ARLINGTON, Texas – Tarleton State was selected as the favorite in the preseason 2026 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Softball Coaches’ Poll that was released on Thursday. The predicted order of finish and all-conference awards were voted on by the league’s seven head coaches.

Tarleton State, last year’s tournament runner-up, compiled four first-place votes and 32 total points in the coaches’ poll. California Baptist, UT Arlington and Utah Valley each received one first-place vote and were voted second, third and fourth in the poll, respectively.

Tarleton State’s sophomore left-handed pitcher Shelby Schultz was named the 2026 WAC Preseason Pitcher and Co-Player of the Year. Schultz was selected as last year’s WAC Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-WAC First Team after posting a 2.44 ERA in 33 appearances in the pitching circle. Schultz won 15 games in 21 starts and pitched seven complete games. Schultz led the WAC last year with 173 total strikeouts while also recording the 13^th best strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.81) in the nation.

Southern Utah’s junior infielder Arianna Ramirez was also chosen as the 2026 WAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year. Ramirez locked a spot on the 2025 All-WAC First Team after leading the Thunderbirds to a third-place finish in the WAC standings. Ramirez played every game last year for Southern Utah and recorded a .380 batting average last year with 54 hits and 38 RBIs. Ramirez notched 13 doubles and nine home runs in the 2025 season.

California Baptist occupied three spots on the Preseason All-WAC Team, followed by Southern Utah, UT Arlington and Utah Tech who had two honorees each. Tarleton State and Utah Valley were also represented on the preseason all-conference team.
 
2026 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rank	Team (1st - Place Votes)	Points
1.	Tarleton State (4)	32
2.	California Baptist (1)	27
3.	UT Arlington (1)	24
4.	Utah Valley (1)	23
5.	Southern Utah	19
6.	Abilene Christian	16
7.	Utah Tech	6

 
2026 WAC Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Arianna Ramirez, Jr., IF, Southern Utah
Shelby Schultz, So., LHP, Tarleton State

2026 WAC Preseason Pitchers of the Year
Shelby Schultz, So., Tarleton State

2026 WAC Preseason All-WAC Team
Ashlee Annett, Sr., 3B, California Baptist
Miranda De Nava, So., RHP, California Baptist
Matti Severns, Jr., Utl., California Baptist
Arianna Ramirez, Jr., IF, Southern Utah
Michaella Salvatierra, So., OF, Southern Utah
Shelby Schultz, So., LHP, Tarleton State
Kailee Bautista, Sr., C, UT Arlington
Mia McNulty, Jr., C/Utl., UT Arlington
LB Kahahawai-Kekona, Sr., SS/OF, Utah Tech
Kinley Pappas, So., C/1B, Utah Tech
Britney Moreno, Sr., IF, Utah Valley