Arizona is back for its 52nd year as a program, but the Wildcats look a lot different from last season.
Arizona went through a plethora of team changes last summer after Devyn Netz, Miranda Stoddard and Saya Swain ran out of eligibility, and other players like Aissa Silva, Brooke Mannon, Ryan Maddox and Sydney Somerndike hit the transfer portal.
The University of Arizona also quietly extended head coach Caitlin Lowe for the 2026-27 season.Β
With only nine of 22 players returning from last season, the Wildcats have a fairly new team.
Junior utility Sydney Stewart went 3 for 3 with three home runs against New Mexico State on April 22, 2025, in Tucson.
βIβve loved the dynamic of our team from the first day of fall and I think we brought in 10 new people to join nine returners and it could have taken us a few weeks to get into our groove and I love how our transfers and our freshmen fit in immediately,β Lowe said during Big 12 Softball Media Days. βSo, I took a deep dive into our culture in the fall and β¦ I just love where this team is at and the fact that they continue to get better every day.βΒ
From veterans to newbies, here are 10 players to watch this softball season (listed in alphabetical order).
RETURNERS
Tayler Biehl
Arizona shortstop Tayler Biehl makes the pivot over UCF runner Madison Simon to complete a double play in the fifth inning of their Big 12 game in Tucson on March 8, 2025.
Position: Shortstop
Year: Senior
Notable: Tayler Biehl is back for one last ride with the Wildcats. The Folsom, California native became a staple for Arizona during her breakout sophomore season, when she finished the regular season with 70 putouts and 103 assists for a .977 fielding percentage. She also earned the Pac-12βs Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. Last season, she started 123 games as a shortstop and recorded 141 assists (second in the Big 12 and fifth in the NCAA). With a newer infield, Biehl will provide confidence and wisdom to the Wildcatsβ newcomers and returners.
EmmaΒ Kavanagh
Arizona catcher/utility Emma Kavanagh (18) catches a ball during an early morning practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: Catcher/Utility
Year: Sophomore
Notable: The most notable change this year with EmmaΒ Kavanagh is her move from catcher to left field. Last season, she made 28 appearances and 12 starts with the Wildcats. During opening weekend last season, she drew four walks against Michigan State in Game 1 and hit her first career triple.Β Kavanagh also earned theΒ NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete award last year.
βShe had a great summer. She went and played two months straight in Madison (Wisconsin, in the Northwoods League), and she did really well,β Lowe said of Kavanagh last fall.Β βThe funny thing was, she was playing shortstop, third base. She was in the outfield some. She was catching a little bit. So it was honestly perfect for her.β
Regan Shockey
Arizona outfielder Regan Shockey (25) throws the ball during an early-morning practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: Utility
Year: Junior
Notable: Shockey is in her third season with the Wildcats and is sure to add to her long list of accolades and achievements. During her time at Arizona, sheβs received multiple NFCA All-West selections, including first and second team, as well as Big 12 second team honors. In 117 games played in two seasons, Shockey recorded 80 or more hits. Ahead of this season, she was named to the Big 12 preseason softball team. Head coach Caitlin Lowe previously told the Star that she knew βShockey would be a great player from her approach of going hard all the time and doing the little things the right way.β
Jenna Sniffen
Arizonaβs Jenna Sniffen (33) comes to the crowd at the plate after homering in the third inning of their second game against Michigan St. on the opening night of the Candrea Classic, Feb. 6, 2025.
Position: Infield
Year: Sophomore
Notable: In her first season with the Wildcats, Sniffen logged seven home runs, 30 RBIs and nine doubles. She earned All-Big 12 second team and All-Freshman team honors for her explosive first season at Arizona. Before arriving at UA last year, the Hawaii native was listed as the No. 7 third baseman in her class and No. 16 overall by Extra Inning Softball.
Sydney StewartΒ
Arizona catcher/utility player Sydney Stewart (21) throws the ball back to her pitcher during practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: Catcher/Utility
Year: Senior
Notable: Before the season even started, Sydney Stewart was already earning All-American honors. Last month, the senior catcher was named preseason second-team All-American by D1Softball. In her breakout season last year, Stewart led Arizona with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs, along with a .542 on-base percentage and .819 slugging percentage. She was also named as a second-team NFCA All-American last season. Ahead of this season, she was selected to the Big 12 preseason softball team. As Stewart completes her final season with the Wildcats, thereβs no doubt that she will have left her mark on the program.
NEWCOMERS
Jalen Adams
Arizona pitcher Jalen Adams (12) practices her pitch at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: PitcherΒ
Year: Senior
Notable: Iowa transfer Jalen Adams was one of the pitcher pickups for Arizona in the transfer portal last year. The former Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year has an overall 45-34 record in 102 appearances and a 2.26 ERA. Last season with the Hawkeyes, Adams went 25-6 and recorded a 2.18 ERA, third-best in the Big Ten, with 130 strikeouts.
Jenae Berry
Indiana pitcher Jenae Berry (11) throws against Oklahoma State during a regional softball game on May 16, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Position: Pitcher
Year: Sophomore
Notable: In addition to Adams, Indiana transfer Jenae Berry joined the Wildcats this season. The two will help fill the gap after Arizona lost a majority of its pitching crew due to players running out of eligibility and others entering the transfer portal. During her year with Indiana, she struck out 36 batters in 65.1 innings pitched and picked up nine wins in 25 appearances. If the last name sounds familiar, you may remember Berryβs brother Jacob, who was a part of Arizona baseballβs 2021 College World Series team.
Rylie Holder
Arizona pitcher Rylie Holder (14) perfects her pitch during an early morning practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: Pitcher
Year:Β Freshman
Notable:Β Texas native Rylie Holder announced her commitment to Arizona in fall 2023 and officially signed in 2024. During her time at East Bernard High School, she was ranked No. 4 by Extra Inning Softball in their 2025 regional rankings and No. 10 by Line Drive Media's Elite 100 - 2025. In her final high school season, she pitched 188 innings and recorded 271 strikeouts. Holder also led her club team toΒ a third-place win at the 18U Alliance National Championship and a second-place win at theΒ 16U Alliance National Championship.
βSheβs got some of the dirtiest stuff on the team for sure,β Lowe said of Holder last fall.Β βRight now sheβs going through probably the toughest program sheβs ever gone through as far as conditioning and practice and what that requires. I think itβs only going to make her stronger. But stuff-wise, mentality-wise, she has all of the tools to jump right in.β
Grace Jenkins
Arizona utility Grace Jenkins (8) catches a pass during practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: Utility
Year: Senior
Notable: UConn transfer Grace Jenkins was a solid transfer portal snag for Arizona after the utility player (then primarily a catcher) was named the Big East Player of the Year in 2025. Throughout her three years at UConn, she maintained a .384 career batting average with 155 hits, 45 doubles, 27 home runs, along with a .696 slugging percentage. Jenkins also broke multiple single-season UConn records. She committed to Arizona last summer.
Sereniti Trice
Arizona infielder Sereniti Trice winds up to throw the ball during practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Position: Infield
Year: Sophomore
Notable: Sereniti Trice had an explosive breakout season at Iowa State last year. The current sophomore was the teamβs leadoff batter for nearly every game of the season and sustained a .354 batting average and recorded 63 hits in her freshman year. She had 17 multi-hit games throughout the season. She transferred to Arizona last summer.
