LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – A pair of quality semifinal round matches highlighted a perfect night for soccer on Wednesday at the 2026 American Women’s Soccer Championship at the Premier Sports Campus.
 
No. 3 UAB outlasted No. 2 Charlotte 2-1 following a late second half goal to reach the American final in women’s soccer for the first time. No. 1 Memphis found an even later go-ahead tally to stop surging No. 4 Rice 3-2 and reach the championship match for the seventh time as a conference member.
 
The 2026 American Women’s Soccer Championship match between No. 1 Memphis and No. 3 UAB is set for Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. ET at the Premier Sports Campus. Coverage of the match will air live on ESPN+.
 
Admission is free to the championship match at the Premier Sports Campus.
 
No. 3 UAB 2, No. 2 Charlotte 1 (PDF Box Score)
A scoreless first half was soon changed by UAB’s Vita Naihin in the 49th minute, with Naihin’s second goal of the tournament putting the Blazers ahead 1-0. Charlotte found the equalizer off the foot of Grace Keighley in the 56th minute to level the contest at 1-1.
 
After UAB won a corner kick in the Charlotte end in the 77th minute, Mia Leath laced a looping cross into the box that was headed toward goal by Abby Graeser. The shot defected into the net off two Charlotte defenders for Graeser’s first goal of the season and provided the final 2-1 scoreline for UAB.
 
Leath led the Blazers with three shot attempts in addition to the match-winning assist. Macie Murphy recorded six saves in the UAB goal in the victory, while counterpart Harlee Head was credited with four saves for Charlotte.
 
No. 1 Memphis 3, No. 4 Rice 2 (PDF Box Score)
A near scoreless first half was broken by American Midfielder of the Year Ai Kitagawa in the 45th minute, as Kitagawa buried a shot from distance at 44:40 to send Memphis to the half up 1-0. Ellis Kelly kept the Tigers flying high out of the break with a just 2:46 into the second half, scoring from the top of the box to push the Memphis lead to 2-0.
 
Rice battled back into the match beginning in the 64th minute. Jadyn Jaeger headed home a corner kick at 63:40. The Owls kept the magic from the corner going in the 76th minute after Allie Love got a header to a Valentina Labuschagne corner to tie the match at 2-all. Memphis took the lead for good in the 87th minute off the foot of Abby Forsgren, who sliced through the Rice defense and buried a try from long range for the Tigers.
 
Kitagawa’s five shots led all players in the match to go along with the first Memphis goal, while Rice’s Labuschagne registered four shots on goal and a pair of assists for the Owls.
 
2026 American Women's Soccer Championship Schedule
Premier Sports Campus | Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Sunday, November 8
Quarterfinal 1 – No. 3 UAB 2, No. 6 Temple 1 | Box Score
Quarterfinal 2 – No. 2 Charlotte 2, No. 7 Florida Atlantic 1 | Box Score
Quarterfinal 3 – No. 4 Rice 1, No. 5 UTSA 0 | Box Score
Quarterfinal 4 – No. 1 Memphis 1, No. 8 UNT 0 | Box Score
 
Wednesday, November 11
Semifinal 1 – No. 3 UAB 2, No. 2 Charlotte 1 | Box Score
Semifinal 2 – No. 1 Memphis 3, No. 4 Rice 2 | Box Score
 
Saturday, November 14
Championship Final – No. 3 UAB vs. No. 1 Memphis | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+ | Live Stats