3 Jayhawks Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas soccer's Caroline Castans, Lexi Watts, and Saige Wimes were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the conference announced on Tuesday. The three Preseason All-Big 12 selections is the most in program history.

Castans, a 2024 All-Big 12 First Team honoree, enters her junior season after leading the team in minutes played by a field player in 2024 with 1,889 minutes. She started all 23 matches last season and recorded six assists, the second most on the team. She was selected to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region First Team.

Watts, a 2024 All-Big 12 First Team honoree, comes into her senior season after leading the team last season in goals (9), five of which were game-winning goals, and points (21). She was also selected to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and received the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Big 12 Tournament.

Wimes is entering her redshirt junior season after an impressive sophomore campaign. She started all 23 matches and logged 1,380 minutes. She tied for the team lead in assists with seven and was third on the team in points with 17.

After winning the Big 12 Championship last season, Kansas was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll in 2025. The fifth place spot in the poll, which is voted on by the league's head coaches, is the highest preseason mark for Kansas since 2015, when the Jayhawks were picked to finish fourth in the conference.

Kansas will open its season at home on August 14, as the Jayhawks take on Missouri State at 7 p.m. CT at Rock Chalk Park. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Kansas ticket office at 785-864-3141.

Team:
GK Jordan Nytes, Colorado, Sr.
GK Faith Nguyen, Texas Tech, Sr.
D Avery Frischknecht, BYU, Jr.
D Izzi Stratton, BYU, Jr.
D Faith Leyba, Colorado, Jr.
D Caroline Castans, Kansas, Jr.
D Jazmin Brown, Oklahoma State, Sr.
D Cameron Patton, TCU, So.
D Macy Blackburn, Texas Tech, Gr.
MF Lucy Kessler, BYU, So.
MF Mika Krommenhoek, BYU, So.
MF Ava Priest, Colorado, Jr.
MF Mackenzee Vance, BYU, Sr.
MF Xcaret Pineda, Oklahoma State, Sr.
MF Laudan Wilson, Oklahoma State, Jr.
MF Morgan Brown, TCU, So.
MF Sam Courtwright, Texas Tech, R-So.
MF Peyton Parsons, Texas Tech, Sr.
F Kierra Blundell, Arizona State, So.
F Tyler Isgrig, Baylor, Sr.
F Hope Leyba, Colorado, Jr.
F Lexi Watts, Kansas, Sr.
F Saige Wimes, Kansas, R-Jr.
F Seven Castain, TCU, Sr.
F Bella Diorio, TCU, Jr.
F Taylor Zdrojewski, Texas Tech, Jr.
F Ajanae Respass, West Virginia, Sr.

Poll:
1. TCU (13) – 223
2. Texas Tech (2) – 202
3. BYU (1) – 191
4. West Virginia – 172
5. Kansas – 167
6. Colorado – 155
7. Oklahoma State – 153
8. Arizona – 113
9. Utah – 112
10. Baylor – 108
11. Arizona State – 98
12. UCF – 72
13. Cincinnati – 57
14. Iowa State – 40
15. Houston – 38
16. K-State – 19

University of Kansas Athletics

3 Jayhawks Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Players Mentioned

Caroline Castans

Lexi Watts

Saige Wimes

Related Videos