Five Defenders to Know From the Updated Texas 2029 Girls Rankings

<p>After some months, the Prep Soccer 2029 Texas Girls State Ranking was updated earlier this week, with new players being added to the prestigious list that features only the best of the best in the Lone Star State and the existing ones having their positions adjusted ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 club season.</p>   <p>The ranking will continue to be consistently updated so it accurately reflects the progress achieved by players over time and presents a clear picture of the Texas landscape, always keeping in mind each prospect's potential to make an impact at the next level.</p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/texas/rankings/girls/2029-rankings/">Texas 2029 Girls State Rankings</a></strong></li> </ul>   <p>The updated Texas 2029 Girls State Rankings now feature 170 players from every corner of the Lone Star State, and we're taking the week to present you with some of the most intriguing names that made the list. These defenders have something special in their games:</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Schaeffer is the top-ranked defender in the Rankings and takes eighth place overall in Texas. A center back who can also play on the outside, she's part of the Reagan High School team and captains [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] in the ECNL League. Schaeffer stands out for her positioning and impressive mobility, not giving up an inch of space when they get into her zone. She's very good in physical duels but also thrives with her impeccable timing when tackling opponents. A vocal leader, she is very comfortable and confident on the ball and does a good job of moving it out of the back.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0058_85a159.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-355895" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Rodriguez appears in second place among the defenders and ranks tenth overall after the update. A center back, she plays high school soccer for South Grand Prairie and is with Solar SC in the ECNL League at the club level. Combining great size and strong defensive skills, she anchors her team's backline, playing with impressive efficiency and consistency. Rodriguez handles physical duels well and is dominant when defending the penalty box, but is also hard to beat in other areas of the field, often forcing opponents to play back or go wide with the amount of pressure she puts on them. The center back is also a big asset in possession, distributing the ball intelligently out of the back and competently stepping into the attacking half to make plays when she sees the space.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DMvPbm6uyog/?img_index=1 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Holmes took 24th place among the defenders and was listed at 76th place overall in the Class of 2029. A right back, she starts for Summer Creek at the high school level and plays for [program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'] in the ECNL League. Holmes has a solid two-way game, providing great defensive stability in her zone and adding a lot when she pushes forward to support the attack. She does a good job of combining with her teammates, makes well-timed runs out wide to be a passing option and often comes inside to deliver accurate passes. Holmes also makes an impact in set pieces, providing great service from corner kicks and free kicks.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DXsHlHQCagO/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Reese is the 33rd-best defender in Texas according to our Rankings and takes 96th place overall in the state. A left back, she plays high school soccer for St. Francis Episcopal in the TAPPS League and is with Rise SC at the club level, competing in the Girls Academy League. Reese is a highly technical player who stands out for her passing ability, playing an active role in the team's buildup and delivering accurate balls into the final third out of the back. Her ability to hit the ball with power and precision also makes of her a threat in set pieces, as she often gets to score goals in long-distance shots. Reese plays defense with good determination and typically takes care of her business in her area of the field.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0046_5d8608.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339031" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Gates earned a spot on our Watchlist as we'll continue to monitor her progress. The right back will be with Wichita Falls Legacy in the upcoming high school season and was with Sting Royal in the last ECNL Regional League season. An offensive-minded outside back who can also play on the wing, Gates can be very dangerous in wider areas of the field with her ability to make strong runs and deliver great service into the box from the end line. She's very comfortable on the ball and uses both feet well to dribble it and make moves as she progresses on the field. Gates also delivers defensively, playing with determination and making strong tackles to stop opponents.</p>    <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=NDwiwRwwtFA </div></figure>   <p></p>

After some months, the Prep Soccer 2029 Texas Girls State Ranking was updated earlier this week, with new players being added to the prestigious list that features only the best of the best in the Lone Star State and the existing ones having their positions adjusted ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 club season.