Naperville resident Victoria Adams is on the fast track to success.
That’s true whether the 15-year-old is riding the train to school or getting a lift to soccer practice.
Adams is the top-ranked player in Illinois in the 2026 class. She just finished her freshman year at St. Ignatius in Chicago.
“I take the train to Chicago,” Adams said. “It’s a commitment, and it’s tiring. But my thing is education. I want to get as much out of my education as I can, so even if soccer didn’t work out for me, I still want to have good grades and be able to get into a good college without soccer.”
Adams, who said she enjoys science and math, appears to have a bright future in the classroom and on the field. She is unlikely to play high school soccer anytime soon. She plays club soccer for Eclipse Select.
“I actually talked with some of the older girls that have played in high school, and they told me how physical it was and how some of the girls don’t really know how to play and they’re just trying to hurt you,” Adams said. “I didn’t want to take the chance of getting injured, especially when I have a bunch of stuff coming up.”
That stuff includes the ECNL national tournament, which begins Friday in San Diego, and a possible call-up to a U15 national team training camp.
To get ready, Adams has been playing for the Chicago Dutch Lions, a pre-professional team that plays in the USL W League. Despite being the youngest player on the roster, which primarily consists of current or former Division I college players, Adams is starting at center back. The Dutch Lions play their home games at Aurora University’s Spartan Stadium.
“It’s definitely a different experience,” Adams said. “It’s a very good environment. I like it because everybody is really nice. The level of play is a lot higher than I’m used to, so I’m trying to prepare myself. I didn’t play in high school, so I’m trying to get more games in.”
The 6-foot-1 Adams spent the spring competing for the St. Ignatius track team. She ran the 100- and 200-meter dashes and was part of the 400 and 800 relay teams. The 400 team qualified for state in Class 3A.
Adams has a family history in both sports. Her mother, Whitney, was a defender at Michigan, where her father, Darren, ran track.
Soccer is definitely Adams’ top sport. She has amazed her teammates and coaches on the Dutch Lions with her poise and athleticism, which were evident during a 4-0 home victory against Rochester on Wednesday.
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Dutch Lions owner Nikhil Erlebach Chanda, who is also the head coach, is thrilled with Adams.
“She makes it look easy, even at this level,” said Erlebach Chanda, who played pro soccer in his native Germany. “She’s very calm under pressure in tight space and situations, and she obviously has a great physique.
“She’s 6-foot-1, but she’s still very good with her feet. So we feel like there cannot be many players in her position at her age that are better than her in this country.”
Dutch Lions midfielder Megan Norkett, a Northwestern recruit who recently graduated from Naperville Central and scored the first three goals against Rochester, didn’t know Adams before joining the team but has become her chauffeur.
“We met each other at the first practice, and then she was like, ‘Do you live in Naperville?'” Norkett said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ She asked, ‘Can you drive me?’ So now I drive Tori.”
Norkett has been impressed by Adams as a person and a player.
“I’ve got to know her really well, and I really enjoy being with Tori,” Norkett said. “She’s a very special player. Not only can she compete with anyone, but she’s better than a lot of people out on the field, which is very impressive for her age. She works really hard, so I’m very proud of her.”
It remains to be seen where that hard work will lead Adams, but she does have a few goals.
“I want to play in college, and if I get the opportunity to play overseas or professionally, I will definitely take the opportunity to travel while I’m young,” she said. “I just want to get new experiences and meet new people.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.