BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Grambling State University women's soccer team placed three student-athletes on the 2026 Preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams, the league office announced Friday afternoon.

Defender Kaylen Jankans also earned SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.

The preseason honors were determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches and Sports Information Directors.

Jankans headlines Grambling State's preseason accolades after being voted the 2026 SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 

She also earned First Team All-SWAC recognition, marking her third consecutive preseason honor after earning All-SWAC recognition in 2025 and 2024. 

A stalwart on the Tigers back line, Jankans started all 22 matches last season and logged a team-high 1,915 minutes. 

She also contributed offensively with three assists while helping anchor one of the conference's top defensive units.

Midfielder Olivia Kowall also collected back-to-back preseason recognition, earning Second Team All-SWAC honors after being voted the 2025 SWAC Preseason Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-SWAC selection. 

Kowall appeared in 20 matches with 17 starts during the 2025 campaign, recording four goals and two assists for 10 points while firing 23 shots and playing 1,036 minutes.

Forward Nyla Dore-Anderson rounded out Grambling State's preseason honorees with Second Team All-SWAC recognition. 

Dore-Anderson appeared in 18 matches with 14 starts in 2025, tallying two goals and six assists for 10 points. 

Her six assists ranked among the team's leaders as she emerged as one of the Tigers top playmakers in the final third.

In the 2026 SWAC Preseason Poll, defending SWAC Tournament champion Grambling State was selected to finish second in the conference, receiving 97 points and one first-place vote.



2026 SWAC Women's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish

Jackson State – 110 (6)
Grambling State – 97 (1)
Alabama A&M – 92 (3)
Alcorn State – 85 (2)
Texas Southern – 65 (1)
Prairie View A&M – 63
Southern – 52
Alabama State – 46
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 20

*First-place votes listed in parentheses


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