Softball On SI

Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Candidates Revealed by Softball America

There are 10 preseason candidates for the prestigious award.
Nicole Reitz|
Jenissa Conway was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection in 2025.
Jenissa Conway was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection in 2025. | Michigan Athletics

With just a week away from the NCAA Division I softball season, Softball America has announced its 10 preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Candidates.

In their first year in the conference, UCLA and Oregon were the major representatives in 2025, reaching the Women’s College World Series (WCWS). On the other hand, Nebraska advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time since 2014, and Michigan won the Big Ten Tournament.

Who are the top players to keep an eye on in 2026? 

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

Jordy Frahm, Nebraska 

Can the 2025 Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Year repeat? Frahm’s first full season with the Cornhuskers was one for the history books. She became the first player in program history to record 15 doubles and 15 home runs in the same season, and just the fifth DI player all-time to record 20 wins and 20 home runs in a season. When not pitching, she saw 13 appearances at first base, three as a designated player, three in center field, and two in left. 

At the plate, she set numerous program records, including single-season home runs with 23, total bases with 167, runs scored with 72, extra base hits with 41, batting average at .462, and slugging percentage at .988.

Elon Butler, Oregon 

The All-American power hitter helped lead Cal to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances as the Golden Bears advanced to the Regional Final in 2023 and 2025. Now, she’ll try to do the same with her new team and boost her new conference.

Playing both infield and outfield, Butler has posted tremendous numbers. Her career batting average sits at .328 with a .621 slugging percentage, 37 home runs, 112 RBIs, 157 hits, 25 doubles, and 28 stolen bases. She earned All-American honors in 2024 after hitting 12 doubles, 17 home runs, and putting up a .760 slugging percentage.

Jenissa Conway, Michigan 

The unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection appeared in 60 games with 59 starts in centerfield. At the plate, Conway posted a .379 batting average with 59 runs, 75 hits, and 52 RBIs. She led the team with a .737 slugging percentage with 13 doubles, two triples, and 18 home runs. 

In Big Ten play, she hit .432 with 24 runs, 32 hits, and 27 RBIs, while ranking seventh or higher in nearly all offensive categories. 

Alexis DeBoer, Washington 

The Big Ten Freshman of the Year had one tremendous rookie season. DeBoer started in all 54 games, splitting time between first base, designated player, and third base. She held a .991 fielding percentage with five assists, 226 putouts, and two errors, while leading the team in batting average (.358), hits (58), home runs (21), RBIs (55), and slugging percentage (.815). 

Megan Grant, UCLA 

Grant made UCLA a shining star of the Big Ten in 2025. She set the conference single-season record for home runs (26), while her totals are ranked in the top 10 of multiple UCLA single-season records. 

She played 67 games and made 47 starts at first base, 12 in right field, and six as designated hitter.  In all 65 starts, she was dominant in the cleanup spot of the lineup. She recorded a .376 batting average, a .540 on-base percentage, and a .933 slugging percentage. 

With 12 doubles, 81 RBIs, and 46 runs scored, she led the team in homers, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and walks. 

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Nicole Reitz
NICOLE REITZ

Nicole Reitz graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a degree in sports journalism in 2022 and has been writing about softball and baseball since 2018 .Her work has been published in various publications like Softball America, the Indianapolis Star, and SoxOn35th.

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