Arizona softball is a consensus preseason top-25 squad, will face top 3 teams in polls

Arizona softball has made two more preseason Top 25s.

The Wildcats, who open the 2026 season Feb. 5, landed at No. 18 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll released Tuesday. They’re also ranked 21st in D1Softball’s Top 25.

Arizona previously earned a No. 17 ranking from Softball America.

Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma comprise the top three in each poll — and Arizona faces all three this season.

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The Wildcats will meet the Longhorns twice during the Feb. 19-22 DeMarini Invitational in Stanford, California. Arizona faces Texas Tech March 13-15 in Lubbock in the second Big 12 series of the season for both programs. The Sooners come to Tucson for the Feb. 5-8 Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium. They will play the Wildcats in what’s essentially a three-game series Feb. 6-8.

The Wildcats will face three other teams that made all three Top 25 polls: Stanford (Feb. 19 at Stanford), LSU (April 10-12 at Baton Rouge) and Oklahoma State (April 17-19 at Stillwater).

Arizona opens the season Feb. 5 with a doubleheader against Southern Utah.