Peyton Willie is in her first season as a graduate assistant with Illinois State Soccer. She joins the Redbirds following a stint nearby with Illinois soccer. 

Willie, a Yorkville, Ill. native, posted a strong freshman year for the Fighting Illini in 2018 before medically retiring. In 2018 she appeared in 19 matches, scoring her first-career goal in an 8-0 victory over Northern Illinois. She also dished three assists in that game, tying her for the most in assists a game by an Illinois freshman in school history. 

She then spent two years as the program's assistant to the Director of Operations, where she gained experience helping meet operational needs for the program. She graduated from Illinois in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management. Willie is pursuing a master's degree in sports administration at Illinois State.