ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University women's soccer coach Katie Shields has announced the addition of former University of Wisconsin forward Rylee Howard to the Billikens' 2024 roster. Howard will have two years of eligibility remaining.
 
"Rylee is an elite dribbler, playmaker and goal scorer," Shields said. "She is someone we have been incredibly high on since her time with Lafayette High School and St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club as a youth player. Rylee's relentless defensive pressing and courageous attacking style will fit tremendously well with our dynamic attacking group. Her love of scoring goals, commitment to her growth and winning championships will thrive within our program's culture. We are so excited to welcome Rylee home to SLU."
 
Howard was part of Wisconsin's 2023 team that placed third in the Big Ten Conference regular-season standings, was runner-up in the Big Ten Championship and reached the NCAA Championship second round. An injury limited her to 14 games and 428 minutes. Howard earned a spot on the Big Ten Fall All-Academic team.
 
Howard made an immediate impact as a freshman, starting all 19 Wisconsin games and recording three goals and three assists. She was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades twice, and was ranked 48th on Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen list.

At Lafayette, Howard was an All-American, a two-time All-State selection and Suburban Yellow Player of the Year. She was named USA Today, Gatorade and St. Louis Post-Dispatch Missouri Player of the Year and earned a No. 62 ranking by Top Drawer Soccer. Howard scored a school-record 41 goals as a junior. She also was an AP Scholar and a two-time Scholar-Athlete.
 
In club soccer, Howard was a U18/19 ECNL All-American, Midwest co-Player of the Year and All-Midwest, as well as a USYNT Regional ID Indianapolis and virtual camp participant.