Forwards from 2026 class ready to take off

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2026 in California has been much ballyhooed, and even as you look through the rankings you see players down the list that you believe could make a significant jump this season. Here are five forwards who are ready to take flight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112485' first='Isabella' last='Fernandez'], SoCal Blues</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fernandez has a very good motor and a relentless approach to playing the outside forward position. She is relentless in getting down the line when a ball is played wide, and she is relentless in tracking back and trying to win the ball back in the opposing half to keep the attack alive. She is very good on the ball, showing good stop and start ability and she has good ability to make a pass, especially cutting it back into the middle to the feet of a dangerous runner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='154740' first='Makenna' last='Martin'], City SC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented player, Martin has an incredibly unique skill and that is how comfortable she is with a defender on her. She does not panic or get frustrated and almost likes to toy with them, keeping all of their attention on her as her teammates find dangerous areas and make attacking runs. Her foot skills are very good as she keeps the ball quite well when under pressure. She is also great at making timed runs, and understands angles and space as she seems to beat defenders to the ball most times. She shows good finishing and passing ability as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='77961' first='CJ' last='Martinez'], Legends FC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martinez is a very well-rounded forward who likes to challenge defenders and come at them with pace and ferocity. When her team gets moving downfield, she will work extremely hard in transition. She has great foot skills to go with her tenacity as she can move smoothly and swiftly with the ball at her feet, she can change directions and she can hit the ball with pace. She is not just an attack-minded player, either as she will track back, she will work hard in ball recovery and plays a physical style.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112405' first='Gemma' last='Pappas'], Beach FC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pappas has a very strong, athletic frame to go with tremendous pace and power. She makes excellent runs to get behind the defense and has the ability to finish strongly with either foot. She has an especially powerful right foot that she uses to score from range. She is a physical player who can use her body to hold off a defender and has the strength to not get knocked off of the ball while doing so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='154741' first='Jaidyn' last='Williams'], Pateadores</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams has a nose for goal and an ability to finish, and does so in a number of ways. She can let the ball run to her feet and one-time the ball with either foot, showing good power and precision. She can also create, cutting across the face of goal or quickly getting the ball on her other foot. When she gets in on goal she's very composed and slots the ball home neatly and she is big enough to where she is a threat to score with her head. She has good pace, power and physicality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->