OREM — Utah Valley senior forward Nixan Jackson has been named to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Players to Watch list, the Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) and United Soccer Coaches announced Monday.

Jackson is one of 43 forwards from across the country selected to the preseason list and is one of two players from the Big West to earn the recognition, joining Cal Poly senior Annika Smith. The list includes United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region selections from the 2025 season who are scheduled to return in 2026.

The Mapleton, Utah, native enters her senior season after earning First Team All-WAC and United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Second Team honors in 2025. Jackson appeared in 20 matches with 19 starts last season, totaling five goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Her 10 assists ranked 17th nationally and second in the WAC, while her 0.50 assists per match ranked 19th nationally and second in the league.

Jackson recorded 34 shots, including 22 on goal, and scored one game-winning goal during her junior campaign. She was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week after totaling two goals and four assists in wins over Tarleton State and Abilene Christian, highlighted by a season-high six-point performance with two goals and two assists against Tarleton State.

She helped lead Utah Valley to its fourth consecutive WAC regular-season championship in 2025 as the Wolverines went 9-0-1 in league play. UVU advanced to the WAC Tournament championship match before earning an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Jackson has been a key contributor throughout her Utah Valley career. In three seasons, she has appeared in 58 matches and has totaled 13 goals and 20 assists for 46 points. She earned Second Team All-WAC honors as a sophomore in 2024 after recording four goals and seven assists and was named to the WAC All-Freshman Team in 2023 after tallying four goals and three assists.

As a freshman, Jackson recorded the 12th hat trick in Utah Valley history with three goals in a 10-0 win over Stephen F. Austin and earned WAC Player of the Week honors for the performance. She has helped the Wolverines win a conference regular-season championship in each of her first three seasons at UVU.

The positional Players to Watch lists are compiled by the Division I All-America Committees and feature returning standouts from across NCAA Division I women's soccer. The announcements lead into the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List, which will be announced Aug. 12, the opening date of the women's soccer regular season. The MAC Hermann Trophy is presented annually to the NCAA Division I National Player of the Year, with the 2026 winner scheduled to be announced Jan. 8, 2027, in St. Louis.

Utah Valley opens its 2026 season at UCCU Stadium on Thursday night against Big Ten foe Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available at GoUVU.com/GetTix.