8 of the Best NCAA DIII Players to Watch in 2024
After showing some love to some of the best DII players in the country, our focus shifts to the best DIII players. These athletes don’t get enough credit for being able to do it all. They’re academic stars to go with being stars on the pitch. While a DIII player has yet to make it to the NWSL, the possibility is always there, and there are plenty of opportunities to see this group in the USL Super League in the future. Here are eight of the best DIII players to watch in 2024 and beyond.
Patience Kum – Amherst University, Forward, Senior
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Patience Kum was named First-Team All-American as a Junior last year, and with Amherst ranked No. 2 in the nation, she’s sure to make the first team again. The Ghana native has been prolific over her career, with 37 goals in her previous three seasons and four in her name this year. Amherst lost in the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, and with Kum leading the way as their leading goal scorer, they’ve got a great chance to advance much further and possibly win their first-ever National Championship.
Katie Sullivan – Johns Hopkins University, Forward, Senior
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Katie Sullivan is one of the premier players in the country, having scored 50 goals and 29 assists up to this point. Nine of those goals and six assists have come this season, with Johns Hopkins sitting at No. 9 in the nation. Sullivan was a First-Team All-American and is one of the surefire choices to go back this season. Similar to Kum, Johns Hopkins experienced an early exit in last year’s NCAA Tournament. With Sullivan leading the way up front, the Blue Jays will surely make a much deeper run in the NCAA Tournament and look to win their second National Championship in three seasons.
Kristina Akselsen – Messiah University, Midfielder, Senior
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We’ve named some great players already, but Kristina Akselsen is the defending D-III Player of the Year. Akselsen earned the right as the nation’s best player as a junior, which means the award is hers to lose this season. Akselsen might not have the most robust numbers. She’s more of a box-to-box midfielder who can do a little bit of everything. Akselsen helped lead this team to a Final Four appearance last year, and as they are ranked No. 8 in the nation this year, she’ll be eager to help lead her team to the promised land in the NCAA Tournament.
Reagan Lindsay – Loras College, Midfielder, Senior
Reagan Lindsay is having an incredible season statistically for Loras College, based out of Iowa. After recording eight assists last year, she has 12 assists in 12 games this year, tied for most in the nation. Lindsay is setting an absurd pace; if she can get close to 20 assists, there’s no way she can be left off First-Team All-America, along with the fact that Loras is a perfect 12-0-0 and ranked at No. 16 in the national rankings. Loras College is having a fantastic season, and Reagan Lindsay is at the forefront of it.
Reanna Slater – Christopher Newport University, Defender, Senior
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Reanna Slater anchored a Christopher Newport backline that allowed just two goals last year before the NCAA Tournament. As their leader, she was rightfully named a First-Team All-American. While they’ve conceded a few more goals this season, take nothing away from Slater, who, as one of the team’s leaders, has the team ranked at No. 3 in the national. When you put her overall record together the last two seasons, Slater is the best defender in the nation and should pull off a sweep of the awards at the end of the season. After losing to the eventual national champions, Cal Lutheran, last season, they’re already back with a vengeance this season.
Charlotte Huang – Amherst University, Defender, Senior
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Charlotte Huang was a Second-Team All-American last year as a junior and is a likely candidate to move up to the First Team based on Amherst’s success this season. The Mammoths have allowed two goals as a team this year, and Huang is the centerpiece of the defense, leading the backline incredibly well. Between Patience Kum in attack and Charlotte Huang in defense, the Mammoths have two of the best players in the nation, and this duo will take the team very far.
Kyndal Kells – Loras College, Goalkeeper, Graduate Senior
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Kyndal Kells and her defense are having a historic season with Loras College. Kells has yet to allow a goal in this incredibly impressive season, but her defense also deserves plenty of credit. Kells has had to make nine saves in 12 games, which means the defense is dominant, and when Kells has been called into action, she’s been elite as well. Most goalies will tell you they want as much action as possible to keep their reflexes and shot-stopping skills sharp. For Kells to wait in most games and still stay ready is very tough because you never know when you’ll be called upon to make a big stop. Let’s see how much longer Kells and her defense can keep this up. It’d be an incredible feat to make it through the entire regular season without allowing a goal.
Grace Hickey – Ithaca College, Goalkeeper, Senior
Grace Hickey is one of the star players for Ithaca College who is primed to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season. Ithaca has moved up to No. 12 in the rankings, and Hickey is tied for third in the nation with eight shutouts. Hickey is also in the top 20 in the country in save percentage (88.5%) and eighth in the nation in goals against average at .265 per game. Hickey’s stats back up her performances on an elite team this year; they’re poised to have a big year, and as the old adage goes, defense wins championships. Hickey and Ithaca have a great chance to do that in their conference and make a deep NCAA Tournament run this season.
Featured image via CNU Athletics
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