SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Defending Summit League Softball Tournament champion Omaha has been named the preseason favorite to secure the 2026 regular-season title in the preseason coaches’ poll, League officials unveiled Wednesday.
The three-peat tournament champions earned five first-place votes and 35 total points to claim the top spot in the poll. The Mavericks secured last season’s title by defeating South Dakota in the second game of championship day. After falling to USD 9-1 in the opening matchup, Omaha rebounded in the winner-take-all finale, posting a 4-2 victory to clinch its third consecutive championship.
Three points behind the Mavericks is St. Thomas, which shared last season’s regular-season title with Omaha and received the two remaining first-place votes. The Tommies enter their first season eligible for the Summit League Tournament following their Division I transition.
South Dakota State finished third in the poll with 25 points, while reigning tournament runner-up South Dakota placed fourth with 20 points.
North Dakota was picked fifth with 16 points, while in-state rival North Dakota State followed in sixth with 13 points.
Kansas City rounded out the preseason poll in seventh with 6 points.
2026 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
School |
Points (1st) |
2025 Record (SL) |
| 1. |
Omaha |
35 (5) |
40-13 (14-4) |
| 2. |
St. Thomas |
32 (2) |
33-17 (14-4) |
| 3. |
South Dakota State |
25 |
29-26 (13-5) |
| 4. |
South Dakota |
20 |
32-24 (8-10) |
| 5. |
North Dakota |
16 |
26-30 (7-11) |
| 6. |
North Dakota State |
13 |
19-31 (6-12) |
| 7. |
Kansas City |
6 |
5-43 (1-17) |
2026 Summit League Preseason Players to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by league’s head coaches
Maddia Groff, Omaha
Jr. | Pitcher | Omaha, Neb.
- Recorded 27 wins with 251 strikeouts over 209.2 innings pitched last season
- Led the league in ERA (1.67), wins, strikeouts, and starts (33) as a sophomore
- Her freshman campaign ended with a 30-5 record for the most wins in a single season in Southern Illinois program history
- Earned a league-leading six pitcher of the week honors last season
- 2025 Summit League Pitcher of the Year, 2025 All-Tournament Team, 2025 First Team All-Summit League, 2024 MVC Pitcher of the Year, 2024 MVC Freshman of the Year, 2024 All-MVC First Team, 2024 NFCA Third Team All-American
Taylor Sedlacek, Omaha
Sr. | Infielder | Bennington, Neb.
- First season with the Mavericks, transferring from Wichita State
- Started all 55 games between shortstop and second base for the Shockers last year
- Set career-highs in batting average (.329), runs (48), hits (50), doubles (17), home runs (15), walks (40), slugging percentage (.737), and on-base percentage (.469) as a junior
- Tied for seventh on Wichita State’s single season charts with her 15 home runs
Akayla Barnard, South Dakota State
Jr. | Pitcher/Outfielder | Cabot, Ark.
- Started in 54 games, making 13 starts on the mound as a sophomore
- Posted a 4.46 ERA while striking out 32 in 42.1 innings of work last season
- Batted .278 behind 45 hits including six doubles, three triples, and seven home runs in 2025
- Notched 34 RBI in her sophomore campaign
- 2024-25 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and 2025 All-Summit League First Team member
Abby Gentry, South Dakota State
Jr. | Infielder/Catcher | Benton, Ark.
- Started 53 games predominantly at third base
- Batted a league-leading and second overall in program history .427 and recorded 70 hits as a sophomore
- Ranked among the top 60 individuals in Division I softball in batting average, doubles (16), hits, and RBI (56)
- Hit nine home runs in her sophomore campaign
- 2025 Summit League Player of the Year, 2025 All-Summit League First Team, 2025, NFCA All-Region First Team (Mountain), 2025 DI Softball Top 100 Mid-Major Rankings Performer (No. 69)
Peyton Paulsen, South Dakota
Jr. | Pitcher | Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- First season with the Coyotes, transferring from Kirkwood Community College
- Started in all 28 appearances in the circle as a sophomore, holding a 24-3 record in 163.0 innings pitched
- Struck out 144 batters with a 1.80 ERA while pitching 18 complete games
- 2025 NJCAA Pitcher of the Year, 2025 NFCA First Team All-American, 2024-25 NJCAA All-American Second Team
Delaney White, South Dakota
Sr. | Infielder | Lincoln, Neb.
- Started all 55 games she appeared in as a junior, ranking second in the Summit League with a .383 batting average
- Led USD in doubles (12), multi-hit games (20), and RBI (37)
- Had 70 hits in her junior year and recorded three games with at least three RBI on the season
- 2023 All-Summit League Second Team and 2024-25 All-Summit League Honorable Mention selection
Ava Kleinfeldt, St. Thomas
So. | Pitcher | Lake Mills, Wis.
- Made 24 appearances and 18 starts in the circle during her freshman campaign
- Tossed 10 complete games, four shutouts, and ranked fifth in the Summit League in ERA (2.56)
- Struck out 62 batters as a freshman
- 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year, 2025 First Team All-Summit League, 2025 NFCA All-Region Third Team
Laken Lienhard, St. Thomas
Gr. | Shortstop | Cresco, Iowa
- Ranked third in the conference with a career-high batting average (.380) as a senior
- Recorded career-highs in hits (52), home runs (8), and total bases (87)
- Scored 36 runs and brought home 25 RBI, both career-bests
- 2025 CSC Academic All-America and a 2024-25 First Team All-Summit League selection
Delilah Robles, Kansas City
Jr. | Pitcher | Pflugerville, Texas
- First year at Kansas City, transferring at Grayson College
- Tallied a 23-5 record in 136.1 innings pitched as a sophomore at Grayson College
- Notched 115 strikeouts in her sophomore campaign
Lauren Parker, Kansas City
Sr. | Outfielder | Grain Valley, Mo.
- Punched in six RBI last season
- Batted .253 with 20 hits in her junior campaign
- Named to the 2025 All-Tournament Team and earned Second Team All-Summit League honors in 2024
Piper Reed, North Dakota State
Sr. | Pitcher | Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
- Started 15 games and earned six wins through 87.1 innings of work last season
- Recorded a 5.69 ERA and struck out 41 batters as a junior
- 2025 CSC Academic All-America selection
Bella Dean, North Dakota State
Sr. | Infielder | Sherrard, Ill.
- Started all 49 games she played in and recorded 34 hits (.238 avg) in the 2025 season
- As a junior, ranked second on the team with seven doubles and a .427 slugging percentage
- Led the team with 31 RBI in 2025
- 2025 Summit League All-Tournament member and 2023 All-Summit League Second Team selection
Unity Nelson, North Dakota
So. | Pitcher | Tecumseh, Mich.
- Ranked seventh in the Summit League with a 3.57 ERA during her freshman season
- Earned a 6-3 record with six starts through 70.2 innings of work in her debut campaign
- Placed third on the team in strikeouts with 53
Camryn Lasota, North Dakota
Sr. | Utility | Wauwatosa, Wis.
- Made seven appearances on the mound last season, recording seven strikeouts
- Batted .296 for the Fighting Hawks in 2025, collecting 34 hits and eight home runs
- 2025 CSC Academic All-America, 2025 All-Tournament Team, 2025 All-Summit League Honorable Mention
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