COLUMBUS, Miss. - The W softball has been picked to place third in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Coaches' Poll, it has been announced. The Spalding University Golden Eagles are the SLIAC preseason favorites for the 2026 season, despite graduating four all-conference players, including three hitters.

The Golden Eagles received 62 total points from league coaches, including six first-place votes. The lineup will be focused on returning first-team all-conference infielder Riley Wilkins. The junior hit .465 with 26 runs scored last season and was named all-region. She will be supported in the lineup by Morgan Gambrell, who batted .409 with 22 RBI, and Carsyn Sidebottom, .342 average and 19 stolen bases. Emma Eaton also returns after hitting .299 with 22 RBI. The big question for the team will be in the circle. Kennadi Schleicher-Drasler won 9 games as a freshman and will be the anchor of the staff. Makenna Roush and the aforementioned Wilkins will also see some work. Kaylee Fitzner, Tatum Riddiough, Lindsey Colegrove, and Emily Ferguson are new to the program and will have the chance to join the lineup. 

Greenville University, which won a second straight tournament title last year, comes in second on the poll with 55 points and two first-place votes. The Panthers have quite a bit of turnover from that championship team, graduating 10 players and bringing in 12 new faces. The lineup will be bolstered by a pair of returning All-Conference players in Sarah Salas and Ashlyn Colvis. Salas was a First Team selection at utility after hitting .372 with 3 home runs and 19 RBI while also finishing 11-1 with a 1.95 earned-run average in the circle. Colvis hit .378 with 29 RBI while earning Third Team honors. Emma Longcor returns after batting .464 in limited time last season, as does Emma Williams. Transfers Rylee Bloomer, Kayla Kocher, and Brooklyn Garrett look to make an immediate impact. 

The W appears third on the poll with 52 points and one first-place vote. The Owls went 25-17 overall last season, advancing to the conference tournament semifinals. Head Coach Becca Oldham will have a young roster with seven returners, but that list includes four all-conference players. Brooklyn Rhodes, the SLIAC co-Freshman of the Year, headlines that list. She will be joined in the lineup by Chloe McClain and Kaitlyn Bearley; giving them three .300 average hitters. While in the circle, Rhodes is joined by Phallyn Clark. Top newcomers include Madison York, Trinity Garvin, and Brianna Byrd. 

Placing fourth is Blackburn College with 43 points. After finishing last year with an 18-22 record, the Beavers are coming off their most wins since 2012. Shelby Koenig and Kenadee Frey give the Beavers one of the best duos in the league. Frey, the reigning SLIAC Player of the Year, hit .457 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI, while Koenig was 12-7 with a 2.57 earned-run average and 136 strikeouts. Also back is All-Conference catcher Caroline Gibson, who hit .333 with 13 RBI. Mailee Schoen, Kailyn Kruep, and Zoe MItchell round out the lineup. Michelle Hollon gives the Beavers another arm in the circle while transfers Taryn Millburg and Alyssa Owen look to find the field immediately. 

Westminster College was picked fifth with 36 points. The Blue Jays will be a young team with 20 freshmen and sophomores, although they will be experienced with what is coming back. Paige Cruzan was the SLIAC Co-Freshman of the Year last season after hitting .385 with 22 runs scored and 10 doubles. Taylor Engelmeyer was also an All-Conference hitter after batting .361 with 14 RBI. Seniors Payton Dudenhoeffer and Ellie Bedsworth bring more experience to the lineup, while sophomores Peityn Thomas, Madi Plybon, Chloe Ferguson, and Morgan Rusley are part of the team's future. Players to watch that are new to the program are Ellie Schisler, Lili Anne Readenour, Sarah Wendler, and Gabby Pierre.

Totaling 27 points and finishing sixth on the voting is Lyon College. The Scots bring in 11 new players to go with their nine returners from last year's team that finished 13-27 overall. Sophia Varela was an All-Conference performer last season after hitting .350 with 16 RBI and 34 runs scored. Also back are Rebecca Rodriguez, Skylar Foreman, and Anna Voth; three hitters who batted over .300 last season. Transfer pitcher Marlee McCalister will be looked upon to provide innings in the circle. 

Webster University accumulated 26 points, placing seventh. The Gorloks bring back eight players, including six seniors, while welcoming in 14 newcomers. Madi Stichling and Adriana Rodriguez were both named Third Team All-Conference last season and will be the focus of the lineup this year. Stichling hit .351 with 13 RBI and went 4-2 in the circle, while Rodriguez worked a team-high 50.1 innings in the circle, going 3-1. Ainsley Hinz batted .317 while Lili Work hit .297. Also returning are Abigail Chandler and Marah Schotz. New to the blue and gold are Emma Lanz, Paige Vogelgesang, Kailey Rushman, Izzy Loiben, and Kacey Ekstrom.

Eureka College comes in eighth with 14 points. The Red Devils will be under the direction of new head coach Jared Sotelo, who will bring new energy to his young team. Ashlyn Voyles returns after her All-Conference season that saw her hit .341 while driving in 18. Lexi Liptak, who hit .266 with 12 RBI last season, will be one of the leaders on the team. Kaitlyn Robinson and Kayleigh Zerrusen join the program and should make an immediate impact.  

Principia College totaled 9 points, coming in ninth. Head Coach Grace Burrows has been rebuilding the program and that continues this season, adding eight new players to the team that returns seven from last year. Top returners include Megan Lupton and Ella Straber. Lupton led the team with a .395 average last season, scoring 11 times and finishing with a .488 slugging percentage. Top newcomers include Emilee Saggio, Bailey Lancaster, Sophie Wegrzyn, and Paige Morris.