USA Softball and D1 Softball both released their preseason rankings this week. D1 Softball also released its preseason All-American honors. All suggest high expectations for the Arizona Wildcats this season.
D1 Softball’s preseason top 25 has the highest expectations for UA so far. The outlet ranks the Wildcats at No. 12, two places higher than Softball America placed them last week. The ESPN.com/USA Softball poll puts Arizona at No. 17. The Wildcats finished 19th in the RPI last season after advancing to the super regionals.
The D1 Softball poll suggests Arizona will be the second-best team in the Big 12. Only Oklahoma State ranks above the Wildcats, coming in at No. 5. Other Big 12 teams in the publication’s rankings are Texas Tech (13) and Baylor (21).
USA Softball puts two Big 12 teams ahead of Arizona. OSU sits at No. 4 while Texas Tech comes in at No. 10. Baylor is ranked 19th.
Junior outfielder Dakota Kennedy is one of three Big 12 players to make D1 Softball’s preseason All-America First Team. Baylor first baseman Shaylon Govan and Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady join her. The second team includes Oklahoma State’s Karli Godwin, Megan Delgadillo, and Ruby Meylan as well as Iowa State’s Angelina Allen.
Arizona will play its first games on Thursday, Feb. 6 when the Candrea Classic gets underway at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Wildcats play a doubleheader against Michigan State on the first day of the tournament.