb, and defender Sahara Adams.

The Tigers wrap up the 2026 preseason this Saturday at home with an exhibition game against Texas Woman's starting at 3 p.m. The regular season opener is set for August 27 at home against Northeastern State.

2026 GAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Harding (31 poll points, 3 first-place votes)
Southwestern Oklahoma State (30, 3)
Ouachita (29, 1)
Northwestern Oklahoma State (24)
Southern Nazarene (13)
East Central (10)
Oklahoma Baptist (10)