Payten Cooper Selected Big Ten Freshman of Week
September 02, 2025 | Women's Soccer
Cooper, who hails from Plano, Texas, came off the bench at the start of the second half against Long Beach State and scored her first collegiate goal on a header in the 50th minute, breaking a 0-0 tie. She also had an assist on the Bruins' second goal in the 65th minute, scored by Oruha Hayashi. Cooper had two shots on goal and played in a season-best 45 minutes. She now leads the team in scoring with three points and holds a shots on goal percentage of .750.
This is Cooper's first career Big Ten weekly award and UCLA's second-ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week award, joining Jordan Geis, who received the honor on Sept. 17, 2024.
UCLA will play at Portland on Thursday, Sept. 4 before hosting No. 1 Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1pm at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week: Aug. 19 – Gabrielle Prych, Michigan; Aug. 26 – Aubrey Kulpa, Penn State; Sept. 2 – Freya Jupp, Minnesota.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week: Aug. 19 – Jennie Immethun, UCLA; Aug. 26 – Hailey Baumann, Wisconsin; Sept. 2 – Kate Childers, Minnesota.
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week: Aug. 19 – Nyamma Nelson, Northwestern; Aug. 26 – Bella Grust, USC; Sept. 2 – Taylor Kane, Iowa.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Aug. 19 – Liana Tarasco, Iowa; Aug. 26 – Hannah Jordan, Penn State; Sept. 2 – Payten Cooper, UCLA.
