Midwest Uncommitted Best XI - 2026s

The college recruitment for the 2026 class has been at a non-stop pace for the past few months. The current junior group has seen hundreds of talented players give their verbal commitments to college programs.    However, there are still hundred of players out there who are equally as talented, but just waiting for the right opportunity. Below is a look at eleven players from Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin who deserve some attention from this group. These players were uncommitted as of Nov. 15 - based on either information provided by the player or their social media pages.     Mittelstaedt loves the game, and players who love the game just keep getting better. The SC Wave goalkeeper was a Girls Academy Talent ID invite last season. She has been even better this season. She works diligently on her craft and is a multiple State Champion thanks to that commitment. Mittelstaedt has a strong technical foundation for the position. She moves her feet well, always has her hands in the right spot for the catch, and commands her box on corner kicks. Mittelstaedt is a talented goalkeeper who would be an asset to any program.      LB - Peyton Saltijeral, Evolution 08 - Saltijeral is a left footed playmaker who happens to be an outstanding defender as well. She was named to the ECNL RL All-Conference team last season for her play with Evolution, one of the top teams in Illinois.  Saltijeral has played some winger in the past and that playmaking ability shines at left back when she joins the attack. She creates off the dribble and does well with combination play - especially when setting up triangles with the winger and attacking midfielder. Defensively, she is a solid 1v1 defender. She stands up players and gets into the tackle. She will thrive in a program that lets the outside back attack.      CB - Mady Linenkugel, Ohio Elitę 08 - Linenkugel's best trait is her versatility. She has potential at the Division I level as both a center back and an outside back. I saw her play left center back during the ECNL postseason over the summer. She impressed me with how she reads the game defensively. She gets to the right spots to make an impact for her side. She saved a shot off the line. She's not the biggest defender on this list, but she might the best passer. She's right footed and hits an accurate pass - both on the ground and driven through the air. Linenkugel was named All-Ohio for her play at the high school level this past season, so it should only be a matter of time before the scouts are lining up for nabbing this gem from the 2026 class.      CB  - Maddie Malek, Midwest United 08 - Malek was a player who impressed during the ECNL event in Phoenix. She is the captain of her club side. The center back is right footed and strikes the ball cleanly. She scored some goals on set pieces last season. Malek's strongest attribute is her tenacity as a tackler. She will get into the challenge with full steam. Malek's leadership quality is also a strong point of her game. She should develop into a multi-year starter at the college level.      RB - [player_tooltip player_id='110629' first='Bianca' last='Eide'], Minnesota Thunder 08 - Eide is a dual-sport athlete and a highly decorated one in wrestling. She was one of the standouts of the Minnesota Thunder team during the ECNL playoffs over the summer. The outside back - she can play either left or right back - is a tough tackling shutdown wide defender. She is scrappy in 1v1 duels and uses her strength well to dictate where the winger can go. Eide impressed against some of the best attacking talent over the summer.      DM - Addi Lehnertz, Midwest United 08 - Lehnertz is a defensive midfielder who thrives in the distribution aspect of the position. She is good at swinging the point of attack quickly. Her strengths are quick decision-making, good first touch, and accurate passing. Her highlight reels might not be the most flashy among the players on this list, but she is a valuable player for her team's success because she reads the game well and does exceptionally well in her role.      CM - Alayna Gleason, FC Wisconsin 08 - Gleason is a defender/midfielder, but I believe she's been seeing more playing time in the center of the midfield lately. I adore the enthusiasm and energy she brings to her team with her play. She is like an energy drink in the No. 8 position. Thanks to that boundless energy, she earns a ton of touches during the game. She has quick feet and      CAM - [player_tooltip player_id='274527' first='Sophie' last='Khelashvili'], Ohio Premier - Khelashvili is a member of the Georgia National Team. She can play as a midfielder or as a forward. Her best position might be as a support striker, but I love the creativity she brings as an attacking midfielder - plus she has an excellent right foot, which is capable of burying a shot from 30 yards out into the top corner of the net. Khelashvili's international experience should show scouts she is a committed and determined player who will fight for playing time immediately.     RW - Breana Phillips, Salvo SC 07 - Phillips is on a hot streak in the Girls Academy right now. The right winger has scored some goals from nearly impossible angles. She is a difficult player to defend. She can beat the outside back in a number of ways - pace, strength, and skill. Phillips finishing ability sets her apart though. She strikes the ball well from the run of play and is playing with a ton of confidence. Phillips' ability to impact the game at any moment makes her an ideal candidate to be a super-sub early in her career and then take over the starting role shortly after.      LW - [player_tooltip player_id='165357' first='Avery' last='Hilvert'], Ohio Premier 08 - Hilvert was an All-State selection in Ohio for her junior year with Olentangy Liberty. She was honored alongside a number of 2026 verbal commitments to top programs across the country. Hilvert is a talented forward who can play on either side of the formation. She is a good finisher with either foot. She is also a playmaker with exceptional passing. She has the pace to breeze past defenders. Hilvert was outstanding at the high school level this past season and that confidence should translate to the club game.       CF - [player_tooltip player_id='94719' first='Irelyn' last='Sheldon'], Midwest United 08 - Center forward with some elite attributes. Sheldon is a tall player (six-foot-one) with great footwork. She can turn defenders and get at goal in a hurry. She strikes the ball well and looked like one of the best finishers at the recent ECNL event. Sheldon should be on the radar for a program looking to develop a center forward from the 2026 class. She has the potential to be a double-digit goal-scorer from a top college program.

The college recruitment for the 2026 class has been at a non-stop pace for the past few months. The current junior group has seen hundreds of talented players give their verbal commitments to college programs.