FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 10, 2026) – The 2026 Big Sky Conference Women’s Soccer Individual Awards and All-Conference Teams have been announced, highlighting the best and brightest stars across the league.
These awards are voted on by the league’s head coaches. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players in the process.
Regular-season champion Weber State led the way with a trio of individual awards and five members on the All-Conference team. Lauren Butorac was a staple in the Wildcats' defensive efforts, earning Goalkeeper of the Year honors in her sophomore campaign. Fellow Wildcat Lily Blum earned Offensive MVP honors after powering the purple and white with 14 goals on the season. Blum's 11 goals in conference play led the league, giving her the Golden Boot nod. Blum has scored in eight consecutive matches for Weber State.
Northern Colorado also has a strong presence through the list of awards, collecting three individual awards and five All-Conference honors. Mia Norman shares Defensive MVP honors with Northern Arizona's Brooklyn Jones, while Thordis Melsted was part of the Trio who earned Newcomer of the Year honors. Tim Barrera was tabbed Big Sky Coach of the Year. It is his third time earning this honor during his 28 years at the helm of the Bears' program.
In their first season back in the league, Southern Utah's Ashlyn O'Malley was named Freshman of the Year.
The full list of postseason honors can be found below.
2026 Big Sky Individual Award Winners
Golden Boot Award: Lily Blum, Weber State
Offensive MVP: Lily Blum, Weber State
Co-Defensive MVP: Brooklyn Jones, Northern Arizona & Mia Norman, Northern Colorado
Goalkeeper of the Year: Lauren Butorac, Weber State
Freshman of the Year: Ashlyn O’Malley, Southern Utah
Tri-Top Newcomer: Aliya Garrett, Idaho State, Brooklyn Jones, Northern Arizona, & Thordis Melsted, Northern Colorado
Coach of the Year: Tim Barrera, Northern Colorado
Big Sky Soccer All-Conference First Team
GK: Lauren Butorac, Weber State
D: Izzy Thoma, Idaho
D: Mia Norman, Northern Colorado
D: Ava Talaeai, Utah Tech
D: Bella Sackett, Weber State
M: Micala Boex, Northern Arizona
M: Valerie Llamas, Northern Arizona
M: Ava Marshall, Northern Colorado
M: Simone Packer, Weber State
F: Maddie Mori, Northern Colorado
F: Ashlyn O'Malley, Southern Utah
F: Lily Blum, Weber State
F: Oakley Anderson, Weber State
Big Sky Soccer All-Conference Second Team
GK: Lexi Saveski, Northern Arizona
D: Miranda Goldner, Idaho
D: Brooklyn Jones, Northern Arizona
D: Francesca Jordan, Northern Colorado
D: Amanda Caswell, Weber State
M: Hallie Prinos-Grumbach, Idaho
M: Mia Boltz, Idaho
M: Lauryn Maggio, Northern Colorado
M: Grace Sarabia, Portland State
F: Saydree Cooke, Idaho State
F: Ava Hinske, Northern Arizona
F: Ella Rusick, Utah Tech
F: Lataya Brost, Utah Tech
Big Sky Soccer All-Conference Honorable Mention
GK: Paula Flores, Idaho
D: Iris Mattern, Eastern Washington
D: Mirabella Bickham, Idaho
D: Gracie East, Idaho State
D: Madison Schenk, Northern Arizona
D: Nao Yasuda, Southern Utah
D: Kenadee Godderidge, Weber State
M: Riley Roesch, Eastern Washington
M: Maya Bossenbrook, Eastern Washington
M: Amanda Brayton, Idaho State
M: Kristen Puels, Northern Arizona
F: Bonnie Buswell, Weber State
Minimum of 3 votes needed for honorable mention
2026 Championship Information
The 2026 Big Sky Soccer Championship, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, will be played on Nov. 11, 13, and 15 on the campus of the University of Montana in Missoula. The top six teams in the conference regular-season standings advance to the championship.
The winner of the championship receives the Big Sky's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
After winning the 2025 Big Sky soccer regular-season title, the Montana Grizzlies earned the right to host the 2026 Big Sky Soccer Championship. Missoula will serve as the host city for the soccer championship for the third consecutive year and seventh time overall since the tournament began in 1997. Last year, Montana became the first host school of the soccer championship to win the tournament since Northern Colorado won in front of its home crowd in 2019.
All matches from Missoula will stream live on ESPN+.