LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama women's soccer team was represented by two players on the 2026 Gulf South Conference Preseason All-GSC Team, as sophomore goalkeeper Yumari Hernandez and senior defender Santanna O'Grady earned preseason recognition, the conference announced.
Along with this, the Tigers were picked third in the GSC Preseason Poll. UWA received 94 points in the poll, placing them behind Lee, which was selected first with 120 points and 10 first-place votes, and Montevallo, which earned 112 points and two first-place votes.
West Alabama finished ahead of Delta State (87 points), Mississippi Christian (86), Valdosta State (64), UAH (61), Spring Hill (48), Union (43), Trevecca Nazarene (38), Auburn Montgomery (27) and Christian Brothers (12).
The third-place preseason selection comes as the Tigers prepare to build on the foundation established under head coach Sam Wilson, who enters his fourth season leading the program. West Alabama returns key contributors while also bringing in a talented group of newcomers for the 2026 campaign.
Hernandez enters her sophomore season following a standout freshman campaign that established her as one of the top goalkeepers in the conference. The GSC Honor Roll selection played and started in all 18 matches for the Tigers, playing all 90 minutes in each contest. She finished the season with 67 saves on 196 shots faced, posting an impressive .848 save percentage while allowing just 12 goals.
The Harker Heights, Texas native recorded 10 shutouts during her freshman campaign and posted an 11-4-3 record. Her performance earned her All-GSC Second Team honors, while she was also recognized as the GSC Freshman of the Week five times and GSC Goalkeeper of the Week three times.
Hernandez's ability to anchor the UWA defense and consistently keep opponents off the scoreboard will be a key component for the Tigers heading into the 2026 campaign.
Joining Hernandez on the preseason team is O'Grady, who enters her senior season as one of the Tigers' most experienced defenders. O'Grady has been a consistent presence in the UWA back line throughout her career, earning GSC Honor Roll recognition in each of her three previous seasons.
In 2025, O'Grady played and started in all 18 matches as a defender, recording two shots. She also started all 15 matches she played in during the 2024 season after appearing in 14 matches with six starts as a freshman in 2023.
O'Grady has appeared in 47 career matches while making 39 starts for the Tigers. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, she has excelled academically, earning a spot on the UWA Dean's List during the Fall 2023 semester and the UWA President's List during the Spring 2024 semester.
With Hernandez providing a proven presence in goal and O'Grady anchoring the defense, the Tigers enter the 2026 season with two returning standouts recognized among the conference's top preseason players.
West Alabama will look to build on its previous season and make a run in the GSC as the Tigers prepare for the start of the 2026 campaign.
