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The Big Ten women’s soccer tournament recently came to a close and all eyes were on No. 1 Washington and No. 2 Michigan State.
Though the Spartans lost to the Huskies in penalty shootouts, their star forward, Kennedy Bell, shined all season. Bell managed to make an enormous impact in her first year with the Spartans after transferring from Maryland.
Her ability to quickly adapt to her new team and execute on the field is an inspiration for all of us—proving that we can contribute anywhere and everywhere as long as we put our minds to it.
“I'm here to win with my team. I want to win a Big Ten Championship; I want to make it to the NCAA… That’s so much more important to me.”
The Spartans’ All Star
In regular season games, Bell scored 10 goals with Michigan State, distinguishing herself as the team’s leading scorer and the conference’s overall leading scorer. On November 4th, the Big Ten announced her as the Forward of the Year in the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Postseason Honors. She became the second Michigan State player in history to win the distinguished award.
Bell has been playing as a defender for most of her life, so when she found out she had won Forward of the Year, surprise and shock clearly took over. Nonetheless, her head coach, Jeff Hosler, knows she has earned it.
“To be recognized as the top forward in our league, playing a new position in a totally different system, with a different set of expectations, credit to her and what she’s about,” Hosler said to WLNS 6 News. “I think it’s well deserved.”
The North Carolina native has shown leadership and instilled greater sense in a top-notch soccer program. And if this wasn’t enough to prove Bell’s skill, the Missouri Athletic Club also named her to the inaugural Hermann Trophy Watch List, which annually honors college soccer’s top male and female players. But for Bell, being selected isn’t as important as winning collective awards with her team.
“That’s not what I’m here for. It’s awesome, but I’m here to win with my team,” she told The State News. “I want to win a Big Ten Championship; I want to make it to the NCAA…That’s so much more important to me.”
Hard Work in Progress
In May 2025, Bell earned a call up to a US Under-20 Women’s National Team training camp in Fayetteville, Georgia, an indicator of her bright future. With a season left with the Spartans, she will look to make the most of it.
According to The State News, Bell’s defending position at Maryland meant she saw less action in attacking opportunities. Transferring to Michigan State was the perfect scenario to blend defensive and offensive play for her, and it looked to have paid off, especially in the eyes of her coach.
“She hasn’t played up top since her youth career, so to have the output she already has this quickly in an offensive system as complex as ours shows her IQ and ability to adjust,” Hosler told The State News.
Bell is still playing at the collegiate level in her soccer career, but we shouldn’t be surprised if we see her taking the pitch for a professional team in a few years. She has a strong profile and robust mindset—and who knows what will happen at next year’s Big Ten tournament?
Bell is a perfect example of how versatility is key and how greatness can come from change. She’s proving that we can make a change and still continue to succeed and be an influence—no matter the team or position.
