WASHINGTON - Georgetown University women's soccer senior defender Kaya Hanson was named to the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List on Wednesday. She was one of 63 Division I women's players selected.
Kaya Hanson
Seattle, Washington / Bishop Blanchet HS
• Hanson was named to the United Soccer Coaches' 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Players to Watch – Defenders list.
• Hanson was also selected to the BIG EAST Preseason Defender of the Year and selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
• The Seattle native earned a pair of postseason honors last season, earning BIG EAST All-Tournament Team recognition and a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team.
• Hanson's selection marks the second consecutive year a Hoya has landed on the Players to Watch list, with Maja Lardner earning the honor in 2025 before concluding her career on the Hilltop
• She stands alone in the BIG EAST as their only representative on the list
About the MAC Hermann Trophy
• The Hermann Trophy, presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, is the nation's highest individual honor in Division I soccer and recognizes the National Player of the Year, as determined by a vote of Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches.
• The 2026 watch list was selected by members of the Division I Women's All-America Council from a pool of returning 2025 All-Americans and First Team All-Region selections.
• 15 players will be named 2026 Hermann Trophy semifinalists on Dec. 4 following the conclusion of NCAA Division I All-American voting. From the semifinalist pool, Division I head coaches will vote to select three finalists, with the 2026 recipient to be announced Jan. 8, 2027, during a ceremony at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis
