[Sakibomb25]

From what I hear, Birkel will be the only frosh starter, at least at the beginning of the season barring injury.

RB is the only other truly “open” position beyond GK as noted above; so that wouldn’t surprise. 

Frosh obviously grow into the season, and the team has a lot of history with them emerging as starters halfway or 2/3 into the season.

RB will be very interesting to watch. The team only has 3 true outside backs on the roster - both Smiths and Boamah. Evans played wide at the start of her career and I think Emri could play there based on her youth soccer days; but outside back is really thin, and I much prefer Emri and Evans at CB.

Either the formation changes to a 3 back, or somebody(s) is/are getting a position change.

Bhuta played outside back her freshman year quite a bit (including in the College Cup).  But I much perfer her at midfield. By the way Bhuta just graduated (early enrollee + 2 years).  She announced on Instagram she is not done "yet" and will be returning this year as a grad student.  Jasmine Aikey and Elise Evans also both graduated (in 3 years), but are both on the 2025 roster, so it seems both will return as grad students for their final year (unless they decide to turn pro). 

As for Ava Harrison, I'm familiar with her here in So Cal.  She's the top player for the San Diego Surf (the brobdingnagian and highly renown San Diego soccer club that Catarina Macario played for). I have high expectations for her.  She's a great get and I think she has a higher up side than her sister. (BTW, Nya signed a short term deal with the Wave this season, but I don't think she has played.)

Evans is definitely coming back, as she indicated in her IG graduation post. Aikey also had a graduation post, but she never indicated if she was returning (like Bhuta and Evans)... here's hoping she does!

[Sakibomb25]

From what I hear, Birkel will be the only frosh starter, at least at the beginning of the season barring injury.

RB is the only other truly “open” position beyond GK as noted above; so that wouldn’t surprise. 

Frosh obviously grow into the season, and the team has a lot of history with them emerging as starters halfway or 2/3 into the season.

RB will be very interesting to watch. The team only has 3 true outside backs on the roster - both Smiths and Boamah. Evans played wide at the start of her career and I think Emri could play there based on her youth soccer days; but outside back is really thin, and I much prefer Emri and Evans at CB.

Either the formation changes to a 3 back, or somebody(s) is/are getting a position change.

Bhuta played outside back her freshman year quite a bit (including in the College Cup).  But I much perfer her at midfield. By the way Bhuta just graduated (early enrollee + 2 years).  She announced on Instagram she is not done "yet" and will be returning this year as a grad student.  Jasmine Aikey and Elise Evans also both graduated (in 3 years), but are both on the 2025 roster, so it seems both will return as grad students for their final year (unless they decide to turn pro). 

As for Ava Harrison, I'm familiar with her here in So Cal.  She's the top player for the San Diego Surf (the brobdingnagian and highly renown San Diego soccer club that Catarina Macario played for). I have high expectations for her.  She's a great get and I think she has a higher up side than her sister. (BTW, Nya signed a short term deal with the Wave this season, but I don't think she has played.)

Evans is definitely coming back, as she indicated in her IG graduation post. Aikey also had a graduation post, but she never indicated if she was returning (like Bhuta and Evans)... here's hoping she does!