WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNCW women's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Coastal Athletic Association South Division in the league's preseason poll, while Hailey Longwell and Ava Chuderewicz were named to the Preseason All-CAA Team. Rachel Fry and Ava Vaughan earned preseason honorable mention recognition.

The Seahawks received four first-place votes and were picked to finish second in the South Division behind reigning CAA champion Elon.

Longwell and Chuderewicz earned preseason all-conference recognition after being selected by the league's 13 head coaches. Longwell returns after a standout 2025 campaign in which she was named CAA Attacking Player of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor.

Longwell was also named to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Players to Watch – Forwards list, announced by IWSOC and United Soccer Coaches. The positional lists lead into the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch lists.

Fry and Vaughan were among 14 student-athletes recognized as preseason honorable mentions.

UNCW begins regular season play on the road at App State on Aug. 13 before traveling to Western Carolina on Aug. 16. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.