Rankings Analysis: The five best Forwards from CA’s 2026 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer Player Rankings for the California Class of 2026 was released recently. The attacking talent in the class includes a ton of versatility and depth. Slammers FC HB Koge star [player_tooltip player_id='19178' first='Ayva' last='Jordan'] is the No. 1 player in the class. Jordan (from Nevada) is included in the California rankings as PrepSoccer uses the player's club for state rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan is not the only future star from this group. Check out some of the standouts from the California rankings below. Check out <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/california/rankings/girls/2026-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the full rankings here. </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["82411"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='82411' first='Finley' last='Lacher'] is seemingly often overlooked at the youth national team level, but she is easily at that level and proves it consistently for her club. She was an All American at the 07 age group last season. Based on her play through the first half of the season, she is in the running for a repeat appearance on that list/honor. She is an attacking talent in the hybrid role of a support striker or attacking midfielder. She has excellent ball control and quick feet. She looks like she will fit in fine at the next level when the speed of play picks up.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["63559"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Decision-making in the final third is often one of the most overlooked attributes for wingers. Players can have skill, speed, and power, but if they don't know what to do with the ball at their feet, it's basically worthless. Freifeld is very high in the California rankings because she is so sharp with the ball at her feet in the final third. She has the skill, speed, and shot too, but the decision-making on when to slip in a teammate or when to get the endline or when to shoot on a cut-in. Freifeld is tough to stop at the club level, and going to be continue to be a winger to watch thanks to those soccer smarts.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d1e6fe40ef3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-e6SgG3Erw","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-e6SgG3Erw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20055"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Most teams send multiple defenders to stop Marinos. It works, sometimes. There were moments at the club level when it felt like Marinos went 1v4 in the attack. She has the quality to pull that off, as she shrugs off defenders with ease and then smashes the ball into the goal. Any fear about that not translating to the next level has been put to resst during the winter. The talented So Cal Blues forward is already making a big impact at the high level. She is averaging a goal per game for JSerra - the team's leading scorer at this point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["58256"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Williams might be the best forward on this list in using both her left and right foot to score goals. The center forward is on the short list of top players in that position in the country. She does a bit of everything and has been outstanding this season in the ECNL. Her ability to hold off center backs while keeping close control of the ball is especially impressive. Williams has been a regular call-up to YNT Talent ID events.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["83516"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='83516' first='Kaia' last='Santomarco-King'] isn't quite in the top five in our rankings yet, but there are high hopes for her after the performances she has been putting on during this debut high school season. The freshman is starting and starring for her varsity squad at Harvard-Westlake. Just this week, she dropped in another goal as she went 1v1 on the wing and turned on the jets before a tight angle finish. She is going to be a player that every scout will want to see again this spring at the club level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d1e6fe40ffc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/hwathletics/status/1618428127524589570","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/hwathletics/status/1618428127524589570 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->