IRVING, Texas – Two-time defending American Athletic Conference women’s soccer champion Memphis has been named the unanimous 2023 preseason favorite, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
The Tigers earned 11 votes as the pick to win the 2023 championship, while SMU earned one vote. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.
Starting this season, The American will have 12 teams competing in women’s soccer with the additions of UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA joining continuing members East Carolina, Memphis, South Florida, SMU, Temple and Tulsa.
Memphis was also a unanimous selection to win the West Division, earning the maximum number of points, 61, including 11 first-place votes. SMU earned one first-place vote and 50 total points for second place. North Texas was third with 35 points, followed by Rice (30), UTSA (23) and Tulsa (17).
South Florida was the unanimous favorite in the East Division, also claiming 11 first-place votes and 61 total points. UAB, which earned the remaining first-place vote, had 40 points, one more than third-place Florida Atlantic (39). East Carolina was fourth with 35 points, followed by Charlotte (29) and Temple (12).
The American also announced the 2023 American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Watch List, as selected by the conference’s head coaches. Three members of the 2022 American All-Conference First Team were named to the Watch List, including Mya Jones and Grace Stordy of Memphis and Vivianne Bessette of South Florida. Maeve English and Jazmin Ferguson of East Carolina were named to the 2022 All-Conference Second Team, while Ferguson, SMU’s Peyton Annen and Tulsa’s Maggie SymSmith were named to the All-Rookie Team. Ferguson was The American’s Rookie of the Year in 2022.
Asha Zuniga of UAB was Conference USA’s 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, while UAB’s Carlyn Presley, Charlotte’s Julia Patrum, North Texas’s Rachel Roebuck and Rice’s Mikala Furuto were named to the All-CUSA Second Team. Sasjah Dade of UTSA was selected to the All-CUSA Third Team, while Florida Atlantic’s Morgan McDonald and North Texas’ Kat Burnell were named to the All-Freshman Team.
The 2023 American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship expands to eight teams this season and will be held October 31-November 5 at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
American Championship
| Team |
Points |
| Memphis |
11 |
| SMU |
1 |
| West Division |
| Team |
Points |
| Memphis (11) |
61 |
| SMU (1) |
50 |
| North Texas |
35 |
| Rice |
30 |
| UTSA |
23 |
| Tulsa |
17 |
| East Division |
| Team |
Points |
| South Florida (11) |
61 |
| UAB (1) |
40 |
| Florida Atlantic |
39 |
| East Carolina |
35 |
| Charlotte |
29 |
| Temple |
12 |
American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Watch List
Carlyn Presley, Jr., M, UAB
Jessica Wheeler, Sr., M, UAB
Asha Zuniga, 5th, D, UAB
Macey Bader, Jr., F, Charlotte
Payton Patrick, Jr., F, Charlotte
Julia Patrum, Gr., M, Charlotte
Annabelle Abbott, Sr., D/F, East Carolina
Maeve English, Sr., GK, East Carolina
Jazmin Ferguson, So., D, East Carolina
Morgan McDonald, So., M, Florida Atlantic
Mia Sennes, R-Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Jodi Smith, Jr., D, Florida Atlantic
Mya Jones, 5th, F/M, Memphis
Saorla Miller, 5th, M/F, Memphis
Grace Stordy, Sr., D/M, Memphis
Kat Burnell, So., F, North Texas
Rachel Roebuck, Sr., D, North Texas
Bailey Wesco, Jr., F, North Texas
Catarina Albuquerque, Jr., M, Rice
Mikala Furuto, Jr., M, Rice
Sarah Piper, Gr., M, Rice
Vivianne Bessette, Jr., D, South Florida
Madison Schwartzenberger, Jr., M, South Florida
Serita Thurton, Jr., F/M, South Florida
Peyton Annen, So., D, SMU
Wayny Balata, Gr., M, SMU
Sam Estrada, Gr., GK, SMU
Phoebe Hollin, Jr., D, Temple
Fiona Kilian, So., M, Temple
Nicole Sweeney, Gr., F, Temple
Sasjah Dade, Sr., D, UTSA
Mia Krusinski, R-Jr., GK, UTSA
Alissa Stewart, Gr., F/M, UTSA
Liliana Fernandez, Sr., D, Tulsa
Kaylyn Simmons, Fr., F, Tulsa
Maggie SymSmith, So., M, Tulsa