SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth women's soccer enters the 2026 season with a sense of optimism about the year ahead.

The 2025 season did not go as hoped for the Bucs, who finished sixth in the Northwest Conference standings with a 3-7-6 record (3-8-8 overall), their lowest finish since 2020.

Fifth year head coach Cameron Bushéy (29-28-20) hopes the cultural foundation and togetherness of this year's group will be a recipe for improvement.

"I think growth is our pursuit as human beings; let's be better than we were before," he said. "The team is carrying on the positive impact of those who have come before us, and I am really proud of the leaders we have in this group who continue to step up and step in."

On the field, the Pirates were strong defensively a season ago, finishing third in the conference in goals allowed (17). Goals scored, on the other hand, were hard to come by as they netted just 12, ranked eighth in the NWC.

Addressing the attacking third of the field will be a challenge with the loss of impact players such as Addison Dizard, Rebekah Hines, and Maia Santa Monica. Despite the turnover, Bushéy is confident they will bounce back.

"We will be scoring and assisting by committee this year, but I hope you will see Emma Ellerd, Kayla Santa Monica, Lily Cardenas, America Garibay, and Sylvie Washington on a lot of box scores this season," he said.

Ellerd, Santa Monica and Cardenas will be joined by first-year Hailey Herboth at the forward position.

Washington, who was second on the team in minutes played (1,367) last season, will anchor the midfield. Returners Grace Hansen, Katherine Kent, Ayanna Tobeck and Andie Snell will provide impactful experience. Newcomers Harley Ota, Jenna Abbey and Jaye Sandobal will look to carve out roles as well.

Kaiti Low, Lauren Ellerd and Erin Kumasaka return in the defensive third. Mychael Carbon joins the group as a transfer from Central Washington University along with first-year Bella Hall.

Karlee Roderick returns as the lone goalkeeper on the roster after a standout first season in which she ranked third in the NWC in goals against average (0.75) in 14 starts.

"Our strength is in each other, and I am certain about every returner we have and what they can do, and our newcomers have started really strong," said Bushéy. "It is early in the year, so I have to help them continue to build fitness and the understanding of our intentions so they are ready to execute when conference kicks off."

Whitworth was picked to finish sixth in the 2026 Northwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll with 27 points, landing six points below Pacific (Ore.) and two points above Willamette.

After a pair of exhibition matches, the Bucs will officially open the 2026 season with a trip to Montana to battle Providence on September 12 and Carroll on September 13. They will open conference play at Whitworth Soccer Field against Lewis & Clark and Linfield on September 19-20.