2026 Big Ten Preview

Leading into the 2026 season, Oregon, UCLA and Nebraska appear to be the favorites for the Big Ten softball crown. Will others emerge? Who are the freshmen and future Big Ten stars to know?

2026 Big Ten Softball Team Previews

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
Oregon
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
UCLA
Washington
Wisconsin

Big Ten Player Superlatives

10 Big Ten Player of the Year Candidates

• Jordy Frahm, P/UTL, Nebraska
• Elon Butler, UTL, Oregon
• Jenissa Conway, OF, Michigan
• Alexis DeBoer, INF, Washington
• Megan Grant, UTL, UCLA
• Brooke Klosowicz, UTL, Penn State
• Ava Kuszak, INF, Nebraska
• Kendra Lewis, P/UTL, Wisconsin
• Rylee McCoy, INF, Oregon
• Jordan Woolery, INF, UCLA

Frahm won the award last year, as the Big Ten recognized her with Player and Pitcher of the Year honors. Though I don’t enjoy the decision to give her both awards, she was more than deserving of them. Grant and Woolery are coming off their record seasons with the Bruins. While those three remain the favorites in my opinion, Butler, Conway, DeBoer, Klosowicz, Kuszak, Lewis and McCoy could all build off their monster numbers to throw their hats in the ring.

5 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Candidates

• Jordy Frahm, Nebraska
• Lyndsey Grein, Oregon
• Serayah Neiss, Iowa
• Bridget Nemeth, Penn State
• Taylor Tinsley, UCLA

Similar to the Player of the Year candidates, I would be surprised at the end of the day if Frahm, Grein or Tinsley didn’t win this award. That being said, Neiss is coming off her own Pitcher of the Year campaign at Fresno State. And, the last time we saw Bridget Nemeth in 2024, she was right there for the award.

10 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Candidates

• Melody Acevedo, INF, Washington
• Brianah Alejandre, INF, UCLA
• Natalie Cable, P/UTL, UCLA
• Bri Fontenot, P/UTL, Purdue
• Aubree Hooks, P/UTL, Indiana
• Kalli Karwowski, INF, Penn State
• Alexis Jensen, P, Nebraska
• Tru Media, UTL, Northwestern
• Mariah Myers, INF, Iowa
• Sara Tarr, INF, Ohio State

This is the most interesting award for the conference because it will be pretty wide open. Cable, Fontenot and Hooks have the chance to be a huge part of their teams’ rotation and have a good amount of at-bats. Jensen could be the key that unlocks Nebraska’s full potential this season if she can be a strong second arm. As for the group of Acevedo – her teammates, Mila Reddy and Marley Teasley deserve a mention, too – Alejandre, Karwowski, Media, Myers, and Tarr project to start right away on good teams and if they perform, they’ll garner attention. Oregon’s Taryn Ho and Maddie Milhorn could be in there as well if their roles increase as the season goes on.

5 Big Ten Underrated Impact Transfers

• Kristen Caravaca, C, Michigan State
• Leah McAnally, C, Iowa
• Brynne Nally, RHP, UCLA
• Sam Rohwer, INF, Rutgers
• Abbie Wilhelm, INF, Ohio State

Caravaca and McAnally come in as strong hitters who fill a need behind the plate from Mid-Major programs. Nally has the upside to be the second arm to Taylor Tinsley at UCLA. Rohwer provides a veteran, stable bat for a youthful Rutgers lineup. Wilhelm, a Missouri transfer, has quickly caught on to Ohio State’s offensive philosophy.

1 Player from Each Big Ten Team That Could Take a Step Forward

• Jackie Yeager, C, Illinois
• Josie Bird, INF, Indiana
• Devin Simon, OF, Iowa
• Aubrey Wurst, RHP, Maryland
• Haley Ferguson, RHP, Michigan
• Payton Conroy, INF, Michigan State
• Tinley Easton, INF, Minnesota
• Hannah Coor, OF, Nebraska
• Riley Grudzielanek, RHP, Northwestern
• Kiki Estrada, INF, Ohio State
• Ayanna Shaw, OF, Oregon
• Abigail Britton, RHP, Penn State
• Delaney Reefe, C, Purdue
• Addison Osborne, INF, Rutgers
• Aleena Garcia, INF, UCLA
• Ava Carroll, OF, Washington
• Jaclyn Showalter, INF, Wisconsin

5 Things I Want to Know about the Big Ten

1. Can Nebraska withstand the non-conference gauntlet? The Cornhuskers are set up with a non-conference strength of schedule that should bode well for hosting a regional, making the path to the Women’s College World Series easier. Nebraska faces Softball America preseason Top 25 teams: Washington (non-conference games), Texas, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas Tech, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State before Big Ten play. This is a risk-versus-reward approach, building a strong resume of wins to offset a conference slate that isn’t strong. The Cornhuskers will need another arm to step up, who can either provide a major answer or possibly kill some confidence in the circle, depending on the results.

2. Will Taylor Tinsley throw over 200 innings? Tinsley, a preseason All-American, is one of the most talented pitchers in the nation. However, entering her senior season, the UCLA pitching staff is the least proven it’s been during her career. Tinsley has always had another arm that has profiled as always a 1B or another ace. This season, the Bruins will likely need to surpass her career-high of 147.1 innings and possibly by a lot. Is she able to do it? I have zero doubts, but it’s the jump in maintaining her high-level production that needs to be seen.

3. Will Penn State and/or Purdue make the postseason? Penn State had a great offense last season, but struggled in the circle. The Nittany Lions return a strong core of their lineup, along with a strong freshman class. More importantly, Bridget Nemeth returns after missing last season. Nemeth, even if she’s not at the level she was in her freshman year, should stabilize the staff. There’s plenty of optimism about newcomers Brevyn Kellepouis, McKenna Young, and returner Abigail Britton to pair with Brooke Klosowicz and the offense.

Purdue was one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Boilermakers want to prove that it was a mistake. Magali Frezzotti’s team returns most of its lineup, including Moriah Polar and Khloe Banks, while adding a proven big bat of Haley Painter from Nevada. Julia Gossett, who I believe is primed for a big season, will be the ace and a key bat for Purdue. The Boilermakers will need to make the most of its non-conference slate, which features Alabama, Liberty and Georgia Tech.

4. Is Washington set up to potentially compete for the Big Ten crown? In most eyes, the Big Ten will be decided between Oregon, UCLA, and Nebraska. However, could the Huskies make a run at it? Washington finished 12-9 in the conference despite a retooled roster. Washington’s roster has an influx of talent from the freshman class, plus far fewer question marks, as the coaching staff has developed transfers and last year’s freshman class, both ready to take the next step. The Huskies have star power with Alexis DeBoer; it wouldn’t be surprising if players like Sophi Mazzola or Morgan Reimer provide more this season.

5. Will an Ohio State pitcher step up? After last season and Kirin Kumar’s track record at Miami, there isn’t really a reason to be concerned about her offense until proven otherwise. However, what is the Buckeyes’ overall ceiling if Ohio State has similar production in the circle? If Ohio State can get an All-Conference effort from one of Lorin Boutte, Kennedy Kay, or Lexi Paulsen, I certainly believe there’s a shot at hosting a regional. The addition of 2026 four-star local pitcher Jenna Molk, who enrolled early, will be a major boost to the staff as well, given the injury history of the aforementioned trio.

Softball America Preseason Player Rankings
Softball America 2026 Freshman Watch List
Softball America Preseason Top 25
SEC Preview
ACC Preview
Big 12 Preview
Mid-Major Preview