Tanner Strickland came to Florida State with plenty of experience playing on the front line, but as one of 16 new Seminoles this season, the Kentucky transfer has also been adjusting to a new team, system, and conference.
Strickland has played in seven of FSU’s first eight games, starting six and totaling 414 minutes. She recorded a goal and an assist against Stetson before scoring the game-winning goal against FAU, while all four of her shots have been on goal.
With injuries and player availability
forcing FSU to make changes throughout its lineup, Strickland has been asked to contribute in a different role, spending time at right back over the past few games.
Her ability to contribute wherever the Seminoles have needed her has stood out to head coach Brian Pensky.
“Tanner, animal. I mean, absolute,” Pensky said. “She is quick. She is tough, right? She gets her body in. She wins balls. She drew fouls, right? She’s a really good player.”
Strickland transferred to Florida State after spending her first three collegiate seasons at Kentucky. As a freshman in 2023, she started all 19 matches and led the Wildcats with five assists while earning SEC All-Freshman honors.
Her biggest season came in 2025, when she started all 21 matches and recorded career highs with two goals and a team-leading seven assists. Strickland also scored her first career game-winning and SEC goal against No. 20 Oklahoma and was named a third-team All-SEC player.
That experience has allowed Strickland to contribute in different areas of the field during her first season at FSU. Against NC State, she played all 90 minutes at right back as the Seminoles battled back for a 2-2 tie.
“Obviously, Tanner put a good shift in for 90 minutes at right back,” Pensky said following the game. “But she had a hard time getting forward because they were attacking us.”
Now, with more players becoming available, Strickland is beginning to get opportunities higher up the field again. She returned to the starting lineup in the attack in the Seminoles’ scoreless draw against Louisville on Sunday.
Janet Okeke and Bridget Mutipula have returned from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, giving the Seminoles more options on the back line. Strickland’s former Kentucky teammate, Grace Hoytink, also made her Seminole debut against Louisville, with the two playing on the same side of the field.
With more of FSU’s roster becoming available, Strickland could continue to see more opportunities in the attack as the Seminoles travel to Clemson for another ACC matchup Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
