7 of the Best NCAA Defenders to Watch in 2024
The 2025 class of defenders is very strong, with numerous big names from the Power 5 schools. Teams from around the world looking for defenders next year will have plenty of talent to choose from after graduation or leaving school early. Here are seven of the best NCAA defenders to watch in 2024.
Lyndsey Heckel – St. Louis, Graduate Senior
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Lyndsey Heckel returned for her fifth and final season, leaving St. Louis as the best player in the school’s history. Heckel received First-Team All-American honors two years ago and was Second-Team All-American last year, winning A-10 Defender of the Year. The graduate senior has started every single game she’s played in college. Not only is she reliable, but she’s clutch, with ten of her 18 career goals being game-winners. Clearly, she’s an aerial threat in the box to go with being rock solid at the back. She’s a bonafide pro who we could see in the NWSL or elsewhere next season.
Lilly Reale – UCLA, Senior
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Lille Reale was a First-Team All-American last season and is one of the best, if not the best, defenders in the country. She’s the only player to win PAC-12 Defender of the Year two years in a row. The former Massachusetts native is a three-time First-Team PAC-12 selection. She’s been among the best in the country for quite some time. Reale is versatile and has even shown a propensity to go forward and show that she can score goals. This is a player who has the potential to be a future starter for the USWNT if she continues to improve. Almost every single NWSL team will be trying to go after her in free agency, and that’s for sure.
Elise Evans – Stanford, Junior
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Elise Evans is one of the core players that helped Stanford get to the NCAA Championship game last year. The former PAC-12 Freshman of the Year and First-Team Pac-12 member is the next great defender to come from Stanford. Following in the footsteps of Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, and Kennedy Wesley is no small task, but Evans is getting better each season. With 1-2 years of eligibility left, Evans might stay in school, making her more likely to hit the pros in 2026, which means Stanford will have her to build their backline around for at least one more season.
Leah Klenke – Notre Dame, Junior
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After Eva Gaetino left Notre Dame as one of their most decorated defenders, Leah Klenke is set to be the next great Fighting Irish defender. Klenke will give Notre Dame a huge boost this season after her recent experience with the U-20 USWNT, who just won third place at the U-20 World Cup. Notre Dame is among the top teams in the country, and Klenke led the team in assists last year with ten, indicating she can do more than just defend. Having been in the U-20 system, she’s another player to keep an eye on for the senior USWNT in the future.
Gessica Skorka – Alabama, Graduate Senior
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Alabama has quietly put pro-level players into the NWSL, and Gessica Skorka could be next. Skorka played alongside current Portland Thorns defender Reyna Reyes, and now she’s the leader of the defense that Reyes once was. The First-Team All-SEC defender was second on the team in assists last year. Skorka will surely lead a team that will likely be ranked before the season’s end. Keep an eye on Skorka for next season, she may very well be on an NWSL roster.
Heather Gilchrist – Florida State, Junior
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Fresh off of winning a National Championship at Florida State last year, Gilchrist followed that up with a spot on the U-20 USWNT for the World Cup. Gilchrist has played in almost every game for a loaded Florida State team which indicates how good she is to make the Starting XI of a team with that much talent. Her assist in the National Semifinal last year against Clemson shows how skilled she is, and having her in the U-20 system puts her on the radar for the USWNT in the future. If Florida State goes back-to-back, Gilchrist could very well go pro after this season.
Natalie Bain – Xavier, Junior
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Natalie Bain is the anchor of Xavier’s backline and became a Second-Team All-American as a sophomore. If Xavier keeps up the season they’re having with Bain leading the defense. She might earn that First-Team All-American spot. Bain has started every game she’s played, highlighting how important she is to the Musketeers’ success. Bain has got to be the favorite to win Big East Defender of the Year and should be on the radar of plenty of pro scouts moving forward.
Featured image via @uclawsoccer on Instagram
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