Softball

2026 WIAC Softball Preview

MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2026 softball season. The predictions were voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors.
 
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is projected to secure its second regular-season title in the last three seasons. The Titans claimed the WIAC tournament title a year ago and advanced received a bid into the NCAA Division III championship for the 12th time in program history. UW-Oshkosh enters the 2026 campaign ranked No. 17 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Gorout NCAA Division III Preseason Top 25 and brings back Brianna Bougie who received WIAC Pitcher of the Year recognition in 2025.
 
UW-Whitewater is picked to finish second in the conference race. The Warhawks are ranked No. 11 in the NFCA poll and won the conference’s regular-season crown last season before advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals of the NCAA Division III championship. UW-Whitewater returns a trio of All-WIAC first team selections from last year.
 
UW-Stevens Point is slotted for the third in the conference standings and enters the season ranked No. 13 in the NFCA poll. The Pointers made their first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2025 and return Morgan Harwood who received WIAC Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year distinction in 2024, before securing All-WIAC first team honors a season ago.
 
UW-Stevens Point is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-Eau Claire; UW-Platteville; UW-La Crosse; UW-River Falls; and UW-Stout.
 
The WIAC schedule begins on April 10. Each team will play a 14-game conference slate with the top-six teams in the standings advancing to the single-elimination WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s) to be held May 8-10, at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the conference tournament secures an automatic NCAA bid.
 
2026 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)
 
2025 Record
1. UW-Oshkosh (39-8 overall, 10-4 WIAC)
2. UW-Whitewater (39-8, 12-2)
3. UW-Stevens Point (31-15, 6-8)
4. UW-Eau Claire (29-16, 7-7)
5. UW-Platteville (26-15, 7-7)
6. UW-La Crosse (22-19, 7-7)
7. UW-River Falls (19-21, 3-11)
8. UW-Stout (13-23, 4-10)

 
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Leslie Huntington; 25th season at UWEC; 612-344-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Hailey Hagedorn, Sr., P/INF (2024-Honorable); Norah Kutnink, Jr., INF (2025-Honorable); Paige Lathrop, Sr., OF (2025-First); Molly Marquardt, Jr., C/INF (2024-First, 2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Emmy Olson, So., OF; Emma Raikowski, Sr., INF; Brooklyn Swanepol, So., SS/OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Claire Beck, Sr., P; Emma Sather, Sr., P; Lauren Trottier, Jr., P
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Sam Korn; 4th season (3rd season at UWL); 60-64 (overall) / 46-28 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Brynne Bieri, Jr., P (2025-Honorable); Brooke Howard, Jr., OF (2024-First, 2025-First); Marissa Pease, Sr., C/1B (2023-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Amber Gonzalez, So., OF; Carly Gross, Jr., OF; Lindsay Steien, Jr., 1B
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Carmen Follette, Jr., P; Kaeley Niemiec, So., P; Claire Springer, Jr., P
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Scott Beyer; 13th season at UWO; 341-128
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/9
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  4/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Brianna Bougie, Jr., P (2025-First/Pitcher of the Year); Sarah Hammerton, Jr., OF (2025-First); Grace Nardi, So., P (2025-Honorable); Haylie Wittman, Sr., 2B (2024-First, 2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Amanda Martineck, Jr., 1B; Mary Kate Quaid, So., SS/C; Olivia Ullman, So., 3B/OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Skyler Calmes, Sr., P
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Becca Runde; 7th season at UWP; 105-85
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/10
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  0/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Melissa Dietz, Sr., 3B (2023-First/Newcomer of the Year, 2025-First/Position Player of the Year); Allison Peters, Jr., 2B (2024-Honorable, 2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Rylee Broshous, Jr., UTIL; Mia Savage, Jr., DP

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Carlie Jo Brownlee, Sr., P; Bentley Cutts, So., P
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Ethan Giese; 2nd season at UWRF; 19-21
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Caitlyn Kressel, Jr., C (2025-First/Newcomer of the Year)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Hannah Effertz, Jr., 1B; Grace Gardner, Sr., 2B; Ella Woida, Jr., CF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Brooklyn VanGruensven, Jr., P; Alexa Dusterhoft, Jr., P
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Ryan Konitzer; 10th season (9th at UWSP); 183-144-1 (overall) / 170-119-1 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Morgan Harwood, Jr., P (2024-First/Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, 2025-First); Kaitlyn Roberts, Jr., OF (2024-First); Ella Smith, So., OF (2025-Honorable); Ashley Zygowski, Sr., P (2023-Honorable, 2024-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Hailee Thompson, So., INF; Trinity Otto, Sr., UTIL
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Kodi Rizzo, So, P
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Lakyn Krizan; 2nd season at UWST; 13-23
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  13/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  0/0
Returning All-WIAC: Payton Dolecki, Sr., CF (2024-Honorable, 2025-First); Stephanie Kuhn, Jr., OF/DP (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Donna D’Addabbo, Sr., 1B; Abbey Dusterhoft, Jr., C; Elly Holden, Jr., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Samantha Bergeron, Jr., P; Kennedy Hodgman, So., P; Jennalyn Mallmann, Sr., P
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Brenda Volk; 28th season at UWW; 800-324-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Bella Eggert, Sr., OF (2025-First); Emma Giese, Sr., SS (2025-First); Josie Hammen, Jr., P (2025-First); Brooke Hock, Sr., P (2023-First); Taylor Koehler, Sr., 1B (2023-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Juliann Jakosalem, Jr., C; Dani Peshia, So., C/3B/1B; Auburn Roberson, Sr., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Madi DeBennette, Jr., P
 
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