Belmont has been tabbed as the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite in softball in a vote of league coaches. The Bruins earned six first-place votes and 104 points in the poll to edge UNI (99) and Southern Illinois (94).  Illinois State was picked fourth with 77 total points.  

Coaches also selected a 12-person preseason All-MVC team, which includes a seven-player honorable-mention unit. Last year's Most Valuable Player (Kate Lappe of UNI), Most Valuable Pitcher (Maya Johnson of Belmont), and Newcomer of the Year (Emily Williams of Southern Illinois) are all featured on this year's first-team squad. In all, six returning first-team all-league players from 2025 highlight this year's preseason All-MVC First Team.

The Bruins won last year's tournament and represented the MVC in the NCAA Division I Softball Championship, while Southern Illinois is the defending regular-season champion. The 2026 season begins Friday, Feb. 6, with non-conference action. Conference play begins Friday, March 6, and the 2026 MVC Softball Championship is May 7-9 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.

FIRST TEAM
1B Olivia Turner (Bradley)
2B Skylar Benesh (UNI)
3B Kate Lappe (UNI)
SS Nicole Hughes (Belmont)
C Drew Hinrichs (UNI)
UT/P Azalya Lopez (Valparaiso)
DT/UP-NP Emily Williams (S. Illinois)
OF Mikaela Coburn (Southern Illinois)
OF Katy Huels (Murray State)
OF Kierston McCoy (Bradley)
P Maya Johnson (Belmont)
P Anna Wischnowski (UNI)

HONORABLE MENTION
1B Ella Smithson (UNI)
3B Rylee Spindler (Belmont)
C Brenna Blume (Belmont)
OF Maddy Balsiger (Belmont)
OF Ava Curry (Drake)
OF Morgan Goodrich (Indiana St.)
P Hannah Meshnick (Illinois State)