Kyra Taylor picks up her second national honor for last week's play today, as she is the IWSOC National Player of the Week. [Photo: Noah Wyatt]
Florida’s Kyra Taylor is IWSOC National Player of the Week
Thursday, August 27, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida senior forward Kyra Taylor added another national honor to her growing list of accolades Thursday.
The Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) named Taylor its National Player of the Week for Aug. 17-23. She was selected by a vote of IWSOC members.
The honor is Taylor's third of the week. She was named the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Week on Tuesday, a day after earning Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. Fellow Florida senior Jayden Emmanuel also was recognized by the SEC, earning Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Taylor earned the national recognition after scoring twice in each of Florida's two matches last week, including two goals in Sunday's 3-1 victory over defending NCAA champion Florida State.
This is the first season for the IWSOC National Player of the Week award.
Quick Look at Kyra Taylor's Performance:
Next Up:
Florida closes August action with a pair of in-state opponents. The Gators finish their three-match homestand tonight when Jacksonville comes to Dizney Stadium. The Dolphins (1-0-1, 0-0 ASUN) played Georgia Southern to a scoreless tie in their last match.
Then Florida travels to Boca Raton, Fla., to face Florida Atlantic (0-2-1, 0-0 American) on Sunday. The Owls play host to Howard on Thursday at 5 p.m.
vs Jacksonville
Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Site: Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Stream: SEC Network + with Ryan Urquhart and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM with Nevada Cullen and Lance Williams calling the action
StatBroadcast
Admission: Free for all Gator soccer regular-season matches
Promotions: Staff Appreciation Night - Gators Soccer celebrates UF faculty and staff at The Diz! Join us as we recognize the people who make the University of Florida special, then cheer on the Gators as they take on Jacksonville!
at Florida Atlantic
Date: Sunday, Aug. 30
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Site: FAU Soccer Stadium (1,000)
Stream: ESPN +
StatBroadcast
Admission: Free
The Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) named Taylor its National Player of the Week for Aug. 17-23. She was selected by a vote of IWSOC members.
The honor is Taylor's third of the week. She was named the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Week on Tuesday, a day after earning Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. Fellow Florida senior Jayden Emmanuel also was recognized by the SEC, earning Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Taylor earned the national recognition after scoring twice in each of Florida's two matches last week, including two goals in Sunday's 3-1 victory over defending NCAA champion Florida State.
This is the first season for the IWSOC National Player of the Week award.
Quick Look at Kyra Taylor's Performance:
- Led Florida with back-to-back two-goal matches in wins against Coastal Carolina and No. 3 Florida State.
- Recorded the sixth brace of her collegiate career against Florida State. It marked the first time she posted consecutive two-goal matches since her freshman season at Louisiana Tech, when she scored twice against Nicholls on Sept. 7, 2023, and twice at Mississippi on Sept. 10, 2023.
- Scored the game-winner against No. 3 Florida State in the 62nd minute, helping the Gators earn their first win over a defending NCAA champion since defeating Florida State in 2015.
- Came off the bench in the 17th minute and completed her brace in just 11 minutes of action.
Next Up:
Florida closes August action with a pair of in-state opponents. The Gators finish their three-match homestand tonight when Jacksonville comes to Dizney Stadium. The Dolphins (1-0-1, 0-0 ASUN) played Georgia Southern to a scoreless tie in their last match.
Then Florida travels to Boca Raton, Fla., to face Florida Atlantic (0-2-1, 0-0 American) on Sunday. The Owls play host to Howard on Thursday at 5 p.m.
vs Jacksonville
Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Site: Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Stream: SEC Network + with Ryan Urquhart and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM with Nevada Cullen and Lance Williams calling the action
StatBroadcast
Admission: Free for all Gator soccer regular-season matches
Promotions: Staff Appreciation Night - Gators Soccer celebrates UF faculty and staff at The Diz! Join us as we recognize the people who make the University of Florida special, then cheer on the Gators as they take on Jacksonville!
at Florida Atlantic
Date: Sunday, Aug. 30
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Site: FAU Soccer Stadium (1,000)
Stream: ESPN +
StatBroadcast
Admission: Free
Players Mentioned
GK
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Sunday, August 23
