Former Morgantown girls soccer standout Gracie Brown playing pivotal role in midfield for Auburn in 2026
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MORGANTOWN — Gracie Brown is hitting her stride with the Auburn University women's soccer team in 2026.
After a redshirt freshman season that left her with more questions than answers, Brown says she quickly realized how important those early months were.
"It's pretty crazy to look back on my time at Auburn and realize I'm such a different player and person than I was when I first got here," Brown said. "My freshman year was very interesting because during my first semester, I was a redshirt and hadn't declared a major yet. It made that semester feel like an in-between period, where I didn't really feel like I had much of a purpose on the team or in school. Looking back though, that ended up being a pivotal time for me to figure out who I was individually and what I wanted to strive for moving forward in college."
Her sophomore season brought some clarity both on the field and in the classroom.
"I continued to grow both athletically and academically, really just putting my head down and getting to work," Brown said. "My sophomore year taught me a lot about persistence and time management. Now in my junior year, I'm continuing to grow while also focusing more on being present and grateful. My time at Auburn has already gone by so fast, so now I really try to enjoy the people around me and appreciate the little moments that I probably didn't think about as much when I was younger."
Brown was voted one of the team captains for the 2026 season, a decision made by the players.
"That was an amazing feeling, especially because it was something that came from my teammates," she said. "These are the people I'm with every single day, so knowing that they trust me and see me as someone they can rely on is truly a great feeling. Being a captain is something I always wanted for myself, so accomplishing that was a special moment for me. I always try to lead more through how I show up every day, how hard I work, and how I listen and treat the people around me. I think my teammates recognized this, so being voted is definitely something I am really proud of."
The junior midfielder has helped the Tigers to an 8-2-3 record this season, with their most recent victories being a pair of top-25 wins over No. 13 Tennessee and No. 20 Oklahoma. After the triumph over the Volunteers two weeks ago, Brown was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on October 5.
"It's obviously a huge honor," she said. "Especially in the SEC because there are so many great players in this conference. It definitely felt good to get that recognition after all the hard work I've been putting in this year, as well as in the past, to get me here. I also feel like an award like that is never really just about one person, especially as a defender. To me, the most successful defense comes from everyone doing their job together. I was really proud of how we played altogether against Tennessee, so getting that recognition on top of it was really special."
Brown helped anchor the Auburn defense, holding Tennessee to just one shot on goal. She also provided the game-winning assist in the first half, intercepting a pass in midfield and playing a ball over the top of the defense that AU forward Dylan Driver slotted past the Volunteers’ keeper.
The Tigers have only allowed three goals through 13 matches, leading the SEC and tying for second in the nation.
The DPOTW honor is the first of Brown's career with Auburn.
Gracie aims to build on the success and confidence she's gained during her time with the Tigers.
"Right now, I'm really focused on continuing to help this team succeed, both as a captain and as a player who knows how much it’s capable of," Brown said. "I think a big part of that is staying present and taking things day by day, focusing on the little things that will eventually help us accomplish our bigger goals. I hope to continue carrying that mindset throughout the rest of my time at Auburn, while always working to become a better leader and person, both on and off the field and in the classroom.
"Auburn has really just become a second home to me," she continued. "Obviously I came here because I wanted to play soccer at a high level, but looking back, there's so much more that made Auburn the right choice. I've met some of my best friends here, and I've been surrounded by people who have pushed me and supported me. I've also grown a lot outside of soccer, finding my passion in our amazing design program. I really can't imagine anywhere I'd rather be."