Minnesota Aurora opens training camp this week as they prepare for their fifth season in the USL W League. Later this week Aurora opens their pre-season with an away match at Kansas City Current II. Prior to that will be the first open to the media training session on Wednesday. We'll have all of that covered as the week goes on, but ahead of the first week and pre-season test of 2026, we've got the final off-season Aurora Report.
In addition to signing eight additional players, including two goalkeepers, there's been another big change for the defending Heartland Champions. Taylor Kane, who was initially announced as re-signing for a fifth season earlier this year, has gone to the professional level. Kane signed with Icelandic side Breiðablik, who have just started their season in the Icelandic top flight, the Besta deild kvenna.
Kane becomes the 23rd player to sign with a professional club following their stint with Aurora. She joins another former Aurora player in Katie Duong at Breiðablik. Aurora also announced that Ava Westlund will not be returning to the club for the 2026 campaign as "she has decided to spend the summer focusing on her collegiate career" as she heads to the University of Minnesota for the fall.
- Hadli Barrera (Fr.)
- College: Utah State
- Position: Midfielder
- Player Notes: One of eight players to play all 23 games for the Aggies. Ranked tied for third in points, despite only starting one match in 2025
- Hannah Boughton (Sr.)
- College: Central Florida
- Position: Midfielder
- Player Notes: Played Freshman year at Mizzou, transferred to Baylor for Sophomore & Junior seasons. Played senior year with UCF Knights. Played in all 21 matches and started 16 in 2025, with final 12 coming as a defender.
- Thalia Morisi (Sr.)
- College: Kentucky
- Position: Midfielder
- Player Notes: Played Freshman and Sophomore years at Old Dominion and was named to Sun Belt All-Tournament Team as a Sophomore. Made 21 starts during Senior season at Kentucky
- Haylee Mersereau (Sr.)
- College: Central Florida
- Position: Defender
- Player Notes: Spent first three seasons at Pitt before transferring to UCF. Started a career high of 19 matches for the Knights in 2025.
- Gracie Dunaway (Grad.)
- College: Purdue
- Position: Midfielder
- Player Notes: Made 75 appearances with the Boilermakers over four seasons. Scored 14 goals and tallied 12 assists over college career.
- Kyra Karfonta (Sr.)
- College: Dayton
- Position: Defender
- Player Notes: 2025 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. 2024 & 2025 First Team Atlantic 10 All-Conference. Went 5 for 5 on penalty kicks between Junior and Senior seasons with the Flyers.
- Taylor Fox (5th Yr.)
- College: South Carolina
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Player Notes: Allowed only four goals through 792 minutes in goal over collegiate career. Previously had callups for USYNT U16 & U18 women's sides.
- Isaac Ranson (RS Sr.)
- College: Cal State-Fullerton
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Player Notes: 2023 & 2025 Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, 2023 & 2025 Big West All-Conference First Team. 2022 All-Big West Second Team & 2022 All-Big West Freshman Team. Has the most saves (347), shutouts (31), and minutes played (6,934) in school history. Randon is the first Transgender player signed by Minnesota Aurora. Due to USL (and USSF) rules regarding "biological sex" Ranson is required to play with women's clubs despite being a trans-man.
