There’s a reason Arizona slugger Sydney Stewart got a golden ticket to the AUSL to play professional softball.
The Wildcats star walked away with the Big 12 player of the year and the league’s batting championship as the league announced its all-conference awards before the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Stewart was one of three Big 12 players that received golden tickets, guaranteeing they would be selected in the AUSL draft that was held on Monday. She was selected in the second round by the Portland Cascade.
Stewart had an incredible conference slate in leading Arizona to the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. She led the league with a .490 batting average in league play, in addition to leading the Big 12 in on-base percentage (.655), slugging percentage (1.314), RBI (40) and home runs (13) in league games. This is her second straight Big 12 player of the year honor. Arizona joined the league for the 2024-25 athletic year.
Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Oklahoma State’s Ruby Meylan shared pitcher of the year honors. Canady also received a golden ticket and was selected in the first round by the Texas Volts. She the Big 12 with a 1.54 ERA, holding an 11-2 record with 68.1 innings pitched during the league slate. She threw a perfect game in her final regular season start. Her coach, Gerry Glasco, earned coach of the year honors.
Meylan went 15-2 record and tossed 12 complete games. She also threw a perfect game and had two no-hitters. No pitcher threw more innings (115.2) in league play than Meylan. She was the Big 12 pitcher of the week the final two weeks of the regular season.
Kansas’ Ella Boyer was the freshman of the year. In Big 12 action she had a batting average of .338, scored 26 runs and hit 13 home runs, second-most in league play.
Arizona’s Regan Shockey and Kansas’ Hailey Cripe were the co-defensive players of the year. Shockey had a perfect fielding percentage in Big 12 games and a .992 percentage for the season. The outfielder and utility player helped turn three doubles plays. Cripe had a .982 fielding percentage and put out or assisted on 108 of 110 chances.
2026 Big 12 Season Awards
Player and Batting Champion: Sydney Stewart, Arizona
Pitcher: Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State and NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech
Freshman: Ella Boyer, Kansas*
Defensive Player: Regan Shockey, Arizona and Hailey Cripe, Kansas
Scholar-Athlete: Tayler Biehl, Arizona
Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco, Texas Tech
First Team
Tayler Biehl, Arizona
Grace Jenkins, Arizona
Regan Shockey, Arizona
Sydney Stewart, Arizona*
Kenzie Brown, Arizona State
Katie Chester, Arizona State
Samantha Swan, Arizona State*
Sierra Humphreys, UCF
Isabella Vega, UCF
Tatum Johnson, Iowa State
Ella Boyer, Kansas*
Anna Soles, Kansas
Rosie Davis, Oklahoma State
Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State*
NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech*
Jackie Lis, Texas Tech*
Kaitlyn Terry, Texas Tech*
Mia Williams, Texas Tech*
Second Team
Jalen Adams, Arizona
Tele Jennings, Arizona
Sereniti Trice, Arizona
Kaylee Pond, Arizona State
Beth Damon, UCF
Aubrey Evans, UCF
Izzy Mertes, UCF
Samantha Rey, UCF
Maddie Hartley, Houston
Makenna Mitchell, Houston
Reagan Bartholomew, Iowa State
Karlee Ford, Iowa State
Presley Limbaugh, Kansas
Jasmyn Burns, Texas Tech
Mihyia Davis, Texas Tech
Taylor Pannell, Texas Tech
Mia Gomez, Utah
Hailey Maestretti, Utah
All-Freshman Team
Rylie Holder, Arizona
Kez Lucas, Arizona
Kaygen Marshall, Baylor
Blakely Barber, Kansas
Ella Boyer, Kansas*
Lila Partridge, Kansas
Jayelle Austin, Oklahoma State
Aubrey Jones, Oklahoma State*
Payton Crank, Utah
Mia Gomez, Utah*
Cian Noli, Utah*
Danika Wilson, Utah*
Defensive Team
P – NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech
C – Audrey Schneidmiller, Oklahoma State
1B – Sydney Malott, Iowa State
2B – Sereniti Trice, Arizona
SS – Hailey Cripe, Kansas
3B – Taylor Pannell, Texas Tech
OF – Regan Shockey, Arizona
OF – Brooklyn Carter, Baylor
OF – Presley Limbaugh, Kansas
*indicates unanimous selection
