Four Stanford women’s soccer players — Jasmine Aikey, Andrea Kitahata, Elise Evans and Shae Harvey — have signed with teams in the NWSL. They helped lead the Cardinal to a dominant 2025 season that culminated in an ACC regular season title, an ACC tournament title and a Women’s College Cup Final appearance. Aikey, Kitahata, Harvey and Evans join a long and storied list of Stanford women’s soccer alumni who have gone on to have tremendous success at the professional level.
Senior midfielder Jasmine Aikey will help to lay the groundwork for Denver Summit FC throughout its inaugural season. Aikey, hailing from Palo Alto, comes off of one of the most decorated careers in program history. She is a three-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team member and two-time MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, and she helped lead Stanford to three College Cup appearances in four years.
In her final season, Aikey earned TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year honors as well as the MAC Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious award in women’s collegiate soccer. In 89 games throughout her career, she posted 115 points and scored 43 goals to rank ninth in program history.
Aikey will return to the Bay Area in mid-March for the opener of Denver Summit’s inaugural season against Bay FC.
“The chance to be a part of creating a team’s culture was something I couldn’t pass up,” Aikey said of her decision to sign with an expansion team.
Redshirt senior forward Andrea Kitahata will join New York’s Gotham FC, the reigning NWSL champions. As a two-time captain, Kitahata helped lead Stanford to back-to-back College Cups in 2024 and 2025.
In her final season, she was recognized to the All-ACC first team, ACC Championship All-Tournament team and both the United Soccer Coaches All-Region and TopDrawerSoccer Best XI second teams. Over 99 matches, the Hillsborough, Calif. native racked up 32 assists, which ranks eighth in program history, and 39 goals.
“It’s been special to play so close to home, and Stanford being my home for the past few years has been so formative,” Kitahata said. “I’ve made friends for life, and I feel very proud of the person and player I am going into the world as. It’s a product of everyone I’ve been around at Stanford.”
When asked about which NWSL teammate she was most looking forward to play alongside, Kitahata’s response came almost immediately.
“Tierna Davidson [‘20] is someone I have looked up to for a really long time as a person and player,” she said. “She’s the epitome of a great person and player and really advocates for the players. To have someone who has also bled Cardinal is special.”
Senior defender Elise Evans will bring her talents in the backline to Chicago Stars FC. Evans, from Redwood City, Calif., began her career as the PAC-12 Freshman of the Year and a member of the TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI first team. In her final season, she was both the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year.
As a senior captain, she was named to the All-ACC first team, ACC Championship All Tournament Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team. Over the course of her career, Evans helped Stanford hold 47 shutouts and limited opposition to 69 goals over 95 games.
“My main goal is continuing to develop my game,” Evan said, looking ahead to her professional career. “A big reason I wanted to come to Chicago is because they have some defensive and offensive world class players who I am excited to learn from. I want to put myself in uncomfortable positions to push myself and grow as a player.”
Junior midfielder Shae Harvey signed with the Portland Thorns FC. Harvey, a Hermosa Beach, Calif. native, helped her team to College Cup appearances in each of her three seasons. In her first season, Harvey was the No. 1 freshman midfielder in the country and the No. 2 freshman overall, as well as a member of the TopDrawerSoccer Freshmen Best XI first team. As a captain in her final season, she was named to the All-ACC second team and the Women’s College Cup All-Tournament team. Harvey started 69 of 73 career matches, accumulating 11 goals and 15 assists.
Aikey, Kitahata, Evans and Harvey will return to the pitch donning new jerseys when the NWSL season kicks off this March.