USA TODAY Sports Network 2026 All-Big 12 softball awards, coach and player of the year
A trio of Texas Tech players, including superstar NiJaree Canady, highlight the USA TODAY Sports Network 2026 All-SEC softball awards.
After winning the Big 12 softball regular-season crown , Texas Tech also claimed several top honors on the 2026 USA TODAY Sports Network’s All-Big 12 Team, released Tuesday. Red Raiders star NiJaree Canady repeated as the conference’s Pitcher of the Year, and she was joined by teammates Kaitlyn Terry as Player of the Year and Mia Williams as Newcomer of the Year. Kansas gathered the rest of the major awards, with Jennifer McFalls named Coach of the Year and catcher Ella Boyer selected as Freshman of the Year.
Texas Tech also claimed four spots among first-team selections, with Oklahoma State, Arizona and Arizona State earning two each. Here’s a look at the USA TODAY Sports Network’s All-Big 12 Team: Super 16 college softball rankings: How tight is Oklahoma's grip on No. 1 in final poll?
USA TODAY Sports Network All-Big 12 softball team Catcher: Sydney Stewart, Arizona-* First base: Jackie Lis, Texas Tech-* Second base: Mia Williams, Texas Tech-* Third base: Rosie Davis, Oklahoma State-* Shortstop: Reagan Bartholomew, Iowa State Outfield: Mihyia Davis, Texas Tech-* Outfield: Kaylee Pond, Arizona State Outfield: Reagan Shockey, Arizona-* Utility: Kaitlyn Terry, Texas Tech-* Pitcher: Kenzie Brown, Arizona State-* Pitcher: NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech-* Pitcher: Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State-* Coach of the Year: Jennifer McFalls, Kansas-* Player of the Year: Kaitlyn Terry, Texas Tech-* Pitcher of the Year: NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech-* Freshman of the Year: Ella Boyer, Kansas-* Newcomer of the Year: Mia Williams, Texas Tech-* *-Unanimous selection Voters: Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman; Nathan Giese, Lubbock-Avalanche Journal; Scott Wright, The Oklahoman More: Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski faces unique decision at Big 12 Tournament Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at swright@oklahoman.
com or on Twitter at @ScottWrightOK . Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe. oklahoman.