Mississippi State Exports 11 Soccer Players to Professional Leagues Worldwide
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State has become one of the top exporters of professional soccer talent in recent years, with 11 former Bulldogs currently under contract worldwide, according to school officials.
Clubs in Europe are nearing the end of their 2025-26 campaigns, while Bulldogs are actively competing in leagues in the United States, Mexico, and Australia. Recent highlights include Macey Hodge’s start in the NWSL and Rylie Combs’ debut in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.
Maddy Anderson, playing for Racing Lens in France’s Première Ligue, did not see game action in March, though she appeared in eight matches this season. Macey Hodge, now with Racing Louisville FC, has appeared in three matches in the NWSL, including a start against Seattle Reign on March 28.
Hannah Johnson has been a key player for Lexington SC in the USL Super League, with 20 appearances and three assists this season. She contributed to a 2-0 victory over DC Power FC on April 1 and completed 96% of her passes in a recent full-match effort.
Ilana Izquierdo, representing Tigres UANL in Mexico, has played 22 matches this season, including three in March. She participated in the She Believes Cup with Colombia and has helped Tigres stay in playoff contention with her passing accuracy of over 87% in league play.
Rylie Combs scored a crucial stoppage-time goal for Eskilstuna United in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan season opener after helping Eskilstuna secure promotion last year. She received a red card in April’s latest match.
Other Bulldogs are competing in various leagues, including Catalina Perez for Racing Strasbourg in France, Aitana Martinez-Montoya for Racing Power FC in Portugal, and Gwen Mummert for FC Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany. Several players, such as Ally Perry and Ruthny Mathurin, have yet to see game action this season.
Additional updates include Kennedy White’s performances for Melbourne Victory in Australia, where the team finished the regular season and awaits playoff results. Mississippi State’s soccer program continues to develop its international presence, with more updates available on their social media channels.
Source: Original Article
