LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech softball will open the 2026 season as the nation’s No. 1 team, according to the Softball America preseason top 25 released Tuesday.
The publication also unveiled its preseason All-American teams, with four Red Raiders earning national recognition.
NiJaree Canady, Taylor Pannell and Mia Williams were named Preseason First Team All-Americans, while Mihyia Davis earned a spot on the Second Team.
Texas Tech is coming off its highest-ranked finish in program history after ending the 2025 season at No. 2 nationally following a runner-up finish in the Women's College World Series championship series. The Red Raiders spent most of last season inside the top 15 and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 12 overall seed.
Canady earns her second consecutive Preseason First Team honor and her third straight preseason All-America selection. Pannell and Williams appear on the First Team for the first time, becoming just the second and third players in Texas Tech history to receive any First Team All-America recognition.
Davis, meanwhile, returns after a record-setting junior campaign in which she broke the program’s single-season records for hits (93) and runs (66). She was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, NFCA All-Central Region First Team and the Big 12 All-Defensive Team in 2025.
The Red Raiders open the season with expectations as high as ever as they look to build on last year’s historic success.
Defending national champion Texas opens as the No. 2-ranked team, while Texas A&M is ranked No. 14.
2026 Preseason Top 10
- Texas Tech
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Oregon
- Florida State
- Arkansas
- UCLA
- Clemson
- Florida
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