Duke Women’s Soccer Lands Four on TopDrawerSoccer Best XI, Highlighting a Stellar 2025 Season
Duke women’s soccer just put an emphatic stamp on its 2025 campaign, with four standout players earning national recognition from TopDrawerSoccer’s end-of-year awards. Kat Rader and Mia Minestrella were named to the Best XI teams, while freshmen Daya King and Avery Oder earned spots on the Freshman Best XI - a testament to both the program’s veteran leadership and its rising young talent.
Let’s break down what made each of these Blue Devils worthy of the spotlight.
Kat Rader: The Engine of Duke’s Attack
When you talk about consistency and production, Kat Rader’s name jumps right off the page. The Florida native delivered a balanced and dangerous season, racking up 12 goals and 12 assists - a clean 36-point campaign that speaks to her ability to both finish and facilitate. She started 21 of Duke’s 22 matches and came through in the clutch with four game-winners.
Rader wasn’t just a key piece for Duke - she was one of the most efficient point producers in the country, averaging 1.64 points per game, good for 20th nationally. She registered at least one point in 17 of her 22 appearances.
That kind of consistency is rare, especially when you’re carrying the offensive load. It’s no surprise she was also a semifinalist for the 2025 Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s top individual honor.
Mia Minestrella: A Scoring Surge That Turned Heads
Mia Minestrella didn’t just have a good season - she had a breakout campaign that solidified her as one of the nation’s elite scorers. With 18 goals on the year, she finished sixth in the country in goals and ninth in total points (41). And when the stakes were highest, she delivered.
In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Minestrella tied for the tournament lead with six goals, including three game-winners. Her 13 points in the tournament were second-best overall, and her ability to rise in big moments helped push Duke deep into postseason play.
Her 41 points this season placed her third on Duke’s all-time single-season list, and her seven game-winning goals tied for third in program history. For a player who’s now scored 30 goals over the last two seasons, Minestrella is quickly becoming one of the most feared forwards in college soccer.
Daya King: Lockdown Defender, Day One Starter
Freshman defender Daya King wasted no time making an impact in Durham. The California native started all 22 matches she played and was a cornerstone of a Duke back line that posted 12 shutouts on the season. That’s not just solid - that’s elite defensive work.
King logged 1,911 minutes - the fifth-most ever by a Duke freshman - and played the full 90 in 19 matches. Her endurance, composure, and ability to read the game were well beyond her years.
She helped anchor a defense that allowed just one goal in five separate contests, showing poise in high-pressure situations. Her selection to the All-ACC Freshman Team was well-earned, and her inclusion on the Freshman Best XI only reinforces her growing reputation.
Avery Oder: Offensive Spark Plug with a Nose for Goal
On the other end of the pitch, fellow freshman Avery Oder brought energy and production to Duke’s attack. Starting 22 of 23 matches, Oder tallied six goals and four assists - 16 points total - and showed early on that she was ready for the collegiate stage.
She made a bit of history too, becoming just the eighth Blue Devil to score in each of her first two collegiate starts. That’s the kind of instant impact you dream of from a freshman forward.
Oder logged over 1,500 minutes this season, giving Duke both depth and dynamism up front. Like King, she also earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors, and her place on the Freshman Best XI signals that this is just the beginning.
A Team on the Rise Under New Leadership
Duke’s individual accolades are impressive on their own, but they’re even more meaningful in the context of the team’s overall success. The Blue Devils posted a 17-5-1 record and made it back to the NCAA College Cup for the second straight year - this time under the direction of first-year head coach Kieran Hall.
Hall’s debut couldn’t have gone much better. He became just the third coach in NCAA Division I history to lead a team to the College Cup in his first season. That’s rarified air, and it speaks to how quickly he’s earned buy-in from a talented roster.
With veterans like Rader and Minestrella leading the way and freshmen like King and Oder already playing like seasoned pros, the foundation is set. Duke isn’t just competing - it’s building something special. And if this year’s honors are any indication, the Blue Devils are only getting started.