A Midseason Check-in On the Race for the Women's Soccer Championship

The 2025 Women’s College Soccer season is now well-past its halfway point and tracking towards an exciting finish. From a birdseye view, there have been a number of national storylines that have captured attention. Most notably the rise of the Tennessee Volunteers who entered the season without much buzz, the fall of UNC’s dynasty throughout this season, and the continuation of the dynasty that is the Florida State Women’s soccer program. In this article, we will discuss these stories, the national contenders, rising stars, and the path to the National Championship this year. 

The National Headlines

The Rise of the SEC:

For years, the ACC has more or less been the dominant force nationally in Women’s Soccer. Between the rise of the Florida State Women’s soccer dynasty, the continuation of the UNC dynasty, and consistent programs such as Duke and Virginia, no league could match the schedule of ACC competition. 

However, in 2025 much has changed. To start, the first stumble in years from the usually untouchable UNC dynasty has occurred. Despite strong performances from other ACC teams, their reign as the crown jewel conference in women’s soccer may be in jeopardy.  While the ACC still holds a nation-best seven teams in the current Top 25, a legitimate challenger in the Southeastern Conference has not just shown depth this season; it has proven its top teams can beat the nation's elite, particularly those from the ACC.  

The evidence of this power shift is compelling:

• Unranked Tennessee traveled to No. 1 North Carolina and secured a decisive 2-0 victory.  
• Just one week later, an unranked Georgia (SEC) squad also defeated the still top-ranked Tar Heels 2-0.  
• Beyond the ACC, Tennessee also defeated then-No. 4 UCLA, while Arkansas battled No. 2 Notre Dame a 2-2 draw, among others.
• With six teams ranked in the Top 25, the SEC has demonstrated a level of quality and depth that directly challenges the ACC's long-held dominance, creating a more balanced and competitive national landscape.  

UNC’s Season Struggles:

The 2025 season began with a familiar narrative: the University of North Carolina, fresh off its 23rd national title, sat atop the preseason polls as the unanimous No. 1 team. But the script quickly unraveled. In a stunning season opener, the Tar Heels fell 2-0 to an unranked Tennessee squad, becoming the first reigning champion to lose their first match in 23 years. The shock was compounded just a week later by another 2-0 loss, this time to an unranked Georgia squad.  

Those two upsets sent the Tar Heels reeling and altered the national landscape as a whole. While the team has since battled back, their season has been an uphill climb, marked by uncharacteristic inconsistency and further losses to conference rivals like No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 7 Florida State. Currently sitting at No. 19, the Tar Heels' difficult season serves as a stark reminder of the immense pressure that comes with defending a championship and the ever-closing gap between the sport's traditional blue bloods and the rising tide of new contenders.

Tennessee’s Season of Dominance:

Without question, the story of the 2025 women’s soccer season is the University of Tennessee. The Volunteers entered the year entirely unheralded, but they immediately announced their presence by dismantling the defending national champions. This victory catapulted them into the national conversation and into the top 10.  

Tennessee answered those questioning their start emphatically. In their next major test, they faced No. 4 UCLA, and defeated them 1-0. By beating the last two preseason top-4 teams inside of the first month, the Volunteers proved they were a legitimate force. Their performance rocketed them to No. 2 in the national polls and solidified their status as a true title contender. Now firmly established in the top five, Tennessee's season has been one of shocking dominance, transforming them from an outsider to a team garnering national attention. 

The Breakout Players

Jennie Immethun:

A senior from San Jose, California, Immethun transferred from TCU to UCLA and has become the anchor of the Bruins' formidable defense. She has consistently performed in the 2025 season, leading a Bruins defense that ranks third in the nation with a 0.33 goals-against average. Her impact as a defender through 14 games is undeniable. Immethun made two crucial goal-line saves to preserve shutouts against Georgia and Portland, earning her Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after her debut and a spot on the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watchlist.

Hope Leyba:

A junior forward from Phoenix, Arizona, Hope Leyba is having a breakout season for the Colorado Buffaloes. Through 13 games, she has been dominant, scoring 14 goals and adding 1 assist for a total of 29 points. She has also tallied two hat tricks this season, making her the first player in program history to achieve that feat in a single season. Her exceptional play earned her a Co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award earlier in the season and she is in contention for a number of conference and national awards this season. 

Ally Perry:

A senior midfielder from Frisco, Texas, Ally Perry is the engine of the Mississippi State offense and a team captain. In 12 games this season, she has amassed an impressive 7 goals and 6 assists for 20 points, leading the SEC in points per game. Four of her goals have been game-winners. Perry's outstanding performance has earned her SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors and a place on the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watchlist.

Olivia Thomas:

Hailing from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, the junior forward has been a consistent offensive threat for the Tar Heels. In 14 games during the 2025 season, Olivia Thomas has led her team with 11 goals and 5 assists, totaling 27 points. Her strong play, which includes scoring in four of UNC's first five ACC matchups, earned her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watchlist.

