CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame was picked as the preseason favorite to win the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference women’s soccer championship, in a vote of the league’s 17 head coaches, the conference announced on Monday. In addition, the 2026 Preseason Women’s Soccer All-ACC Team was also unveiled.
The Fighting Irish secured seven first-place votes and totaled 239 points to sit atop the annual preseason poll. Stanford, which defeated Notre Dame to win its first ACC women’s soccer title last season, earned three first-place votes and 233 points. Duke finished third in the poll with three first-place votes and 224 points, while defending national champion Florida State landed fourth with three first-place votes and 213 points. North Carolina earned the final first-place vote and 207 points to round out the top five.
Virginia (191 points), Wake Forest (167), Clemson (148), Louisville (125) and California (120) rounded out the top 10.
Notre Dame and Florida State led the way on the Preseason Women’s Soccer All-ACC Team with three honorees each, while Duke and Stanford placed two players on this year’s squad. Four first-team All-ACC selections from a season ago landed on this year’s Preseason All-ACC Team, including Offensive Player of the Year Izzy Engle of Notre Dame and Goalkeeper of the Year Caroline Birkel of Stanford.
The 2026 season gets underway on Wednesday, August 12, with 13 ACC teams in action. Conference play begins Thursday, September 10, when California hits the road to North Carolina for a 7 p.m. ET tilt.
2026 Preseason ACC Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll
1. Notre Dame (7), 239
2. Stanford (3), 233
3. Duke (3), 224
4. Florida State (3), 213
5. North Carolina (1), 207
6. Virginia, 191
7. Wake Forest, 167
8. Clemson, 148
9. Louisville, 125
10. California, 120
11. NC State, 99
12. Virginia Tech, 77
13. Pitt, 75
14. SMU, 70
15. Boston College, 61
16. Miami, 44
17. Syracuse, 19
First-place votes in parentheses
2026 Preseason All-ACC Team
Mia Minestrella, Sr., F, Duke
Cameron Roller, Sr., D, Duke
Wrianna Hudson, Jr., F, Florida State
Janet Okeke, Jr., D, Florida State
Nyanya Touray, So., M, Florida State
Amelia Swinarski, Jr., M, Louisville
Bella Devey, So., F, North Carolina
Annabelle Chukwu, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Izzy Engle, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Abby Mills, Jr., D, Notre Dame
Caroline Birkel, So., GK, Stanford
Charlotte Kohler, Jr., M, Stanford
Kylie Maxwell, So., F, Wake Forest