Illig, Najera Earn Player To Watch Status from United Soccer Coaches

East Lansing, Mich. —  Senior defender Maggie Illig and junior midfielder Bella Najera have been named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch listing, which the group has introduced over the past week upfront of the 2025 season starting on Thursday.  

United Soccer Coaches 2025 Defenders to Watch 

United Soccer Coaches 2025 Midfielders to Watch

 

Beginning Aug. 5, the affiliation introduced their Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards to Watch.  The lists are compiled and launched by the Division I All-America committees  to advertise school soccer , and embody the gamers honored as 2024 All-Americans and All-Region picks by the United Soccer Coaches who’re again on collegiate rosters for the 2025 season.

 

Illig and Najera are each returning starters for the Spartans and are anticipated to play vital roles on the squad when the season formally will get underway later this week.  Illig has began 41 of 57 profession video games in Green & White, together with 21 a yr in the past.  She earned USC Second Team All-North Region kudos as a junior in addition to Second Team All-Big Ten honors and is taken into account a Player to Watch each throughout the convention and nationally.

 

Najera was a Third Team All-Big Ten decide final season when she began all 22 video games and is MSU’s main returner in each targets (8) and factors (19). The St. Louis native was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a Third Team all-league choice in 2023. Najera is a tutorial standout who earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar kudos a yr in the past.  Like Illig, she is a Big Ten Player to Watch in addition to garnering the eye from USC. 

 

Michigan State formally begins the season on Thursday night (Aug. 14) in Boulder towards the Colorado Buffaloes (9 pm ET), a crew which superior to the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament a yr in the past.   The Spartans open the season at residence on Sunday (Aug. 17) towards Dayton at 7 pm.