It remains to be seen exactly what the 2020 college season will look like. With the Ivy League and Patriot League officially not playing in the fall, and a few other major conferences playing only conference games, it’s going to look vastly different.
Regardless, 2020 recruiting classes have been confirmed for several programs, painting a picture of which teams are adding the best players – on paper. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know which schools actually added the best without a robust national competition.
MORE: 2020 Women’s transfer tracker | 2020 women’s DI recruiting class announcements
Shaped heavily by the final edition of the IMG Academy player rankings, below are the latest updated rankings for Women’s DI soccer. Looking at the Top 50 programs, the rankings are compiled based off reported or announced commitments, transfers and international additions.
Please send any corrections or omissions to editor@topdrawersoccer.com.
1. UCLA*
Commitments: F Reilyn Turner (So Cal Blues – No. 11), M Aislynn Crowder (Hawaii Rush – No. 23), M Michaela Rosenbaum (Santa Rosa United – No. 37), M Jillian Martinez (Lonestar SC – No. 40), M Dasia Torbert (Tophat SC – No. 50), M Isabel Loza (LAFC Slammers – No. 57), M Mackenzee Vance (United Soccer Alliance – No. 63), D Jordyn Gather (So Cal Blues – No. 108), M Jennifer Alvarado (So Cal Blues – No. 138), M Megan Edelman (Mustang SC – No. 173), GK Kelly McManus (Strikers FC), D My Haugland Sørsdahl (Kolbotn), M Kaila Novak (FC London), M Clara Härdling (AIK)
Will this class close the gap with Stanford? The Bruins lose Jessie Fleming, but have another top recruiting class coming in, including Sørsdahl, Novak and Härdling from abroad. It’s a big, 14-player class that should keep the Bruins at the top of the heap in the conference and in the nation.
2. Virginia*
Commitments: D Samar Guidry (FC Dallas – No. 8), F Lia Godfrey (United Soccer Alliance – No. 10), D Elaine Rouse (NC Courage – No. 26), M Alexis Theoret (FC Virginia – No. 36), M Peyton Goldthwaite (NC Courage – No. 100), F Laughlin Ryan (Charlotte Soccer Academy – No. 117), F Brianna Jablonowski (FC Fury NY – No. 161), F Sarah Brunner (United Soccer Alliance – No. 171), D Maggie Fralin (Richmond United)
Transfers: D Sarah Clark (Purdue)
The Cavaliers lost some top-notch quality from last year’s group, adding importance to this just-announced group. Sarah Clark’s transfer from Purdue could be particularly critical with three of the graduates starting defenders.
Commitments: M Talia DellaPeruta (Tophat SC – No. 2), F Samantha Meza (Solar Soccer Club – No. 4), M Abby Allen (Lonestar SC – No. 9), D Paige Tolentino (NC Courage – No. 30), F Mollie Griswold (Arizona Arsenal – No. 53), M Avery Patterson (Florida Elite Soccer Academy – No. 116), M Kai Hayes (United Soccer Alliance – No. 185), M Ruby Grant (Arsenal FC), M Meilin Gregg (Metro United), M Riley Quinlan (NC Courage)
The Tar Heels added freshman to their 2020 roster, which includes Grant, an England youth national team midfielder that joins from Arsenal FC. That puts UNC right on the neck of Virginia and could eventually push them to the No. 2 spot.