The Contenders for the College Cup

Stanford:

With a championship pedigree, Stanford entered the season ranked No. 7 and quickly proved it belonged in the title conversation, climbing to the top spot in the national rankings after just two weeks of play. Currently ranked No. 3, the Cardinal (11-1-1) have navigated a tough ACC schedule with an unbeaten 5-0-1 conference record. Their season is defined by a landmark 2-1 victory over then-No. 1 Virginia, a result that handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the season and shook up the national rankings. Stanford has also posted dominant wins over No. 6 USC (5-1) and No. 16 Santa Clara (5-1). The team's lone defeat came in a 2-0 road loss to rival UCLA. Led by veteran head coach Paul Ratcliffe and returning key players like midfielder Jasmine Aikey, the Cardinal have established themselves as a heavy contender for the College Cup

Virginia:

The Virginia Cavaliers have been one of the season's most dominant teams, embarking on a steady climb from their No. 15 preseason ranking all the way to the top spot nationally. With a record of 10-1-2, Virginia built its No. 1 ranking  by remaining undefeated through its first 11 matches. The Cavaliers' résumé is loaded with high-quality victories, including a 3-1 win over then-No. 2 Duke and a 1-0 shutout against ninth ranked Penn State. Their perfect season was finally broken in a high-profile showdown on the road against No. 3 Stanford, where they fell in a tight 2-1 contest. Bolstered by the No. 4 recruiting class this offseason, including Gatorade National Player of the Year Addison Halpern, Virginia remains a favorite to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Notre Dame:

As the preseason No. 2, Notre Dame has been a model of consistency and excellence, living up to its high expectations with an undefeated 12-0-1 record. The Fighting Irish have also navigated the nation's toughest conference with a perfect 7-0-0 record. Their campaign is highlighted by a string of high-scoring victories over elite opponents, including a 4-2 win against No. 5 Florida State, a 3-2 victory over No. 14 Duke, and a thrilling 4-3 win against rival North Carolina. Riding the nation's longest active winning streak at 11 games, Notre Dame has combined an explosive offense that averages 3.58 goals per game with a solid defense. Their status as a national contender is unquestioned. 

Florida State:

Florida State began the season at No. 3 and has remained a perennial fixture in the top tier of the national rankings. With a record of 8-1-2, their signature victory is a crucial 1-0 road win against ACC rival and No. 18 North Carolina. For much of the season, FSU held the nation's longest unbeaten streak, a run of 20 games dating back to 2024 that was finally snapped in a 4-2 thriller against No. 2 Notre Dame. The program reloaded its already talented roster by landing the nation's No. 1 recruiting class and adding four key players from the transfer portal, demonstrating a clear intent to compete for another national championship.

Tennessee:

The Volunteers are the Cinderella story of the 2025 season. Unranked in the preseason, Tennessee stormed into the national conversation with a series of historic upsets, rocketing from unranked to No. 2 in the polls and maintaining a spot in the top five ever since. Their remarkable 11-1-2 campaign has been built on a foundation of program-defining victories. They opened the year with a stunning 2-0 shutout of defending champion and preseason No. 1 North Carolina. They followed that by defeating the 2022 champion and then-No. 4 UCLA 1-0, proving their elite status. Their only loss came in a tight 3-2 contest against Mississippi State, with a key 0-0 draw against undefeated Memphis rounding out their impressive résumé. While the Vols are clear contenders for the national championship, it remains to be seen whether they have enough in the tank to make a deep postseason run. 

Arkansas:

The Razorbacks have proven to be one of the most resilient teams in the nation, starting the season at No. 6 and weathering a difficult schedule to maintain their position as a top-10 program. With a record of 7-3-3, Arkansas has consistently shown it can compete with anyone in the country. This is highlighted by a hard-fought 2-2 draw with the undefeated, No. 2-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Their schedule has been demanding, with all three of their losses coming against other ranked opponents: No. 13 Iowa, No. 3 Duke, and No. 22 Georgia. Key wins on their résumé include a 1-0 victory over No. 11 BYU and a 2-1 win against No. 17 Vanderbilt, cementing their status as a battle-tested team ready for the postseason.

Memphis:

With an impressive undefeated record of 12-0-2, the Tigers have been on a remarkable journey, starting the season unranked before methodically climbing into the top 10. For a team outside the Power Five conferences, an undefeated record is often met with skepticism, but Memphis has validated its elite status with results against top-tier SEC opponents. They managed a crucial 0-0 draw on the road against No. 2 Tennessee and secured a 1-0 victory over No. 11 Vanderbilt. These results prove their perfect record is no illusion and helps establish the Tigers as a serious threat to compete deep into the NCAA tournament..

UCLA:

It has been a season of peaks and valleys for the Bruins, who started at No. 8, tumbled to No. 23 after a pair of early losses, but have since battled their way back into the top 10 with a record of 8-4-2. UCLA's signature moment was a dominant 2-0 victory over then-No. 1 ranked Stanford, a result that showcased their championship potential. The addition of senior transfer Jennie Immethun from TCU has been a stabilizing force, anchoring a defense that ranks third in the nation with a 0.33 goals-against average and making her a MAC Hermann Trophy candidate. Should the Bruins continue to push to be a consistent team, they could prove to be a dangerous postseason force.