Last season, Illinois set the standard for what the program can achieve year after year and made making the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments the expectation moving forward. Other key additions to Hultin’s midfield include junior midfielder Alyssa White, who came to Champaign from Oregon State, where she recorded 3 goals and 2 assists during her freshman season, and junior forward Gabriella Garcia-Terrell, who scored 9 goals for Howard University in 2025 on a 0.56 goals per match average. Persson held down the backline last season, spearheading Illinois’ relentless wall in the defending third, but it’s time for Lee to take over, as well as sophomore defender Téa Mayson, who Lee said has grown into her role following her freshman season.