2026 WAC SB Release - Week 1

LET’S PLAY BALL!!
The first pitch of the 2026 WAC softball season takes place Thursday, Feb. 5 when Abilene Christian, Southern Utah and California Baptist take the field. The rest of the league will begin their season on Friday, Feb. 6. All seven teams will kick off their season on the road and will each play at least five games. The opening day of action will feature some ranked matchups as ACU takes on No. 11 Texas A&M and SUU will battle with No. 18 Arizona in a double-header.
 
TARLETON STATE VOTED NUMBER ONE IN PRESEASON WAC COACHES’ POLL
Tarleton State was selected as the team to beat in the 2026 Preseason WAC Softball Coaches’ Poll. The predicted order of finish and all-conference awards were voted on by the league’s seven head coaches. The Texans, last year’s tournament runner-up, compiled four first-place votes and 32 total points in the 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.
 
SHELBY SCHULTZ SELECTED WAC PRESEASON CO-PLAYER AND PITCHER OF THE YEAR
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 13th best strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.81) in the nation.
 
ARIANNA RAMIREZ VOTED WAC PRESEASON CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR
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.