UCLA softball star receive 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year honors
UCLA softball players received plenty of recognition from the Big Ten Conference, including senior infielder Jordan Woolery's big honor.
UCLA softball 's senior infielder Jordan Woolery has made Bruins history by becoming the third player in program history to win both Freshman Player of the Year and conference Player of the Year. The Big Ten Conference office announced Woolery was the 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year on Friday, which made her the 20th recipient of a conference Player of the Year award in program history, according to the UCLA Athletics' press release. The other two Bruins to receive both awards during their career were Rachel Garcia and UCLA Hall of Famer and two-time Olympic gold medalist Stacey Nuveman .
The last Bruin to receive conference Player of the Year recognition was Maya Brady in 2024 from the Pac-12. Woolery had the best batting average of the team with a . 512 with 84 hits and 72 runs through their 19-5 run-rule performance against Wisconsin in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
On top of that, she had the second best slugging percentage of a 1. 226, right behind senior utility Megan Grant's 1. 346.
Woolery was also one of the five Bruins to receive an All-Big Ten First Team selection. Freshman infielder Bri Alejandre, redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia, sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp and Grant all joined Woolery to lead the Bruins to the most First Team selections in the conference. Sophomore infielder Kaniya Bragg, redshirt junior center fielder Alexis Ramirez and senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley made the All-Big Ten Second Team.