Rylie Kuyper spent this year fighting Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma after her diagnosis brought her college soccer season to a halt, and by late August she'd reached the moment every cancer patient dreams about: ringing the bell that marks the end of chemotherapy. The Madisonville, Louisiana native and LSU goalkeeper has spent months documenting the fight publicly, and this fall it led to an unexpected reward that had nothing to do with soccer.
Kuyper is listed on LSU's official 2026 soccer roster, according to LSUsports.net. The Madisonville native had built a serious résumé before cancer entered the picture: four All-State selections and four-time All-District Defensive MVP honors at Northlake Christian School, plus a 2021 NPL U16 National Championship with her club team, per EssentiallySports. She spent one season at Texas Tech in 2025 before transferring to LSU for the 2026 spring season, according to LSUsports.net.
On April 5, Kuyper publicly shared her diagnosis on TikTok, the same EssentiallySports report notes. Her reported treatment plan called for four months of Nivo-AVD chemotherapy followed by radiation. On August 18, she rang the bell marking the end of chemo, with LSU teammates by her side, the outlet reported, and she was then scheduled for proton radiation treatment at MD Anderson in Houston from August 20 through September 14.
A Zoom Call Delivers a Financial Boost
While Kuyper was undergoing treatment in Houston, she couldn't be in Baton Rouge for what turned into a life-changing announcement. Walk-On's owner Brandon Landry surprised her with a $10,000 scholarship, delivered over a Zoom call because she couldn't attend in person, according to WBRZ. The station reported that Landry made the gesture after hearing her story, framing it explicitly around her identity as an LSU soccer player and cancer survivor.
The scholarship presentation was a surprise. Kuyper took in the news remotely from her treatment schedule rather than in a room full of well-wishers. It's the kind of gesture that lands harder given the timeline: she was still in the middle of radiation treatment when the scholarship call came through.
Looking Toward a Return to the Field
Kuyper has said she plans to begin training again during her radiation treatment as she works toward a possible return to LSU's lineup in October, though that timeline was described as a goal rather than a certainty. Throughout her treatment, she has maintained a notably upbeat public posture, telling LSU's own athletics podcast network that she remains in good spirits despite what the show described as life-changing news, and crediting support from the LSU soccer family, according to the Hey Fightin' podcast network.
Kuyper's story has also drawn national attention, with CBS News reporting on her journey as part of its CBS Mornings coverage. Between the bell-ringing, the scheduled radiation regimen, and now a five-figure scholarship arriving in the middle of treatment, Kuyper's path from Northlake Christian standout to LSU goalkeeper has taken a detour few athletes ever expect — and one she appears determined to turn back toward the soccer field.
